Coaching and using the same exercises, like 5 vs 5 to small goals, can be awesome and super beneficial to your players, there are times that adding a rule to the game can add to the game. Let’s say that you’re running a 5 vs. 5 game to small goals and the game is going well. The players are energetic, and you have the team working hard. The problem is that the last few games your players have not handled the other team pressing them. It seems that players on your team always get caught facing their own goal and getting pressured into mistakes by the opposition.
The question is, how do you help fix that issue during a really competitive 5 vs. 5 game?
You can add rules to games that helps players work on skills while keeping the competitiveness of a good small sided game. For example, add the rule that you can only play the way that you are facing when you receive the ball. If you try to turn and play a different way, it’s a turnover and a free kick for the other team.
What that rule does is it makes the players prepare to receive the ball before they receive it. You will be able to get players to check their shoulder and open their hips to play a certain way. The other thing it may do is it might push players to use combinations such as an up-back-through that they have been training during passing exercises. Below are some rules that can be used to help make small sided games a teaching moment.
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