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Practice games

Rhythm Feet

Whole-body footwork patterns along your own disc line, changing on a hand sign.

Warm-up 10 min 8 to 12 players Cage Half pitch Hall 2016 to 2018

Moving Well Lift each other

Rhythm Feet: set-up 20 m by 20 mC

Every child has their own line of four discs, laid like spokes; the coach in the middle shows the pattern with a hand sign and a beat.

Set up

  • Each child lays their own line of 4 discs, about one stride apart.
  • Lines are spread around the area like spokes.
  • Children stand at their own line with a ball.

8 to 12 children, an area about 20 m by 20 m.

How to play

  • The coach shows a pattern with a hand sign and a steady beat (clapping or music). For example: hop, hop, step, step. Or skip, skip, gallop, gallop. Or jump, jump, side, side.
  • Children travel along their disc line in the pattern, then bounce and catch their ball at the end, and come back.
  • When the coach changes the hand sign, everyone switches pattern.
  • Partner round: pairs invent a 4-beat pattern together and perform it side by side on their lines.
  • Each pattern performed in time together scores a pair beat.

Keeping everyone moving

Every child has their own disc line, and patterns repeat continuously.

Make it easier

  • Slow the beat, or use two-beat patterns.
  • Walk the pattern first.

Make it harder

  • Lead with the other foot, or add a ball roll around the waist on each fourth beat.
  • Dribble the pattern with the ball.

Three things to say

  • Stay on the balls of the feet, with arms swinging in time.
  • Eyes up on the coach's hand sign.
  • Smooth changes between patterns.

Words that work: "Brave to lead with your other foot!", "You two were perfectly together, great teamwork.", "Great effort, you kept the beat all the way."

Colts habit

Lifting each other, pairs create and teach patterns.

Both feet

Every pattern is done leading with each foot.

Heads up

Patterns change on a hand sign, not a shout.

For your birth year

Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.

2018
2-part patterns, slow beat.
2016 to 2017
4-part patterns with a ball bounce. Pairs invent and teach a pattern to another pair.

Safety: Flat discs only. Keep disc lines well spaced so hops and gallops do not cross. Check volume if using music near houses.

Keeping score: Each child picks their hardest pattern I can do in time and tries a harder one next week.