Stayin' Alive
Dribblers protect their balls in their own half while the other team's defenders try to kick them out.
At a glance
- 20 by 30 pitch in two halves with a channel across the middle. Blue has 5 dribblers in the top half, yellow 5 in the bottom, a ball each.
- Each team also has 2 defenders (D), who start in the other team's half and try to kick the dribblers' balls out of it.
- Ball kicked out? Fetch it, do five toe taps, then dribble back in.
- Play 60 second rounds, then change the defenders.
- Progress 1: Practice foot only: dribblers keep the ball moving with only their practice foot.
- Progress 2: Defenders can win the ball too: dribble it into your half and join your dribblers. The player you beat becomes a defender.
If it's not working: Only 1 defender for each team, not 2.
- blue team
- yellow team
- Ddefenders, both teams
- run
- dribble
- 1in this order
Blue dribblers keep their balls moving in the top half, yellow in the bottom half, with a channel across the middle. Each team has five dribblers and two defenders (D), and the defenders go into the other half to kick balls out. Here a blue defender has just kicked a yellow ball out: that child runs to fetch it, does five toe taps and dribbles straight back in.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks
Set up
- Divide the pitch into 2 halves with a channel across the middle.
- Each team has 5 dribblers with a ball each in their own half, and 2 defenders in bibs who start in the other team's half.
Balls, bibs and cones. A pitch in 2 halves with a channel across the middle. Each team has 5 dribblers and 2 defenders. With 10 to 12 players, use 3 or 4 dribblers a team.
How to play
- The dribblers stay in their own half and dribble around it. The defenders go into the other team's half and try to kick that team's balls out.
- If a dribbler's ball is kicked out, they fetch it, do five toe taps and dribble back in.
- Play 60-second rounds, then change the defenders.
Keeping everyone moving
The booklet plays until a team has no balls left. At Colts a ball kicked out comes straight back in after five toe taps, in timed rounds.
Make it easier
- Only 1 defender for each team, not 2.
- A dribbler with a foot on the ball is safe for a count of three.
Make it harder, step by step
- Practice foot only: dribblers keep the ball moving with only their practice foot.
- Defenders can win the ball too: dribble it into your half and join your dribblers. The player you beat becomes a defender.
Three things to say
- Small soft touches, keep the ball under control.
- Look around while dribbling.
- Protect the ball with your body.
Colts habit
Be brave: stay in the middle, not the corners.
Both feet
Keep the ball on the far foot from the defender.
Heads up
See the defender coming before they arrive.
Safety: Keep the area clear of bags and bottles. Stay on your feet, no slide tackles. No heading.