World Cup thrills!

WHY USE IT

Can be used as a warm-up or developed as a practice with multiple progressions. Works on players’ ability to run with the ball, dribble in congested areas and 1v1 skills.

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Mark out multiple squares towards the edge of the area.

HOW TO play

Ask players to pick countries from the World Cup and allocate one country to each square. Divide players equally between countries. 

One player starts as a tagger. Players can start with or without a ball. The coach shouts two countries (e.g. “England and Brazil!”) and the players in those countries’ squares must run through the middle of the area to switch places. 

If they are caught by the tagger, they then also become a tagger. The last player standing wins the World Cup.

PROGRESSIONS & ADAPTATIONS

• Call out four countries at once - e.g. “England and Brazil switch places, USA and Australia switch places!”.
• Call out “World Cup!”. All players must move to a different country.
• Add balls so players have to dribble.
• The tagger has to tackle players to catch them.
• The tagger has to carry a ball if it is too easy for them.

COACHING POINTS

Encourage players to:

• Keep their heads up when travelling with the ball.
• Identify space and attack it quickly.
• Take bigger touches when running into space. Use laces.
• Take smaller touches when space is crowded. Use different parts of feet.
• Take positive first touch out of feet.