Small-Sided Games
3v3 Continuous Games
Maximise touches and decisions per player
Small-Sided Games
Transition
Attacking
Defending
3v3 Continuous Games is a 20-minute small-sided games drill for 9-18 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, bibs, mini goals, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill librarySmall-Sided Games
Transition
Attacking
Defending
Small-Sided Game
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Duration
20 min
Players
9-18
Pitch size
25 x 18 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
3v3 Continuous Games — 3v3 small-sided game · 25 x 18 yards
Step 1 of 3Two teams play, the scoring team stays on.
- 1. Two teams play, the scoring team stays on.
- 2. Games last two minutes or until a goal is scored.
- 3. Losing team swaps with the waiting team immediately.
- Cones mark the area
- Mini goals at each end
- Ball
- Blue v dark — score in the opposite goal
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Maximise touches and decisions per player
- -Constant attacking and defending involvement
- -Competitive game realism in a small space
Setup
- 1Small pitch with a mini goal at each end.
- 2Three teams of three, one resting team behind a goal.
- 3Coach with spare balls beside the pitch.
Coaching instructions
- 1Two teams play, the scoring team stays on.
- 2Games last two minutes or until a goal is scored.
- 3Losing team swaps with the waiting team immediately.
Coaching points
- -Create width and depth as a three
- -Defend the goal first, then press
- -Play forward quickly when the space appears
- -Communicate constantly in a small group
Common mistakes
- -All three players in a line
- -Chasing the ball as a group
- -No recovery run after losing the ball