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Practice games

Football Bowling

Knock the bowling pins over with passes and lift a pin each time you hit.

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

Pass, Receive, Heads Up Work hard

Football Bowling set-up, from the Irish FA Grassroots Resource Booklet

Set up

  • Set up bowling pins with cones in a 2-3-1 pattern for each group of 3.
  • Players stand about 10 m away with a ball each.

Balls and cones. Cones set up like bowling pins in a line of 2-3-1, players 10 m away, 1 ball per group.

How to play

  • Players pass the ball trying to hit the cones. If they do, they get to lift 1 cone.
  • Fetch your ball and go again straight away.
  • The game is complete when all the cones have been lifted.

Keeping everyone moving

Each child has a ball so nobody waits for a turn, and there is no first team wins. Groups reset and go again.

Make it easier

Make it harder

  • Players must use right and left foot.
  • Increase the distance to make the pass longer. Hit from a bigger distance and lift 2 cones.
  • Allow each team 1 re-rack of the cones.

Three things to say

  • Passing technique, side of the foot.
  • Strike the middle of the ball, standing foot aimed at the target.
  • Weight of pass.

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 is no first team wins. 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: Each child keeps their own count and tries to beat it next time. Nothing is compared between children.