From 4v3 to 5v4

Blue builds out 4v3 from the back, and a completed pass into the center zone unlocks a 5v4 attack on Red's goal.

Building a solid attack and moving the ball forward is how a team gets out of its own half and into the opponent's — and this game rewards exactly that pass.

Ages 9–119 Blue + 7 Red across three zones (built for 16)Up to 30 minCones, pinnies in two colors, balls, two goals

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones, pinnies in two colors, a supply of balls, and a goal for each end.
Build: Mark out a 55-by-50-yard field, split it into three zones, and set a goal at each end.
Place: Blue's nine across the zones in a 1-3-2-3, Red's seven opposite, and the ball with Blue's keeper — every restart comes through the keeper.

One thing to remember: Spreading out, creating passing options, and choosing when to pass or dribble forward — buildup as a chain of decisions.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

Blue attacks 4v3 out of the first zone; a completed pass into the center zone unlocks a 5v4 on Red's goal, and Red scores on Blue's goal if they win the ball.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set the field with its three zones, split teams of nine and seven into two colors, and put Blue into its 1-3-2-3 zone assignments with Red opposite.
Coach says
Blues, nine of you — one-three-two-three, your keeper starts with the ball. Reds, seven — win it and score on their goal.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one rep — Blue's keeper restarts, Blue attacks 4v3 in the first zone, and a completed pass into the center zone sends the attack forward 5v4 on Red's goal. Red scores on Blue's goal if they win it.
Coach says
Use space, be open. Pass or dribble it forward.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run it with two breaks, the source's own way — at the first break, ask the guided question and let them keep playing to discover the answer; at the second, they share answers with you and each other.
Coach says
On distributions, where should the outside defenders show for the ball? Keep playing — show me.
Look for: Outside defenders showing for the ball just outside the penalty box sidelines, close to the endline — the field made as big as possible.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Restart with Blue's keeper after every goal or interruption and keep the buildup reps coming. Switch variants when the level is wrong — that is the design, not a failure.
Coach says
Back to the keeper — build it again.

If it's not working

Too hard? Start the buildup 4v2 — the third defender stays on the center zone boundary and intercepts passes. Too easy? Narrow the field to 36 yards. Spend the thirty minutes either way.

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

Why are we doing this?

The model answers walk your players through the whole buildup in their own language — show for the ball just outside the penalty box sidelines, close to the endline, to make the field as big as possible; take the ball forward and look for receivers; and when the way forward closes, stay calm, cut away, and pass to the keeper to switch the point of attack.

What are they learning?

Spreading out, creating passing options, and choosing when to pass or dribble forward — buildup as a chain of decisions.

How can I change it?

Easier: The same game with a 4v2 start — the third defender stays on the center zone boundary and intercepts passes.

Harder: The same game on a field only 36 yards wide.

Next: 9v7 to the End Zones — the same buildup carried into the opponent's half.