Warm-up: Ring game
Organisation
- Organise small teams of 6-8 players and make up a relay course
- The players can be in lines and you can choose different ways for them to run through hoops, cones, ladders or obstacles while balancing, carrying, walking with or dribbling a ball
- Be creative, adapt to the players’ abilities and make it a race to keep it fun and exciting. Remember: children love to be challenged!
Ways to make the exercise easier
- Keep the challenges simple, like holding the ball in one hand or above the head without dropping it while moving through the course
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Increase the speed of the activity
- Increase the physical challenge by introducing different movements (e.g. hopping, jumping, skipping)
- Add extra balls or make the challenge more difficult
Great questions to ask the players
- Can you support and cheer on each other as a team?
- Can you take great care not to lose the ball?
- Can you race the other teams and make lots of noise when you finish?
Safety Points
- Create a safe space to play
Skill development: 5v5, safe rings
Organisation
- 5v5 – one team are taggers
- Players receive a point every time they successfully run to a safety hoop. If they are tagged, they lose a point. The first player to get five points is the winner
- Players then try to do the same while dribbling a ball and taggers have to run to the centre cone before they can try to tag
- Players have to try to pick the right time to move from one hoop to another
Ways to make the exercise easier
- Only have one or two taggers
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Reduce the number of safety hoops
Great questions to ask the children
- Can you keep looking all around you so you know where the taggers are?
- Can you move quickly between hoops?
- Can you keep your ball under control as you dribble and stop it in the hoop?
Safety Points
- The players should keep their heads up at all times so they see others who are moving around
- Create a safe space to play
Game application: 4v4, no goals, target rings
Organisation
- Two teams of 4v4 play against each other and try to score by receiving the ball in a hoop
- You can move the hoops into different positions or have a different number of points for certain hoops
- Every time a pass is received in the hoop, a point is scored and the first team to five points are the winners; then, rotate teams if you have multiple games or teams
Ways to make the exercise easier
- Start the game by playing throw and catch
- A team can have extra players to make it easier
Ways to make the exercise harder
- Only allow the players to use their feet
- A strong team can have fewer players to make it harder for them
Great questions to ask the children
- Can you try to find players on your own team when you make the pass?
- Can you run into a hoop ready to receive a pass?
- Can you call your team-mate when you are in a position to receive the ball?
Safety Points
- Create a safe space to play