Small-sided games

Although seen by many as a modern approach, small-sided games have used since the 1960s as the best way to coach key skills and tactics to your players. The articles in this section tell you why small sided games will help you, your players and your team to be better. We also show you some of our favourite small sided games and explain how they work.

Competitive small sided soccer game called War - A very popular game for children (and fun-minded adults) that emphasises beating the player. Some of your youngsters will want to play this small-sided soccer game all day!

Why 4v4 is good for youth soccer coaching - It should be government policy that soccer coaches use small-sided games before the age of 13. The 4v4 system accelerates development of technical ability and game intelligence. David Clarke looks at how 4v4 works.

Soccer problem solving using changing pitch dimensions - The 4v4 system is about solving problems, the players respond to the area you have marked out for them, all the elements of a real game are there for them to understand. However, sometimes the correct pitch layout is not enough, your team has a problem but you are not creating a situation to solve it. This is where changing the pitch dimensions helps.

Put 4v4 soccer coaching into action - Based on the central ideas behind Dutch Vision, 4v4 is a soccer coaching system dramatically different from most other systems. Created by the Dutch Soccer Association, its success is evident in the number of world-class players produced by such a small country.

Improve awareness with this fast, small-sided game - Getting young soccer players to be constantly aware of what is going on around them is difficult, but you can improve their awareness skills with this fast, constantly moving game.

Use small-sided games to score - Use this fast, small-sided game to practise turning defence into attack and boost your goal-scoring opportunities.

Game to coach defensive technique close to the goal - Using the big kick is one way to clear your lines in defence, but not always the right one. Coach the following fun game to boost defending skills close to the goal.

2v2 Small-sided game to maintain possession - In this small-sided game from Michael Beale, Chelsea FC Academy Coach, players have to keep possession for their team and pass the ball to a team mate standing outside the pitch.

A triangle game to encourage dribbling, shooting and defending - This game from Tony Carr, Academy Director, West Ham United, English Premier League, uses three players and aims to improve attack and defense skills while focusing on dribbling and shooting.

Goal approach game - In this game, the aim is to get your attackers used to running at the goal from different angles. Ask your defender to call out an attacker's position and they must then get past the defender and attack the goal.

Players must be alert to the call and able to move the ball quickly for a shot at goal.

Game to get players passing the ball under pressure - I like running this fast game to get players used to looking to pass the ball, either first time or controlling then passing under pressure from an opponent. It's a bit like a boxing ring where the passing player has to be quick and get their pass away before the opponent wins the ball off them.

High-intensity soccer training drill - Simulate match intensity with a quick-change soccer drill where attackers and defenders swap roles to develop their soccer skills.

Attack skills game - There will always be situations in soccer matches where a lone attacker faces two defenders, but using this attack game in your soccer training drill sessions can build the skills to help your players give a good account of themselves.

Soccer heading skills game - As a follow-on from coaching the Heading skills soccer drill, try putting your players' skill into a game situation. This game gives your players more opportunity to attack with their headers but at the same time keeps the drill simple so they concentrate on their position and technique.

Small-sided game to sharpen decision making skills - This is a great small-sided game, which gives your players the option of dribbling or passing to score a point. In matches your players will have to make choices between running with the ball or passing it, so use these soccer coaching tips to sharpen decision-making skills.

Small-sided game to get midfielders linking defence with attack - The midfield is the engine room of your team, it makes everything else tick. The following soccer coaching tips and small sided game should help link your defenders to your attackers, so when the defence clears the ball into midfield it is moved quickly on to the attackers to fire at the goal.

Small-sided soccer game to boost midfield passing skills - This soccer coaching session focuses on using one-two skills with players running in from midfield. These passes can put midfielders into goal-scoring positions by using an attacker to pass past the defenders.

Small sided soccer game to improve tackle technique - This small-sided soccer game makes the most of 1v1 situations and works on players' tackling skills and their ability to evade tackles. The players in this game need to have good all-round soccer skills so their team doesn't lose a life.

Soccer tactics for kicking the ball down the middle - If you play golf, you'll know that when you think of hitting a sweet drive, you visualise the ball going straight down the middle of the fairway and putting you in a great position to attack the green. Help your players handle the same situation on the pitch with the following soccer coaching tips and drills.

