Small-Sided Games

Finishing Four Goal Game

Encourage switching play towards the free goal

Small-Sided Games

Attacking

Possession

Finishing Four Goal Game is a 20-minute small-sided games drill for 6-18 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, mini goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Small-Sided Games

Attacking

Possession

Small-Sided Game

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Foundation Phase

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Finishing

Duration

20 min

Players

6-18

Pitch size

38 x 32 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Finishing Four Goal Game — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · 38 x 32 yards

Step 1 of 5Teams can score in either of the two goals they attack.

1. Teams can score in either of the two goals they attack.
2. Play restarts from the coach the moment a ball goes out.
3. Rolling substitutions keep the game flowing.
4. Every sequence starts with a pass out and ends with a strike on goal.
5. Goals score one, first-time finishes score two, and rebounds must be followed in.

Cones mark the area
Full goal
GK = goalkeeper
C = coach serving, S = second server
Ball
Cones mark the keeper's starting positions
Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
Keeper distributes back to the server
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Encourage switching play towards the free goal
-Create constant decision-making
-Maximise touches and involvement

Setup

1A pitch with two mini goals to attack on each end line in a 38 x 32 yards area.
2Set a goal at the end of the area with a keeper or a target zone if no keeper is available.
3Balls with the coach, two sets of bibs.

Coaching instructions

1Teams can score in either of the two goals they attack.
2Play restarts from the coach the moment a ball goes out.
3Rolling substitutions keep the game flowing.
4Every sequence starts with a pass out and ends with a strike on goal.
5Goals score one, first-time finishes score two, and rebounds must be followed in.