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Practice games

Throw, Catch, Kick Circus

Pairs work through circus acts of throwing, catching and passing, choosing their own distance and counting together.

Warm-up 10 min 8 to 12 players Cage Half pitch Hall 2017 to 2020

Moving Well Lift each other

At a glance

  • Pairs, each with a soft ball, a football and three discs at 2, 4 and 6 m. One stands at the start, the other on a disc they pick.
  • The coach names an act. Throw to your partner and back, counting your catches together for 60 seconds, then a new act.
  • Juggler: underarm throw. Bouncer: bounce pass. Clapper: throw, clap, catch. Strongman: overarm throw into a hoop, partner fetches.
  • Kicker: ground pass, stop it with your sole, pass back with the other foot. Beat your last count and you can move to a further disc.
  • Progress 1: Catch with one hand only.
  • Progress 2: The thrower calls Juggler, Bouncer or Clapper as the ball leaves their hand, so the catcher has to react.

If it's not working: Use the closest disc, or a bigger or softer ball.

Throw, Catch, Kick Circus: set-up1231 choose your disc, 2 throw,3 catch and count together.20 m by 25 m
  • players
  • throw or roll
  • 1in this order

Two of the pairs during the Juggler act. Each pair has its own three discs at about 2, 4 and 6 m and picks its distance: the top pair is at the 6 m disc, the lower pair at 4 m. One throws underarm, the other catches, and they count the catches they make together in 60 seconds.

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

Set up

  • Spread pairs around the area.
  • Each pair lays its own three discs in a line for its distances.
  • Give each pair a hoop to lay on the ground as the target ring for the overarm act.

8 to 12 children in pairs, an area about 25 m by 20 m.

How to play

  • The coach names the circus act. Pairs choose their own distance disc.
  • Acts: Juggler (underarm throw and catch), Bouncer (bounce pass and catch), Clapper (throw, clap, catch), Strongman (overarm throw to land in a hoop, partner fetches and throws back), Kicker (pass the football along the ground, partner stops it with the sole and passes back with the other foot).
  • Pairs count successful acts together in 60 seconds.
  • If they beat their last count, they may move to a further disc.
  • Change act every 60 to 90 seconds.

Keeping everyone moving

Every pair has its own ball and space. Both partners are always throwing, catching or fetching.

Make it easier

  • Use the closest disc, or a bigger or softer ball.
  • Rolls instead of throws.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Catch with one hand only.
  2. The thrower calls Juggler, Bouncer or Clapper as the ball leaves their hand, so the catcher has to react.

Three things to say

  • Step with the opposite foot when throwing overarm.
  • Hands ready early, fingers spread.
  • Ground passes firm and accurate to the partner's feet.

Words that work: "Brave to try the far disc!", "Great teamwork, you counted every catch together.", "Hard work fetching, that lifts your partner."

Colts habit

Lift each other, the pair scores as one.

Both feet

In the Kicker act, pass back with the other foot.

Heads up

Call your partner's name before each throw.

For your birth year

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

2017
Strongman at 6 m, and Kicker uses one touch with the practice foot.
2020
Juggler and Bouncer only, soft balls, 2 m.
2018 to 2019
All acts.

A young leader can run this one, with an adult coach beside them.

Safety: Soft balls for all air throws. Throw to chest height, never at faces or heads. No heading. Keep pairs lined up in parallel lanes so stray throws do not cross.

Keeping score: Each pair's best count per act at their chosen disc, kept on a simple coach sheet by pair. Partners change weekly, so it tracks catches with anyone.