For 2 groups and four or five players try to keep the ball away from one defender, the piggy in the middle. But this drill can really work with any number of players, for instance, you could have ten players with two players in the middle. It really depends upon the ability of the players and whether this is a warm up exercise or a drill, where you want to go full speed.
Offensive players should focus on passing the ball to their teammate's foot which is furthest away from the defender so they can't take it. Start the defender off at half speed. Progress to one touch and two touch as the game progresses. If ball goes out or the defender touches the ball then the defender switches out of the middle and whoever lost the ball or kicked it out of the playing area goes into the middle, becomes the piggy.
in more ways than one
in more ways than one
Deliberate heading is now out of U11 grassroots matches. Here is how to coach chest, thigh and foot control so your players still win the ball in the air.
Long-range goals doubled at the 2026 World Cup as teams sat deep. Here is how to coach when to shoot from distance, the technique, and the follow-up.
Under FutureFit, your Under-9s stay at 5v5, your Under-11s stay at 7v7 and your Under-13s stay at 9v9. Same pitch, same numbers, one more year. Here is how to make sure that year feels like a step forward rather than a repeat.