Dribbler and Bouncer
Garden game for keeping the ball moving and dodging while a grown-up tries to hit it.
Your child dribbles inside the square; you roll the soft ball along the ground from the corner, trying to hit their football.
Set up
- The child starts in the middle of the square with the football.
- The grown-up starts in one corner holding the soft ball.
A 6 m by 6 m patch of garden (about 8 giant steps each way), corners marked with 4 shoes, tins or cones.
How to play
- The child dribbles around inside the square, keeping the ball close.
- The grown-up rolls (never throws hard) the soft ball along the ground, trying to hit the child's football.
- The grown-up counts how many seconds pass before a hit, and the child tries to beat their own time next go.
- Swap roles every few goes, so the child gets to be the bouncer too.
Make it easier
- A bigger square.
- The grown-up must stay in their corner.
Make it harder
- A smaller square (4 m by 4 m).
- The child must use the practice foot only.
Three things to say
- Keep your ball moving, because a still ball is easy to hit.
- Watch the bouncer and change direction.
- Laugh when you get hit and go again.
Colts habit
Be brave: laugh when you get hit and go again.
Both feet
Practice foot only round.
Heads up
Watch the bouncer, not just the ball.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2020 to 2021
- The grown-up rolls the soft ball slowly from far away.
- 2016 to 2017
- The grown-up can move around the square and roll faster.
Safety: Roll the soft ball, never throw it. Clear the square of garden tools.
My best
Seconds before a hit. Last time and this time. Only ever compared with your own earlier go, never with anyone else. Saved on this device only.