Six-Goal Shutdown
Three small goals on each end line mean the ball can score anywhere — so the defenders learn to shut the door in front of the ball, not just in front of one goal.
In your own half the job is denying the forward pass — with six goals to protect, only closing the opening in front of the ball actually works.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones, pinnies in two colors, six small goals, a supply of balls.
- Build: Mark a 50-by-40-yard field and set three small goals across each end line.
- Place: Five on five inside, spare players at the sideline as the first subs.
One thing to remember: Close the opening in front of the ball and force the play backward — together.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Both teams attack three goals and defend three — deny the forward pass or dribble, force the turnover, and go score the other way.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set the field and all six goals, split the teams, and point out that wide goals mean the defense has to slide, not stand.
Coach says
Three goals each way. They can score in any of them — so wherever the ball goes, you go.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one defensive slide — the closest defender gets in front of the ball carrier, and the others get goal-side behind them to force the play backward or sideways.
Coach says
Front player: close the opening. Everyone behind: keep it closed. Force them backward.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run 3-minute rounds with 30 seconds between, subbing every round. At a break, ask what the defenders do when an attacker receives the ball — then watch the next round for the answer.
Coach says
Get in front of the ball. Make them play backward — a backward pass is your win.
Look for: Defenders forcing play backward or sideways — the attack going nowhere is the drill working.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Rotate subs in every round and reshuffle the teams if one side is winning every ball. Switch variants when the level is wrong.
Coach says
Subs in! New round — shut them down again.
If it's not working
Too hard? Go 3v3 on two 20-by-30 fields — win it in the middle, then score. Too easy? 6v7 on a 50-by-50 field with two regular goals.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Easier: 3v3s in two 20-by-30 fields with small goals.
Harder: 6v7 in a 50-by-50 field with two regular goals.
Next: If the teams come out uneven, fix it fast — the source's own arrival advice is to reshuffle after one round rather than let a lopsided game run.