The Sneijder Game

• Wesley Sneijder grew up in Utrecht’s notorious Ondiep. Even when he was at Ajax he stayed up as late as midnight to play on the streets
• They played cage football. A concrete pitch measuring about 10x5m surrounded by meshed metal fencing.
• “It made you quick and toughened you up” Ajax even encouraged it as it helped with technique and balance.
• This game replicates the conditions Sneijder faced, so use a pitch just 10x5m and play 3v3.
• Use small goals so the players need to use better technique to get closer
• So with little space you need to act and think quickly.

“At midnight I’d still be on the street playing football. It was crazy there were fights, the police came every day but you had to survive” Wesley Sneijder