4v4 in Thirds

Two teams of four play to small goals on a field split into three lanes — wingers own the outsides, the target player and defender hold the middle.

Shape is every player owning one job — wingers stretching the width, the target stretching the field toward goal, the defender supporting as the last man — and the lanes make those jobs visible.

Ages 7–14Two teams of 4 (4v4)20 minCones, pinnies, balls, 2 Pugg goals

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Pinnies, balls, two Pugg goals, and cones — including small ones to mark the lanes.
Build: Build a grid about 40 by 25 yards, divide it into three lanes — left, center, right — with the small cones, and set a Pugg goal on each endline.
Place: Left wingers in the left lane, right wingers in the right lane, and each team's target player and defender in the center lane. Each team defends one goal.

Show me the setup picture

A 40-by-25 grid split lengthwise into three lanes, a Pugg goal on each endline, wingers in the outside lanes, target players and defenders in the middle.

One thing to remember: Team shape and positioning — stretching the field, supporting from your own lane, and pressure, cover, and balance when the ball is lost.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

Play 4v4 to the Pugg goals with every player locked to their lane, moving up and down it to support; when a team reaches five goals, switch out players or teams.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Make two teams of four and hand out the jobs — left winger, right winger, target player, defender. Wingers into their outside lanes, target and defender into the middle.
Coach says
Wingers, you live in your outside lane. Target and defender — the middle is yours.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the shape — wingers stretch the width, the target pushes toward the goal you're attacking, the defender supports everyone while staying the last man.
Coach says
Wingers — stretch it wide. Target — stretch it long. Defender — help everyone, but stay the last one back.
3Play▾
Coach does
Play 4v4, each team defending its Pugg goal. Hold players to their lanes and push them to use the whole length of each one.
Coach says
Stay in your lane, but move up and down it! Heads up — keep talking.
Look for: Heads on a constant pivot — players looking up and reading the field before the ball arrives.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
When a team reaches five goals, end the round and switch out players or teams so everyone plays every job.
Coach says
That's five — new round! New lanes, new jobs.

If it's not working

Freeze the game and ask the wingers where they should be — let them look, say it out loud, and fix it — then play on.

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

Why are we doing this?

Four players means every job matters and nobody can hide: the lanes hold the team's width and depth for them, so heads can come up to read the game, find supporting angles, and talk each other through it — with their own third of the field giving every player the time and space to receive.

What are they learning?

Team shape and positioning — stretching the field, supporting from your own lane, and pressure, cover, and balance when the ball is lost.

How can I change it?

Easier: Make the grid bigger.

Harder: Free the lanes — a player may move into another third, but only by trading places with the player already there.

Next: Playing Wide Out of the Back — the same wide lanes, now the escape route out of your own half.