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Practice games

Follow the Leader

A pairs copy-and-escape game that ends with the leader dribbling under pressure.

Warm-up 10 min 4 to 16 players Cage Half pitch Hall 2016 to 2021

Moving Well Be brave

At a glance

  • 25 by 25 grid, no ball. Pairs of a leader and a follower: the follower stays close and copies every move.
  • The leader walks, hops, side-steps and stops. On the coach's call of Escape!, the leader sprints away.
  • On Stop!, everyone freezes. Followers: could you touch your leader? Then swap roles and go again.
  • Progress 1: Both players dribble a ball. The follower copies the leader's moves with the ball.
  • Progress 2: Only the leader has a ball. On Escape!, the leader dribbles away and the follower chases with no ball.

If it's not working: Leaders walk and use simple moves, like side-steps, hops and stops.

Follow the Leader: set-up1231 copy the leader, 2 Escape!, 3 Stop!: freeze25 m by 25 m
  • leader
  • follower
  • run
  • 1in this order

Pairs in the grid, no ball: the leader (blue) moves about and the follower (yellow) stays close and copies every move. On the coach's call of Escape! the leader sprints away and the follower tries to stay close. On Stop! everyone freezes and the follower checks whether they could touch their leader. Swap roles every go.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks

Set up

  • Mark a 25 by 25 grid.
  • Pairs: one player is the leader and the other is the follower.

25 by 25 grid (depending on numbers). Players split into pairs, without a ball, then with a ball each, or between them.

How to play

  • The follower stays close behind the leader and copies every move.
  • On the coach's call of Escape!, the leader sprints away and the follower tries to stay close.
  • On Stop!, everyone freezes. The follower checks: could I touch my leader? Then swap roles.

Make it easier

  • Leaders walk and use simple moves, like side-steps, hops and stopping, so followers can copy.
  • Use a bigger grid, about 30 by 30 metres, so leaders have more room to escape.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Both players dribble a ball and the follower copies the leader's moves with the ball.
  2. Only the leader has a ball. On Escape!, the leader dribbles away and the follower chases without a ball, to feel like a game.

Three things to say

  • Stay close enough to touch.
  • Copy every move.
  • Leaders: change speed to escape.

Colts habit

Lift each other: invent moves your partner can copy.

Both feet

Leader dribbles with the practice foot.

Heads up

Followers watch the leader, leaders watch the space.

The Colts change: No scores: on Stop!, the follower only checks whether they could have touched the leader.

A young leader can run this one, with an adult coach beside them.

Safety: Keep the area clear of bags and bottles. Stay on your feet, no slide tackles. No heading.

Keeping score: Invent a new move each go that your follower can copy.