This game is sort of a series of "mini-scrimmages", emphasizing aggressiveness, stealing the ball, dribbling, and shooting.

Set up a predefined play area of about 20 x 20 yards. Put a portable goal at each end (or use a pair of cones if needed). Split your team up into two, and assign numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., so that there is a pair of each number (one on each team). Separate your teams onto opposite sides of the playing area.

When you call out a number, one person from each team will rush onto the field (with young teams you'll likely need to have an assistant coach help the kids remember their numbers). For an extra twist have them run around a corner cone on their way in. Throw out a ball into the middle, which is now "live", and these two players will try to contain the ball, dribble it towards the opposite goal, and shoot. This is simply a 1v1 scenario.

To add variety, throw the ball high into the air so players can practice more difficult traps. Also, if a ball quickly goes out of bounds, throw in another one and let the same players keep at it.

With large teams, the risk of this game is inactivity by those players not in the game. To overcome this, call out one number, let them get started, and then call out a second number with a separate ball, so you have a couple different pairs playing at the same time. Even better, call out 2, 3, or 4 numbers at a time.

If there are games that you like to use that you don't see here, please pass them along! Just email us at info@soccerforcoaches.com.