Small-sided keepaway game for ball control and first touch

Small-sided keepaway 1-0 game

age group: All ages

The 1-0 game is an excellent example of a small-sided game that can be used to coach a variety of topics.

As well as ball control and first-touch soccer skills, this game requires teams to attack with speed when they need to score. So the game also focuses on transition.

But save your observations on how well your players switch from attack to defence for another day - coach one topic at a time!

Pitch Size 40 x 20 – or at the discretion of the soccer coach, but basically a standard 4 v 4 pitch

Action

The game begins as a normal 4 v 4 game with the usual rules.

When a goal is scored, the team that scored must try and keep possession and can’t score into the goal. If they do, the goal is disallowed and a goal kick is awarded.

If the other team equalise and make it 1-1, either team can then score to make it 2-1. To win the game, the team in the lead has to keep possession until the final whistle.

Coaching points

Watch for a good first touch by the receiver and quick movement following a pass.

Players should, by now, be getting more comfortable on the ball and have time to consider their options when in possession. Is this happening? If not, why not?

Decision making - does the team that is 1-0 down need to play with a goalkeeper? He can come out of goal and create an overload situation but will your players work this out for themselves?