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Practice games

Gate Races

The coach calls a number and you dribble through that many gates and get back home.

Practice 13 min 6 to 16 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2019

Me and My Ball Work hard

At a glance

  • 20 by 20 split into two grids, each with 4 cone gates. Everyone has a ball and a home spot on the edge.
  • The coach calls a number from 1 to 4. Dribble through that many gates in your grid, in any order.
  • Then dribble back to your home spot and wait for the next call.
  • Progress 1: Add a foot to the call: "3 gates, left foot only".
  • Progress 2: Keep the foot, and get home before the coach counts to ten out loud.

If it's not working: Call 1 or 2 gates at first, and hold up fingers for the number.

Gate Races: set-upC1231 coach calls 2, 2 through two gates, 3 back home20 m by 20 m
  • players
  • Ccoach
  • dribble
  • 1in this order

The area split into two grids with four cone gates in each. Everyone has a ball and a home spot on the edge. The coach calls a number from 1 to 4: dribble through that many gates in your grid, any order, and get back home. Here the coach has called 2: one child heads out through two gates while another, already through theirs, dribbles back to their empty home spot. No teams and no relay.

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

Set up

  • Split a 20 by 20 area into 2 grids with 4 gates in each.
  • Every player has a ball and a home spot on the edge.

In a 20 by 20, split the area into 2 grids with 4 gates in each. Everyone has a ball and a home spot.

How to play

  • The coach calls a number between 1 and 4. Every player dribbles through that many gates in their own grid and gets back to their home spot.
  • Gates can be taken in any order.

Keeping everyone moving

The booklet runs this as team relay races. At Colts everyone goes at the same time with a ball each. No teams race each other.

Make it easier

  • Call only 1 or 2 at first, so every trip is short and quick to finish.
  • Hold up fingers as you call the number, so everyone knows how many gates to find.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. The coach adds a foot or part of the foot to the call, for example 3 gates, left foot only.
  2. Keep the foot in the call, and get back home before the coach counts to ten out loud.
  3. In pairs: player 1 passes to player 2, who dribbles through 4 gates before getting home. Player 1 collects another ball and tries to catch player 2 by following their path.

Three things to say

  • Pick your gates before you go.
  • Small touches at the gate, bigger ones in space.
  • Head up on the way home.

Colts habit

Work hard: back home as quickly as you can, every call.

Both feet

Go through every gate with the practice foot.

Heads up

Pick your gates before you set off.

The Colts change: The booklet runs this as team relay races. At Colts everyone goes at the same time with a ball each. No teams race each other.

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: Back home quicker than your last call.