Piggy in the Middle
Two players pass the ball to each other past a player in the middle who tries to touch it. The simplest rondo for the youngest players.
- Age
- U6–U10
- Players
- 3–15
- Duration
- 8 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 6 × 6 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Possession game
- Objectives
- Technical: Passing, Receiving / first touch
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:PassingReceiving
- Tactical:Support play
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
For U6–U8, the 2v1 is the first step: the passers learn to move sideways to create a passing line and to pass along the ground, and the middle player learns to chase and block. Swap often so every child plays every role.
Objective
Pass past a defender and move sideways to open a passing line.
Organisation
- Small square of 6 × 6 m (two cones per side). Two passers on opposite sides, one player in the middle.
How it works
- Passers keep the ball by passing to each other; they can move along their side.
- If the middle player touches the ball, they swap with the passer who made the pass.
- Rounds of 45 seconds; count the passes.
Coaching points
- Move sideways so the middle player is not in the way.
- Pass along the ground.
- Stop the ball before passing (first) and then try to pass with two touches.
Progressions
- Allow the passers to move anywhere around the square.
Regressions
- The middle player walks.
Variations
- Three passers around a triangle (3v1).
Key principles
- Move to make a line, pass on the ground.
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