Line Soccer

Objectives:
Positional Sense.  Passing.  Shielding.  Creating Space.

Description:
It has really helped my U10s and U13s understand that not everyone has to chase after the ball to get results!

Use two rows of cones and divide a 30x30 grid vertically into three equal size rectangles. Play 3v3. Each team can have one player in each of the three zones. They can receive, pass and dribble but can't go out of their zone. They must run and get open and mark defensively inside their zone. If they do, they concede a free kick wherever they step over the line. After a few scores, swap the players to a new zone and a new 1v1 match-up.

This taught my players to immediately get wide the minute that their team stole the ball and to space properly.


Variations:

1. Play 4v4 - Widen the center lane and play 2v2 in the center lane.

2. Play 4v4 - Allow two players of each team to be in any lane at one time. If a third player from that team wants to enter that same lane, one of the two players from his team must leave the lane before he can enter it. This requires lots of communication and ingenuity to get numbers up quickly on your opponents. It also teaches players to make "ball side" runs within their lanes to receive the ball.

3. Set up three teams of 4 players and two teams play on the field and winning team stays on. Winning can be one, two or three goals. We play just one goal wins a game. When playing "winners stay on" we add these conditions for balls played out of bounds: Balls kicked over the end line outside of goal result in corner kick or goal kicks, BUT balls kicked across the touch-line mean an automatic loss for team that last touched the ball. The team sitting out must be ready to immediately defend their goal (or attack) when the ball goes out of touch.