Small-sided game to practise passing along the back line - Giving your players the confidence to use a short ball from a goal kick will help their overall development as a player because it coaches them to stay calm under pressure and shows them how doing so will create space further up the field for midfielders to exploit.

Soccer coaching game to work on heading skills - Use this fun soccer coaching game to give your players confidence when they're heading the ball and improve their ability to anticipate headers.

Ball control and shielding skills soccer game - This is a great small-sided soccer game to get players used to playing against more or less players. It gives them a chance to use their shielding and ball-control skills and it's a fun game with a competitive edge.

Penalty game to identify talented penalty takers - Every player loves taking penalties - even if they aren't very good at it. Practising penalties gives you a chance to look at your players' kicking skills and techniques and also lets you see who might be good to take penalties in a match.

One-touch finish small sided soccer game - In soccer training drill sessions, players are more willing to try shooting from every angle possible. You need to build this confidence into your team, so they shoot when they see the opportunity on match day, too. This small-sided soccer coaching game is great for that. Try it and see for yourself.

Fun warm up game for marking skills - Get your players to lose their markers with this fun warm up game from Michael Beale.

Small sided soccer game to improve young players awareness on pitch - When young players are involved in matches they often lose their position and their soccer sense. To help your players with this problem, organise a fast, constantly moving game in training where players must think about position, action and direction.

Small sided soccer game to help players get back to basics - If your team hasn't won a match for a while, you need to get your players back to basics and working on their core soccer skills. The best way to get them playing with confidence again is to use small-sided games and fun drills. Don't preach at your team or lose your temper with them, simply get them working on passing, tackling and shooting skills.

Close down space with this 4v2 small sided soccer game - If you watch the best defenders, they don’t give away space easily. Space is an attacker’s friend but it’s a defender’s enemy. This small-sided soccer defence game is a good one to work on with your defenders, but all players should be able to close down space when an opponent is receiving the ball.

Small sided game to get players running with the ball - In this small-sided game players get rewarded for holding onto the ball and running with it. The team that covers the most ground will score the most points. Divide the pitch up so players know where the points are scored.

Attack and cover the goal soccer coaching game - This is a good small-sided game to use at the end of one of your soccer training sessions to encourage players to shoot at the empty goals. It is played along the lines of how youngsters play in the playground with the player nearest to the goal becoming the goalkeeper.

Three in one soccer coaching session - This is a transition soccer game which gives your players an excellent workout at 1v1, 2v2 and 4v4. It's three games on the same pitch. The emphasis moves from individual skills to team work and communication.

Small sided soccer games for keeping possession under pressure - Getting players to keep the ball is a vital soccer skill. But if you're coaching this technique, different age groups will need different levels to work at. Here are three games pitched at different levels to practise possession soccer skills.

Small sided game to focus on last five minutes of a match - Nothing hurts more than losing it in the last five minutes of your soccer (football) game. To coach your players in the tactics to avoid this pitfall, use the following small-sided soccer game.

Four goal passing game - Try this four goal small-sided soccer game so your players get more touches, more passes, more shots and more participation.

Multi ball game to improve soccer thinking skills - Try this multi-ball small-sided soccer game so your players have to think about the danger from two separate balls and consider how they can make their two balls give them an advantage.

Small sided soccer game for possession skills - Try this fun, fast possession game with your young soccer players. The aim of the game is for the passing team to keep possession of the ball, away from the pressuring team. They have 30 seconds to score a goal...

Small sided game to stop opponents getting the ball - Small-sided soccer games are a great way to get your young soccer players developing their core soccer skills. This is a good one to use when you're coaching players how to stop their opponents from stealing the ball.

Small sided soccer game to get players reacting to extra numbers -
This small-sided soccer game from Michael Beale, Chelsea FC academy coach, is designed to help your team cope when playing with an extra player or against an extra player. They need to be able to react quickly in situations where they are the lone player in a 2 v 1 or respond with quick passing when they outnumber the opposition players.

Small sided soccer game to pounce on a through ball - This small-sided soccer game is a great one to get your soccer players pouncing on the through ball from your team's positive passer.

Playground style small sided game - Playground-style soccer is typically tackles flying in from all angles and playing that is quick and in control. It's a great way to learn! This small-sided game recreates this so that all the players are involved, and sometimes one side is heavily stacked against the other.

Small sided soccer game for volleys - Young soccer (football) players need lots of volleying practice to help them perfect this soccer skill. Use the following small-sided soccer game to coach the tactics needed.

