Small-Sided Games

Wide Channel Game

Use the width of the pitch

Small-Sided Games

Crossing

Attacking

Wide Channel Game is a 20-minute small-sided games drill for 10-20 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, full 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

Crossing

Attacking

Small-Sided Game

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

20 min

Players

10-20

Pitch size

50 x 40 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Objectives

-Use the width of the pitch
-Create chances from wide areas
-Defend the wide overload

Setup

1Five yard channels marked down each touchline.
2One attacker allowed in each channel at a time.
3Full goals with keepers.

Coaching instructions

1Only the attacking team may enter the wide channels.
2Goals from wide deliveries count double.
3Five minute games.

Coaching points

-Switch the ball to the free channel
-Time the run into the channel
-Attack the box with at least two players

Common mistakes

-Playing everything centrally
-Channel player standing still
-No runners in the box

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Full Goals

Age groups

Under 9

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

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