At a glance
- Groups of three, each with a 10 m by 10 m zone and a pile of cones, discs and hoops. Everyone has a ball.
- Build a loop in 3 minutes. It needs a jump, a balance, a change of direction, a hands skill and a practice-foot ball skill.
- Go round your loop for 90 seconds. All three start at different points on it.
- Groups move clockwise to the next course, walk it once to work it out, then go round it.
- Progress 1: Builders add one rule for the next group, such as hop between every disc or practice foot only.
- Progress 2: Add a pass: one move in the loop is a pass to a group-mate, who has to be ready to receive it.
If it's not working: Give each group a picture card of an example course.
- players
- run
- dribble
- 1in this order
One group's 10 m by 10 m zone, drawn on its own (the card's 25 m by 25 m holds up to four zones, 3 m apart). The example loop: jump into the hoops, balance along the discs, dribble round the cone and back along the bottom. All three start at different parts of the loop and go round at once for 90 seconds. Each group builds its own loop with a jump, a balance, a change of direction, a hands skill and a practice-foot ball skill.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks
Set up
- Mark one zone per group with corner cones.
- Give each group a kit pile.
- Groups are mixed and changed every week (for example by birthday month).
9 to 12 children in groups of 3, one zone about 10 m by 10 m per group, zones at least 3 m apart: four zones fit in about 25 m by 25 m.
How to play
- Each group has 3 minutes to build a loop course. It must include a jump, a balance, a change of direction, a hands skill and a practice-foot ball skill.
- While one child places kit, the other two dribble around the zone.
- All three start at different parts of the loop and go at once, round and round for 90 seconds.
- Groups move clockwise to the next course, walk it once to work it out, then go round it.
- Last round: every group adds one new idea to their own course.
Keeping everyone moving
Three children start at three different points, so nobody waits for a turn. Builders dribble while building.
Make it easier
- Give each group a picture card of an example course.
- Reduce the must-include list to three items.
Make it harder, step by step
- Builders add one rule for the next group, such as hop between every disc or practice foot only.
- Add a pass: one move in the loop is a pass to a group-mate, who has to be ready to receive it.
Three things to say
- Clear, safe spacing of kit.
- Everyone keeps moving through their loop.
- Children explain their course simply and warmly.
Words that work: "Brave idea, I have never seen that move!", "Great leading, you explained it so clearly.", "Love how you helped the new group try your course."
Colts habit
Leadership, builders teach their course.
Both feet
A practice-foot skill is compulsory in every course.
Heads up
In the loop, look for your group-mates so you do not bump.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2018 to 2019
- The coach approves the course in 10 seconds, 3 must-includes.
- 2016 to 2017
- All 5 must-includes, plus a rule that the course needs a pass to a teammate.
Safety: No stacking kit to jump over, and no jumping over cones or balls: flat discs only for jumps. Check each course before it runs. Keep zones at least 3 m apart.
Keeping score: Each child picks one course move and notes their own best version (for example how many hops on one leg) to try again next week.