Small sided game to score from every attack - In this small-sided soccer game you've got ten attacks to score as many goals as possible against your defenders. You've got to be right on top of coaching this game. Halt the game if your young soccer players are not doing what you want them to do, then show them what you want.

Small sided game to help the player on the ball pass it - The idea behind this small-sided soccer game is to coach your players in the art of helping the player on the ball pass it.

Small sided soccer game to get past defenders - Soccer is similar to a chess game sometimes when the opposition's pawns are in front of your team and your players have to get past the pawns to their king (the goalie). In chess, you entice your opponent to move their pawns and in soccer you have to apply pressure in the right way to force those defenders apart and give your players goal-scoring opportunities.

Small sided soccer game using wide advantage - This small-sided soccer game shows you how to coach your young soccer players to use the advantage of having more players to create space and score goals.

Small sided game for quick feet - If you are coaching quick feet in your soccer (football) training session, this is a good small-sided game to use at the end of the session to hammer home the skills and techniques you've been coaching. It is simple to set up and gives you the chance to see if what you've been coaching is having an effect.

Soccer game to put defenders under pressure -
You often see a defence under pressure in youth soccer (football) games. The opposition make all the right decisions and create goal-scoring opportunities because your defenders do not know what to do when they are outnumbered.
Use this small-sided game to coach your defenders how to organise when they have more attackers running at them than they have defenders.

Continuous 2v1 small sided game - This is a favourite small-sided 2v1 game with my young soccer players.

Soccer drill for defensive tactics - Setting up a soccer coaching drill where you have different numbers of players on each side is a great way to get your players taking advantage of match-like situations.

Back to back goals game -
When I want to turn my defending deep/quick counter-attack session into a small-sided soccer game, I use this one.

Small sided soccer game for possession - A small-sided soccer game that pits possession against pressure.

Fun coaching game to distract youngsters - When you are coaching your young soccer (football) players, there are often times when the players start to lose concentration and the session becomes a bit ragged or unfocused. Use this fun game to get players back on track.

Small sided soccer game for shielding and ball control - This is a great small-sided soccer game to get players used to playing against more or less players. It gives them a chance to use their shielding and ball control soccer skills. It's also a fun game with a competitive edge to keep players motivated.

Small sided soccer game for defenders working in partnership - This is a great small-sided soccer game to give your defenders the challenge of working alone then working in partnership. This is where the team with the ball is keen to keep possession or they will have to join the defenders.

Small sided soccer drill with touchdown twist - This small-sided soccer game encourages soccer (football) players to use the full width of the pitch because they are not focused on scoring in a goal. It's like scoring a touchdown in American football or a try in rugby except that players have to work on their dribbling skills and keep the ball at their feet.

Fun small sided soccer game to round off training - You can use this simple small-sided soccer game in any of your coaching sessions, it gives young players a good fitness workout as an alternative to the traditional end-of-training match.

Soccer drill to help central players defend or attack - This soccer coaching drill session has four quickfire attacks to teach the central players in your team how to adjust their positions to defend and attack different situations.

Small sided soccer game to change shooting angles - Using different soccer pitch set-ups can help make your coaching easier. You can get the pitch to do the hard work while you watch and talk to your players about how they are performing during their small-sided soccer games.

Add playground fun to your soccer coaching session - Add a bit of flair and spontaneity to your soccer coaching sessions by getting your young players to do what they do in the playground.

A keepball small sided soccer game - Coach your young soccer (football) players to put opponents under pressure with this small-sided soccer game of keepball.

Small sided soccer game with overload attackers - The attacking team in this small-sided soccer game always has a numerical advantage because they can use neutral attackers to set up goal chances.

Block the shot small sided soccer game - This small-sided soccer (football) game works on reactive speed skills and forces your attackers and defenders to work at match speed in order to be successful.

Dodging defenders small sided soccer game - Use this simple small-sided soccer game to get your attackers passing and moving the ball to prevent defenders gaining possession.

Small sided soccer game to get wingers out wide - Use this small-sided soccer game to coach your players to make the most of the whole width of the pitch. This soccer (football) coaching session helps players understand that by using the wings, they can put dangerous balls at different angles into the opposition penalty area.

Footwork and avoidance soccer drill - Use this fun soccer coaching drill to get players passing, moving in different ways and using their soccer skills to avoid the opposition at the same time.