Athletics & Wellness Grade 7 15 min

Small-Sided Games & Decision-Making

Make quick decisions in a small-sided game scenario.

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1

What's a Small-Sided Game?

A small-sided game is just a version of a sport, like soccer or basketball, played with fewer people in a smaller space. Instead of a big 11-on-11 soccer match, you might play 3-on-3. This means you get to be part of the action a lot more!
2

Your Super Skill: Scan, Decide, Execute!

In any game, the best players make smart choices quickly. You can practice this with three simple steps. First, SCAN: look all around you to see your teammates, opponents, and the ball. Next, DECIDE: choose the best action, like passing, dribbling, or shooting. Finally, EXECUTE: do the action you chose!
3

Let's Play: 3 vs 3 Keep-Away

Find a small, open space and make a square with cones or shoes. Before you start, make sure to warm up with some light jogging and stretching. In this game, one team of three tries to pass the ball and keep it away from the other team of three. Remember to keep your head up to see the field and stay safe so you don't bump into anyone.

2 more steps in this tutorial

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Sample Practice Questions

Challenging
The 'Scan, Decide, Execute' cycle is useful in soccer. In which other team sport would this cycle be MOST useful?
0.A swimming relay race
1.A gymnastics team competition
2.Basketball
3.Bowling
Challenging
A great player seems to know what to do before they even get the ball. How does their use of the 'Scan, Decide, Execute' cycle make this possible?
0.They only focus on the 'Execute' part and have very good skills
1.They are lucky and guess correctly what will happen
2.They complete the 'Scan' and 'Decide' steps before the ball arrives, so they can 'Execute' instantly
3.They listen for instructions shouted by the crowd
Easy
In a small-sided game, what is one thing you will likely do more often compared to a full-sized game?
0.Touch the ball
1.Stand still
2.Wait for the coach to tell you what to do
3.Take a long water break

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