Small-Sided Games

Three Team Small-Sided Game

Short, intense games with natural rest

Small-Sided Games

Possession

Transition

Three Team Small-Sided Game is a 18-minute small-sided games drill for 9-18 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, mini goals, bibs. 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

Possession

Transition

Small-Sided Game

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Foundation Phase

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Competitive

Duration

18 min

Players

9-18

Pitch size

30 x 25 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Three Team Small-Sided Game — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · 30 x 25 yards

Step 1 of 3Two teams play, the winner of each two minute game stays on.

1. Two teams play, the winner of each two minute game stays on.
2. Concede and you come off immediately for the waiting team.
3. Keep a running scoreboard across the whole block.

Cones mark the area
Full goal
Dashed lines = wide crossing channels
Ball
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Short, intense games with natural rest
-Test the session theme in a competitive game
-Keep every player involved with minimal standing

Setup

1A 30 x 25 pitch with a mini goal at each end.
2Three teams of three or four in different bibs.
3Waiting team stands behind one goal with the balls.

Coaching instructions

1Two teams play, the winner of each two minute game stays on.
2Concede and you come off immediately for the waiting team.
3Keep a running scoreboard across the whole block.

Coaching points

-Start fast — the games are short
-Apply the session theme in the game
-Talk and organise while waiting to come on

Common mistakes

-Slow changeovers killing the tempo
-Waiting team switching off
-Games too long so intensity drops

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Mini Goals

Bibs

Age groups

Under 8

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