Warm-up: Capture the cones
Organisation
- Divide the players into two teams with everyone starting at the same time
- Each team has to retrieve cones or balls from the other half and return them to home base without being tagged in the opponents’ half
- The first team to bring all the cones/balls to base wins
- If a player is tagged in the opponents’ half, he/she must drop the cone/ball and return to base before trying again
- Develop the game so players have to go in pairs, or groups, or the whole group
- You can vary the running or movement styles
Ways to make the exercise easier
- You can limit the number of taggers on each team
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Players can be tagged anywhere on the field
Great questions to ask the children
- Can you show me how to change direction quickly?
- Can you escape the taggers by being clever?
Safety tips
- You can only tag players on the back or the knees
- Create a safe playing area
Skill development: Quick attack
Organisation
- Organise your group into two teams, which attack the opposite goal in threes
- Begin with both teams starting at the same time and scoring into an empty goal – the first team to score wins the point
- Develop the exercise so that players pass their ball to the opposite team, then race to score a goal with no opposition apart from a goalkeeper
- Make one of the three a defender so that it becomes harder to score first and also to defend your own goal
Ways to make the exercise easier
- No goalkeepers to start with and no conditions
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Every player has to touch the ball before they can score
- Every player can attack and defend at the same time, no limits
Great questions to ask the children
- Can you score a goal at the earliest opportunity?
- Can you try different types of shots?
- Can you follow up for rebounds?
Safety tips
- Players must wait for you to say “go!” once the area is clear
- Create a safe playing area
Game application: 7v5 game
Organisation
- Organise your players into two teams of 7v5 or 6v4 including goalkeepers and create mini-pitches
- Encourage the team with extra players to keep the ball and spread out
- Can the spare players find space to receive the ball?
- Can the defending team work out the best way to defend when outnumbered?
- Let the children referee their own games
- Rotate players every few minutes so they get to play on both teams
- Set conditions for how to score and let players find the solutions
Ways to make the exercise easier
- You could play 7v4 or 6v3
Ways to make the exercise harder
- You could play 7v6 or 6v5
Great questions to ask the children
- Can you spread out as a team to create space?
- Can you retain possession and find your players who have no markers?
- Can the defending team work out the best way to defend when outnumbered?
Safety tips
- Create a safe playing area