The end zone game

SET UP

• Pitch 40yds x 30yds including two 5yd end zones

What you get your players to do

Each team is given an end zone to defend and an end zone to attack.

The team in possession must try to dribble the ball into the opposition’s end zone.

Rules

• The game is played continuously for ten minutes
• A goal is scored when a player dribbles past a defender and into the opposition’s end zone
• After a goal is scored, the opposing team starts with ball from inside its end zone. If the ball goes off the side of the pitch the game is restarted with a grounded pass from where the ball left the pitch

Development/progression

Introduce a man marking rule where each player man marks a player on the opposing team. This player can only tackle the player they are man marking. This progression forces the players into 1v1 duels.

Passing game

Players now score goals by making a pass to a player running into the end zone. This rule encourages creative play through passing and forward runs off the ball. The player in possession must make a pass into the end zone as the player runs to receive the ball. The running player must not arrive in the end zone before the ball.