2v2 + 1 to Two Goals

Two teams play a fast-paced 2v2 with a target player waiting between the goals — earn your shot by playing the ball forward to your target first, then finish off the return.

Playing the ball forward to your target player before going to goal — the forward pass is the door to every score.

Ages 9+Two teams — 2v2 plus a target each (2v2 + 1)20 minCones, pinnies, balls, 2 mini-goals

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones, pinnies, the two mini-goals, and a supply of balls for yourself.
Build: Build a grid approximately 25 by 40 and set the two mini-goals as the diagram shows.
Place: Split the team into two groups, station one player from each team as its target between the goals their team is scoring on, and keep the ball supply outside the grid with you.

Show me the setup picture

A 25-by-40 grid with two mini-goals, a target player for each team stationed off the field between the goals they attack, and the coach outside with balls.

One thing to remember: Playing the ball forward to a target player before going to goal — keeping possession, early target passes, one-touch target play, runs off the ball for a one-touch finish, and overlapping runs that unbalance defenders.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

You play every ball in — the team in possession must find their target player before scoring on one of the goals, and the team that wins it back attacks the other set the same way.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Split into two teams and send one player from each to be its target — off the field, staying between the goals their team is scoring on. Players not in the game position themselves behind their defensive goals, ready for the next ball in.
Coach says
Two teams — one of you is the target. Off the field, stay between your goals. Everyone else — behind the goals, ready.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the rules — you begin by playing a ball into one of the two teams; the team in possession must keep it and play a ball to their target player before scoring on one of the two goals; if the other team wins possession, they attack the other set the same way. The target plays one-touch — allow two depending on skill — may move along or behind the line, but stays between the goals and never joins in on the 2v2.
Coach says
No goal counts until your target touches it. Targets — one touch, and stay on your line.
3Play▾
Coach does
Restart instantly on every goal or ball out of play — the game is intended to be fast-paced. Push teams to play the target early; once the ball goes in, both players make runs off the ball to score from a one-touch shot — two touches can be used — and overlapping runs often help unbalance the defenders.
Coach says
Target early! Ball's in — make your runs! Overlap!
Look for: The runs after the target pass — both attackers moving for the one-touch finish, with overlaps that unbalance the defenders.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
The reset is built in — every goal or dead ball ends with you playing a fresh ball to either team, with the waiting players ready behind the goals. For a bigger round, enlarge the field and play a 3v3 or 4v4.
Coach says
Next ball — ready? Play! Bigger field next round — we're going 3v3.

If it's not working

If the targets never touch the ball, enlarge the field while they play — room for the forward pass opens up — then bring it back in.

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

Why are we doing this?

The target rule makes the forward pass the price of every goal — teams must keep possession, find their target early, then finish off the return with runs off the ball — and the coach feeding every restart keeps the game fast-paced.

What are they learning?

Playing the ball forward to a target player before going to goal — keeping possession, early target passes, one-touch target play, runs off the ball for a one-touch finish, and overlapping runs that unbalance defenders.