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U10 · Passing block · Week 3 of 6 · Possession game

Gate hunt

Possession games with gates. Pass through any gate, move after you pass, and look for the free one.

Look upFind the next open gate before the ball arrives.
Pass through the gateWeight it so your team-mate receives it on the far side.
Move after you passFind a new space so the next pass is easy.

Block weeks1 234 5 6

The session in five lines

ArrivePass and Move Pair while you set up (8 min)
Gate huntPass through any gate. Never the same gate twice. (12 min)
Race to 15First group to 15 gate passes wins. (8 min)
4 v 4 gatesWin it and the gates are yours. (12 min)
Match with conditionsGoal after 3 passes. Worth 2 through the halfway gate. (15 min)

812812155

Minutes per stage. The last block is the conditioned game or the closing game. The dashed block is for changeovers and water.

Kit

12 conesFor gates, zones and lines.

2 ballsOne per group. Plus the match ball.

BibsTwo colours for the two teams. Plus one for a defender.

Different numbers?

Players	Gate hunt	4 v 4 gates
6	Two groups of 3 share the area	3 v 3
7	4 and 3	4 v 3, swap the spare often
8	4 and 4	4 v 4
9	5 and 4	5 v 4, the team of 5 swaps one out
10	5 and 5	5 v 5
11	6 and 5	6 v 5, swap the spare often
12	6 and 6	6 v 6

A group with more than four players keeps one waiting and swaps every minute. The gates stay put. Twelve cones make six gates, so a bigger group does not need more kit.

Arrive

Pass and Move Pair while you set up

8 min

KitA ball per pair

As the first children arrive, they pair up with a ball, pass, count their passes in a row and move to a new space after each pass.

While the children play, set up the area for the next game.

Ask: Who moved before the ball came back?

Gate hunt

Possession game · pass through any gate

12 min

Kit12 cones as 6 gatesA ball

Make six gates with two cones each, about a metre wide, spread round the area. One group of four has one ball. Score a point each time you pass through a gate to a teammate on the other side. You cannot score through the same gate twice in a row. Count your gates out loud.

The ball goes through, the receiver takes it, and the passer moves to find the next gate. Do not walk. Keep moving.

Gates, not just passesIf most passes go to a team-mate who is standing still next to you, ask them to find the gate that is furthest away.

Coaching points

Look up: Find the next open gate before the ball arrives.
Pass through the gate: Weight it so your team-mate receives it on the far side.
Move after you pass: Find a new space so the next pass is easy.

Ask: Which gate is open now?

Race to 15

Two groups · first to 15 gate passes

8 min

KitThe same 12 conesA ball per groupBibs, two colours

Two groups play Gate hunt in the same area, each with its own ball. The first group to 15 gate passes wins the round. Look out for the other group's ball as well as the gates. Reset the counts and race again. Can you get there faster?

Keep calling the same three points: look up, pass through the gate, move after you pass.

Ask: How did you find a gate that was free?

4 v 4 gates

Score at the gate, win it and attack the other way

12 min

KitThe same 12 conesA ballBibs for the defenders

Two teams play in the same area. The team with the ball scores a point for each pass through a gate to a team-mate. Defenders try to win the ball. If they do, they take over and score through the gates. Defenders can go through gates too, but they have to pass to score.

Keep calling the same three points: look up, pass through the gate, move after you pass.

Ask: Where was the free gate?

Match with conditions

Pass through the halfway gate, goal is worth two

15 min

KitMatch ballBibs, two colours2 cones as the halfway gate

Move into a match and play for 15 minutes. A goal only counts after three passes. Put two cones in the middle of the pitch as a gate. If a pass goes through the gate before the goal, the goal is worth two. Take the cones from the Gate hunt.

Coaching points throughout: look up, pass through the gate, move after you pass.

Ask: When did you choose the gate, and when did you not?

Go deeper

Optional. The detail behind the three coaching points, for when you want more. Draft 1: starting points for a coach to adjust, not rules.

Look before you receive

Know where the defenders, teammates and space are before the ball arrives.

What good looks like

Scan teammates and opponents before the ball arrives, ideally twice.
Check your shoulder on the side the pressure is coming from.
Decide the next action before the ball arrives.

If you see this, try this

Scans too late to use itStart the scan as the ball is on its way.
Scans, but the body is square to the passerOpen the body so you can see the whole pitch.

More detail

FA guidance for 7 to 11s: scan before receiving, looking at teammates and opponents.

Ask the players

What did you see before you received it?

Change it

Easier: Fewer players, more space.

Harder: More defenders, less time.

Passing: weight and direction

The pass should arrive at a speed the receiver can control, on the side away from pressure.

Most useful in stages 2, 4, 5.

What good looks like

Weight: the receiver can control it without breaking stride.
Direction: to the receiver's back foot, the foot furthest from you, on the side away from the nearest defender.
Move the ball out of your feet first, to create the angle for a longer pass.

If you see this, try this

Too hard, and the receiver's touch bounces awaySofter, or earlier, so the receiver is not rushed.
Too soft, and a defender steps inFirmer, and look at the defender before you pass.

More detail

Longer passes need a bigger swing and a good strike through the middle of the ball. They also need a good first touch to match.
Scan before the ball arrives, then choose the pass. There is often more than one good answer.

Ask the players

Why that pass? What else was on?

Change it

Easier: More space and time on the ball.

Harder: Reduce the space, or add a defender who tries to intercept.

Being an option

Give the player with the ball a pass to play and a clear line.

What good looks like

Offers a forward option and a safe option, so the passer has two choices.
Moves when the ball moves, so the shape stays connected.
Time the movement: arrive as the passer is ready, not before.

If you see this, try this

Everyone stands in a straight lineStagger the players, so each pass has an angle.
The support is too close to the ball and the defender covers bothSpread out so one defender cannot cover two options.

More detail

The best support gives the passer an angle past the nearest defender.
Wide players stay wide to stretch the defence; others offer depth and cover.

Ask the players

What options did the passer have?

Change it

Easier: More players in support.

Harder: Fewer players in support, or a defender who presses.

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