World Cup

Four teams of three battle in the penalty box at once — score and you're safe to the next round, and the last team to score goes out of the tournament.

Playing numbers-down is the whole tournament — every team defends against everyone else at once, so teamwork, quick passes, and taking your chances are how you survive.

Ages 6+Four teams of 3, plus a keeper20 minPinnies, balls, full-size goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Pinnies for four teams and a supply of balls for your full-size goal.
Build: Nothing to build — the penalty box is the field.
Place: Four teams of three inside the box, the keeper in the goal, and you nearby with the balls.

Show me the setup picture

Four teams of three in pinnies packed inside the penalty box, a keeper in the full-size goal, and the coach at the edge with the ball supply.

One thing to remember: Game-like situations while numbers down — good teamwork, quick passes, taking shots and chances, and having fun.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

You serve a ball in and all four teams play at once — score and you sit out, safe for the next round; the last team to score is out of the World Cup.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set up four teams of three in pinnies inside the penalty box, your goalkeeper in the full-size goal, and your ball supply near you.
Coach says
Four teams of three in the box. Everyone's against everyone — keeper, they're all coming at you.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the tournament — you serve a ball into the area and every team plays at the same time against all the other groups. Score, and your team sits out the rest of the round and advances. The last team to score in each round is out of the World Cup.
Coach says
Score and you're through — take a seat and enjoy it. Last team still trying to score goes out.
3Play▾
Coach does
Serve balls in and run the rounds — round 1 goes 3v9, then 3v6, then 3v3 as teams score their way out, and the last team to score is eliminated; round 2 runs 3v6 then 3v3 the same way; the final is 3v3, and the first team to score two goals wins the World Cup. Push good teamwork, quick passes, and taking shots and chances.
Coach says
Quick passes — and shoot! You can't go through if you don't score!
Look for: Chances taken — teams getting shots off fast in the crowd instead of waiting for a clean look.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
When a champion is crowned, shuffle the teams and run the whole World Cup again. Keep it loud and keep it fun — that's what this one is for.
Coach says
New teams, new tournament — who's taking this World Cup?

If it's not working

If the ball circulates and nobody scores, call for shots — the only way out of the round is scoring, and the team that waits for perfect is the team that goes out.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

Every team is numbers-down all the time — three against everyone — so the game-like scramble never stops, and the way through is always the same: work together, pass quickly, and take your chance when it comes.

What are they learning?

Game-like situations while numbers down — good teamwork, quick passes, taking shots and chances, and having fun.