Finishing game · 24 seconds
New Kid on the Block
A progressive overload finishing game. One big goal with a keeper in it, and about thirty yards out a back line of six to eight players with a ball each, alternating teams along the line so every player’s neighbour is on the other side. A small goal sits off to the side and slightly behind the line, facing diagonally into the pitch, with nobody in it. They come in one at a time. The first drives in alone against the keeper. The next one, from the other team, attacks with a fresh ball and the one who just shot is now the defender. The one after that joins their own team, so it is two against one, then the next evens it at two against two, then three against two, then three against three. With seven or eight it carries on to four against three and four against four. Whoever has the ball attacks the big goal. The instant the defending team wins it back they go the other way and score in the small goal. Each wave starts when the ball before it is dead, scored, saved or out, and the new player always arrives with their own ball.
Instructions
- A big goal with a keeper, and a back line about thirty yards out
- Six to eight players on the line, every one of them with a ball
- Alternate the teams along the line: bibs, non bibs, bibs, non bibs
- A small goal off to the side and behind the line, facing into the pitch, no keeper
- One at a time, the next player drives in with their own ball
- The new player joins their own team, so the overload flips every wave
- 1v0, then 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, and on to 4v4 with eight
- Whoever has the ball attacks the big goal
- Win it back and go the other way, into the small goal
- The wave ends when the ball is dead: scored, saved or out
Variation
- Two touches maximum for the attackers to speed it up. A time limit per wave, say eight seconds, so a dead end becomes the next player’s turn. Start the new attacker from a pass or a keeper’s throw instead of a dribble in. Make the small counter goal worth two, so winning the ball back really counts.
Building lineups in seconds
Set your team sheet, plan your substitutions, and share it with the parents before you leave the car park.
