Small-Sided Games
Transition Three Team Rotation Game
Keep intensity high with short, sharp games
Small-Sided Games
Transition
Possession
Transition Three Team Rotation Game is a 22-minute small-sided games drill for 9-18 players, suitable for Under 9 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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Transition
Possession
Small-Sided Game
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Duration
22 min
Players
9-18
Pitch size
38 x 32 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Transition Three Team Rotation Game — Marked area · 38 x 32 yards
Step 1 of 5Two teams play a three-minute game while the third rests.
- 1. Two teams play a three-minute game while the third rests.
- 2. The winner stays on and the resting team comes in.
- 3. Play a full round-robin and keep a running score.
- 4. Coach serves a loose ball into the middle and both teams react to win it.
- 5. On every turnover the winning team has six seconds to attack the opposite target.
- Cones mark the area
- Dashed lines = zones / thirds
- Ball
- C = coach / server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Keep intensity high with short, sharp games
- -Give every team regular rest and reflection
- -Reward teams that keep winning
Setup
- 1One pitch with a resting team waiting on the side line in a 38 x 32 yards area.
- 2Mark a second target area at the opposite end so the practice can flip direction instantly.
- 3Balls beside the resting team, three sets of bibs.
Coaching instructions
- 1Two teams play a three-minute game while the third rests.
- 2The winner stays on and the resting team comes in.
- 3Play a full round-robin and keep a running score.
- 4Coach serves a loose ball into the middle and both teams react to win it.
- 5On every turnover the winning team has six seconds to attack the opposite target.
Coaching points
- -Start fast — the games are short
- -Use the rest to talk tactics
- -Fresh legs press hardest
- -First reaction after the turnover decides the moment — forward or secure
Common mistakes
- -Slow changeovers
- -Resting team switching off completely
- -Stopping to appeal instead of reacting to the turnover
Where this drill fits
- More football small-sided games drills
- More football transition drills
- More football possession drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme