Circuit Race
Time your child round a skills circuit, then swap. Each of you tries to beat your own clean time.
At a glance
- Lay out 2 gates, a turn marker, a wall (no wall? whoever times passes it back) and a goal (or two jumpers). You hold a timer.
- Your child dribbles through both gates, round the turn marker, passes off the wall, controls it and shoots. You time the round.
- Only clean rounds count (no heavy touches). Then swap: they time you, and you each try to beat your last time.
- Progress 1: Add a skill move at the second gate: a step-over, chop or turn.
- Progress 2: Same, and the wall pass and the shot are with the practice foot.
If it's not working: Count every finished round, even one with a heavy touch.
- your child
- dribble
- pass
- shot
- 1in this order
One way to lay the circuit out. The child dribbles through two gates and round the turn marker, passes off the wall and controls it, then shoots while the grown-up times them. Then swap. Only clean rounds count.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips
Set up
- Lay out the circuit: 2 gates (4 markers), 1 marker to turn round, a spot to pass against the wall, and a goal.
- You stand at the start with a timer.
Garden, park.
How to play
- Your child dribbles through both gates, round the turn marker, passes off the wall, controls it and shoots. You time the round.
- Only clean rounds count: no heavy touches. Then swap: they time you.
- Each of you tries to beat your own last time.
Make it easier
- Count every finished round, even one with a heavy touch.
- Put the gates, the turn marker, the wall spot and the goal closer together.
Make it harder, step by step
- Add a skill move at the second gate: a step-over, chop or turn.
- Same, and the wall pass and the shot are with the practice foot.
Three things to say
- Smooth is fast.
Colts habit
Work hard: little and often beats one long go.
Both feet
Do a round with the practice foot only.
Heads up
Look up between touches.
Safety: Pick a clear, flat space, look out for traffic and hazards, and stop if anything hurts. Soft ball indoors.
My best
Their clean circuit time. Last time and this time. Only ever compared with their own earlier go, never with anyone else's. Saved on this device only.