Small-Sided Games
Box To Box Scramble
Work hard in repeated attacks and recoveries
Work hard in repeated attacks and recoveries. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryAge
Under 9 to Adults
Duration
20 min
Players
10-18
Area / pitch size
40 x 25 yards
Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Coaching focus
Work hard in repeated attacks and recoveries
Build a full 60-minute session around this drill
Warm-up to match, ready to print. Free — no card needed.
Drill diagram
Continuous game; after a goal the coach restarts to the team that conceded.
- 1.Team 1 scores over the end line.
- 2.Coach plays a new ball straight in to the team that conceded. No stoppages.
Objective
- -Work hard in repeated attacks and recoveries
- -Transition quickly between goals
- -Maintain quality under fatigue
Setup
- 1Mark a larger rectangle with a scoring line at each end.
- 2Split into two teams with bibs.
- 3Place the ball with the coach at the side and have a few spare balls ready.
- 4Players start spread across the pitch in a free shape.
How to play
- 1Play a continuous game with no long stoppages.
- 2After a goal, the coach restarts immediately to the team that conceded.
- 3If the ball goes out, a new ball comes straight in from the side.
- 4Encourage players to recover quickly after every attack and support the next one.
- 5Use short coaching pauses only if needed to reset shape or safety.
Coaching points
- -Recover and go again
- -Work hard for the next action
- -Support the attack quickly
- -Stay composed when tired
Progressions
- +Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
- +Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
- +Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
- +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round
Regressions
- -Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
- -Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
- -Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
- -Simplify the area or the service until success returns
Variations
- -Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
- -Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
- -Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
- -Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
- -Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
- -Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
- -Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
- -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch
Common mistakes
- -Stopping after each attack
- -Dropping heads when tired
- -Players jogging back lazily
Related Football Drills & Sessions
- More football small-sided games drills
- More football transition drills
- More football football fitness drills
- Football drills for U9s
- Football drills for U10s
- Football drills for U11s
- Football drills for U12s
- Football drills for U13s
- Football drills for U14s
- Football drills for U15s
- Football drills for U16s
- Football drills for 10 players
- Football drills by age, topic and squad size
- Football session plans built around this theme
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