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Practice games

Football Bowling

Knock the bowling pins over with passes and pick up a cone each time you hit.

Practice 13 min 3 to 12 players Cage Half pitch Hall 2016 to 2021

Pass, Receive, Heads Up Work hard

At a glance

  • Groups of three, a ball each, 10 m from six cones set out like bowling pins: a triangle of 3, 2 and 1.
  • Pass along the ground to hit the cones. Hit one and you pick up a cone, so the triangle gets smaller.
  • Fetch your ball and go again straight away. All the cones gone? Set them up and start again.
  • Progress 1: Alternate feet: right foot, then left foot, every pass.
  • Progress 2: One of the three guards the cones and blocks passes with their feet. Swap guard after each hit.

If it's not working: Move closer, about 5 m from the cones.

Football Bowling: set-up1231 pass at the pins, 2 hit? lift a cone, 3 fetch it10 m by 15 m
  • players
  • run
  • pass
  • 1in this order

One group of three with a ball each, standing about 10 m back from six cones set out as bowling pins in a triangle. Pass to knock the pins over: hit one and you lift a cone. Fetch your ball and go straight again, nobody waits for a turn. All the pins gone? Set them up and go again.

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

Set up

  • For each group of 3, set out six cones like bowling pins: a triangle of 3, 2 and 1, with the single cone nearest the players.
  • Players stand about 10 m from the front cone with a ball each.

Balls and cones. About 10 by 15 m for each group: six cones set out like bowling pins at one end, players about 10 m away with a ball each.

How to play

  • Players pass the ball along the ground, trying to hit a cone. Each hit picks up one cone.
  • Fetch your ball and go again straight away.
  • When all six cones are gone, set them up and start again.

Keeping everyone moving

Each child has a ball so nobody waits for a turn, and there's no race to finish first. Groups reset and go again.

Make it easier

  • Move closer, about 5 m from the cones.
  • Roll the ball with hands for the first few goes, then pass with a foot.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Alternate feet: right foot, then left foot, every pass.
  2. One of the three guards the cones and blocks passes with their feet. Swap guard after each hit.
  3. Move the start back to about 15 m.

Three things to say

  • Side of the foot.
  • Standing foot points at the target.
  • Strike the middle of the ball.

Colts habit

Lift each other: cheer every pin, whoever knocked it.

Both feet

Alternate feet every bowl.

Heads up

Look at the pin, then the ball, then the pin.

The Colts change: Each child has a ball so nobody waits for a turn, and there's no race to finish first. Groups reset and go again.

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: Cones knocked down in a round.