Exercises › Play & competition

1v1 to the line: the ladder for the youngest

• 10 min
• 6–20 players
• 3v3
• 5v5
• Technique & Skills

Squares or courts (about 8 x 6 m) in a row. Give the courts names or colours (Red court, Blue court, Green court) instead of numbers. Two children meet on each court with one ball. A player who takes the ball over the opponent’s back line under control scores a goal. Play 45–60 seconds. The winner goes to the next court in one direction (up towards the Red court), the one who lost goes to the next court the other way. Randomise the starting places: every player draws a slip or a cone with a court number, so nobody is picked. With an odd number, keep a rest court at the bottom where one player waits and is swapped in. On a draw both stay put, or play 20 seconds of extra time. For the youngest, keep no score and no ranking: the point is for everyone to meet someone of about the same level and dare to try. Tell them everyone keeps changing court. Progression: three seconds to get over the line, or a bonus goal for getting past with a feint.

What the coach should look for

• Keep no score and no ranking. Everyone keeps changing court.
• Encourage trying to get past, even when it does not work.
• Keep the ball close to your foot: small touches and look up.
• Talk afterwards: what did you dare to try?

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