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Free activity · 100 Possession Activities

3v2 to Two Goals

By Gabe Ramos · U.S. Soccer Coach Educator · Updated October 2026

Three attackers against two defenders on a 20x15 with two mini goals on the far line and twelve seconds to score. Defenders counter to a mini goal on the start line. With three against two there is always a free player.

Setup

A 20x15 with two mini goals on the far line. Three attackers against two defenders.

How it works

• Score in either mini goal inside 12 seconds.
• Defenders counter to a mini goal on the start line.
• Rotate after each go.

Scoring

Ten goes each way.

Make it easier or harder

• Progression 1: Attackers must switch the ball at least once.
• Progression 2: 3v2 plus one recovering defender on the whistle.

Coach’s notes

• If It Stalls: Attackers dribbling into trouble? Two touches until the final pass.

Why it works

Two goals to attack means the defenders can never cover both, so the free player exists on every single go. The clock forces the attackers to find them before the numbers even up.

If the attackers keep dribbling into trouble, limit them to two touches until the final pass. The ball moves faster than any defender.

Where it sits

This is activity 52 of 100 in 100 Possession Activities (Theme 6 · Overloads: Numbers Up). The book is ten themes of ten rungs each, from a 3v1 square to a full 9v9 transition game, and every activity has its setup, rules, scoring, two progressions, three coaching points and an animated video like the one above.

All overloads drills ›