Four-Side Finish

Objective

• -Use a simple game to close the session
• -Keep players moving without high effort
• -Finish with control and listening

Setup

1. 1Mark a square 24 x 24 yards with cones.
2. 2Split each side of the square into a different station.
3. 3Players begin on one side and move clockwise around the square.

How to play

1. 1Players walk to each side in turn.
2. 2At the first side, they do a stretch; at the second, they do a balance hold.
3. 3At the third, they pass a ball gently with a partner; at the fourth, they walk and breathe.
4. 4Keep rotating round the square at a steady walking pace.
5. 5End when every player has completed one full circuit.

Progressions

• +Progressive Tempo: add a fourth maximal round
• +Ball For Every Player: shrink the working area
• +Reaction Start: two cues, one a decoy
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Progressive Tempo: stay at the first two tempos only
• -Ball For Every Player: bigger area, share a ball between two
• -Reaction Start: coach counts players in
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Progressive Tempo — Three rounds: 60% pace, 80% pace, then match pace with full recovery between.
• -Ball For Every Player — Every player works with their own ball so no one waits in a queue.
• -Reaction Start — Every repetition begins from a visual or audio cue rather than a set count.
• -Partner Race — Players work in matched pairs and race each repetition, best of five.
• -Mobility Focus — Each round finishes with a controlled mobility hold for the hips, groin and ankles.
• -Change Of Direction — Add a 90 or 180 degree turn into every repetition before the finish.
• -Team Target — The whole group works to a shared score target and repeats the round if they miss it.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Moving too fast
• -Losing order around the square
• -Forcing the stretches