Stop It on the Line

Get young players dribbling with their heads up and choosing where to attack, since the whole end line is the goal and the defenders cannot just stand in one spot.

20x25 yard field with cones marking two end lines. Two teams of three, pinnies on. Spare balls at the halfway point on each sideline.

1. Play 3v3. Score by dribbling to the other team's end line and stopping the ball on it with the sole of the foot.
2. A kicked ball that rolls over the line does not count; the player must have their foot on top of the ball on the line.
3. After a score, the scoring team restarts from their own end line.
4. Games of 3 minutes, then rotate teams if there are more than six players.
5. Round 3: a player who scores with their weak foot on the ball earns 2 points.

• Head up: find the empty part of the line.
• Change direction when a defender comes; the line is 20 yards wide.
• Defenders: stay between the ball and the line, not glued to one spot.
• Stop it dead with the sole; that is the goal.

• Players kick the ball over the line and celebrate; stop and show the sole-on-ball goal again.
• All three defenders stand on the line waiting; the nearest defender must go and press the dribbler.
• The same child scores every goal; add the weak-foot bonus or a rule that all three must touch the ball before a score.

• Score by stopping the ball in a 5-yard corner zone for 2 points.
• Add a fourth player to each team.
• Ball must be stopped by a teammate who did not dribble it there (a pass before the stop).

• Play 2v2 on a smaller field.
• Widen the field to 25 yards for more space.
• Let a rolling ball count for the first game.

• Goals only count with the sole of the foot on top of the ball on the line.