Athletics & Wellness
Grade 7
45 min
Small-Sided Strategy: Making Plays in 2-on-2 Games
This lesson teaches you how to think and act fast in 2-on-2 games. Learning these simple strategies will help you and your teammate work together to outsmart opponents and have more fun!
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What & Why
Small-sided games, like 2-on-2, are awesome because you get to touch the ball more and make important decisions all the time. Unlike a full-sized game with many players, in a 2-on-2, every move you and your partner make matters a lot!The goal is to learn how to use simple strategies to create advantages. This means learning how to create space, communicate with your partner, and make quick, smart choices under pressure to score or defend effectively.
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Example 1 — The Give-and-Go
The 'Give-and-Go' is a classic, super-effective offensive play. It's all about passing the ball and then moving to an open spot to get it back.Step 1 (Give): You have the ball and a defender is guarding you. You pass the ball to your teammate.Step 2 (Go): Immediately after you pass, you run or cut towards an open space (like towards the basket or goal). The defender who was guarding you might get confused or be slow to follow.Step 3 (Get it back): Your teammate sees you moving into the open space and passes the ball right back to you.Result: You catch the return pass while moving and now have a clear path to score!
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Example 2 — The Pick-and-Roll
The 'Pick-and-Roll' is a great way to free up your teammate from a defender. It requires teamwork and timing.Step 1 (Set the Pick): Your teammate has the ball. You run towards their defender and set a 'pick' (or screen) by standing still and creating a legal obstacle. Important: You must be stationary when the defender makes contact.Step 2 (Use the Pick): Your teammate dribbles closely around you, using you as a shield from their defender.Step 3 (Roll): After the defender is blocked by your pick, you 'roll' by turning and moving towards the goal or an open space.Result: The defense is now confused. They have to choose whether to guard your teammate (who is now free) or you (who is rolling to an open spot). Your teammate can either shoot or pass to you for a great scoring chance.
2 more steps in this tutorial
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Beginner
What is the main purpose of a 'give-and-go' play?
A.To get past a defender by passing and then moving to an open space.
B.To set a screen on a defender to free up your teammate.
C.To stand still and wait for your teammate to do all the work.
D.To dribble the ball as long as possible.
Beginner
You have the ball in a 2-on-2 soccer game, and a defender is right in front of you. Your teammate is open to your right. What is the BEST choice?
A.Try to dribble through the defender.
B.Pass the ball to your open teammate.
C.Kick the ball out of bounds to stop the game.
D.Stand still and wait for the defender to move.
Beginner
In a 'pick-and-roll', what is the main job of the player who 'rolls'?
A.To stand still after setting the pick.
B.To move to an open space to receive a pass.
C.To run away from the play.
D.To guard the other team's best player.
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