Small-Sided Games

Overload Three Team Rotation Game

Keep intensity high with short, sharp games

Small-Sided Games
Transition
Possession

Keep intensity high with short, sharp games. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Small-Sided Games
Transition
Possession
Small-Sided Game
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Overload

Age

Under 5 to Adults

Duration

22 min

Players

9-18

Area / pitch size

36 x 30 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones, Bibs, Mini Goals

Coaching focus

Keep intensity high with short, sharp games

Objective

  • -Keep intensity high with short, sharp games
  • -Give every team regular rest and reflection
  • -Reward teams that keep winning

Setup

  1. 1One pitch with a resting team waiting on the side line in a 36 x 30 yards area.
  2. 2Split the group so the attacking side always has one spare player, and park the spare bibs on the halfway cone.
  3. 3Balls beside the resting team, three sets of bibs.

How to play

  1. 1Two teams play a three-minute game while the third rests.
  2. 2The winner stays on and the resting team comes in.
  3. 3Play a full round-robin and keep a running score.
  4. 4The spare player joins whichever side has the ball, so the attack always works with a plus-one.
  5. 5A goal or completed end action counts double if the spare player touched the ball in the build-up.

Coaching points

  • -Start fast — the games are short
  • -Use the rest to talk tactics
  • -Fresh legs press hardest
  • -Find the free player quickly before the defence shuffles across

Progressions

  • +Remove the overload for the last two rounds
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Give the attack two spare players
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Rotate the spare player every 90 seconds
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Slow changeovers
  • -Resting team switching off completely
  • -Spare player standing still instead of offering an angle

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