Sardine Soccer

Sardine Soccer will develop students' passing skills and teach them to keep their head up when they're in possession of the ball

Setup
Place teams of 3-6 players within a soccer field's center circle or in a small grid that is marked with pylons. Each team gets one ball and different color pinnies so they can identify their teammates.

Execution
The object of the game is for players to make successful passes to their teammates amid the congestion and confusion of the playing area. All players must be constantly moving, which prevents teammates from bunching together and increases the fitness component of the drill.

Variations

1. You can specify certain conditions to develop particular skills. For example, on- touch, two-touch, right foot or left foot only. Or passing only to a teammate who is cutting across the circle.
2. To increase the competitive aspect of the game, count the number of times the ball leaves the circle and/or the number of unsuccessful passes, with the lowest score winning the contest. Or have players try to score points by knocking their opponents' balls out of the circle with their own ball.
3. Within teams you can specify a particular sequence in which the passes must be made (i.e. from Fred to Jan to Bill to Jane and back to Fred).
4. After receiving a pass, the player dribbles the ball for five or 10 seconds, then calls the name of a teammate. The teammate must run to the ball and make the next pass.

References:
1. George R. Logan (San Diego State U.), "Sardines." From John Reeves, and Malcolm Simon, The Coaches Collection of Soccer Drills, West Point, New York: Leisure Press, 1981.
2. Partner Pass and Move Warmup, SoccerXPert, 2005-2008.
http://www.soccerxpert.com/soccerdrills/ID1260.aspx

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