Up and Out
One defender under serve after serve — off the goal line, meet the ball, and clear it high and wide to a teammate before it bounces.
A ball that lingers in front of your own goal is danger — a first-touch clearance, high and to the outside, is the fastest way out.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: A big supply of balls, cones, and a full-size goal.
- Build: Set up on half of a full-size field — the goal and its penalty area are the working space.
- Place: One defender on the goal line. Four servers scattered along the sidelines, each with balls. A few teammates wide and high up the field as clearance targets.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Clearing high and to the outside of the field, reacting quickly and predicting the ball's flight, first-touch clearances backed by a second effort, and comfort in front of your own goal.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
A server plays a ball into the penalty area; the defender charges off the line, clears it high and wide to a target, and sprints back to the goal line for the next serve.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put the defender on their goal line, spread the four servers along the sidelines with their ball supplies, and post the targets wide and high.
Coach says
One defender on the line. Servers — spread out with your balls. Targets — wide and high, be findable.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one serve — a flighted or low driven ball into the penalty area; the defender moves off the line quickly and clears it to a target, and every ball has to clear the penalty area before it hits the ground. Then the defender sprints back to the goal line, ready for the next serve.
Coach says
Servers, take turns — into the area. Defender — attack it, up and out to a target, then back on your line.
3Play▾
Coach does
Rotate the serves through the four servers, 8 to 10 per defender.
Coach says
Don't let it bounce! High and wide — find your target!
Look for: First-touch clearances — the defender reading the flight early and attacking the ball instead of letting it drop and linger.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
After 8 to 10 serves, rotate the next defender onto the line.
Coach says
That's your set — next defender on the line!
If it's not working
If a first touch gets mishandled, don't reset the rep — demand the second effort that still gets the ball out, then talk about attacking the flight earlier.
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?
Harder: Add a target player inside the penalty area to make the picture more realistic — or put two defenders and an attacker in the area so the defenders have to communicate.