Some of the world's top coaches have devised a range of different 4v4 formats that offer different challenges and build different skills.

At first, these may seem unfamiliar and not like 'real football'. But they're every bit as competitive and far more effective than making kids play formats devised for youths and adults. Other sports use mini-formats to develop their young players, football is doing the same.

Games with multiple goals to score in encourage changes of direction and spatial awareness. Games with an 'end-zone' to score in encourage attacking runs. Games with 'sidelines' encourage wing play. This creative thinking develops creative players.
Example game formats