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Practice games

Gate Hop

Also called Pass and Move Gates

Pass through a gate to your partner, then run to a new gate straight away so they can find you.

Practice 12 min 4 to 16 players Cage Half pitch Hall 2016 to 2021

Off the Ball Pass, Receive, Heads Up Work hard Lift each other

Gate Hop: set-up 20 m by 20 m

Pass through a gate to your partner, then run straight to a new gate so they can pass back through it.

Set up

  • Mark a 20 m by 20 m square with a disc on each corner.
  • Scatter 8 to 10 gates inside, each made of two cones 1.5 m apart.
  • Children pair up with one ball per pair.

4 to 16 children in pairs. 20 m by 20 m.

How to play

  • Partners stand either side of a gate. Pass through it to your partner.
  • As soon as you pass, run to a new gate and call your partner's name.
  • Your partner dribbles to the other side of that gate and passes through it to you.
  • Keep going: after every pass, the passer runs to a new gate.
  • Play 60 seconds, rest, then go again with a new partner.

Keeping everyone moving

Every pair plays at once and the passer is always running to a new gate. No lines, and nobody waits for a turn.

Make it easier

  • Make the gates 2.5 m wide and stay about 4 m from your partner.
  • The receiver stops the ball with the sole, then passes.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Two touches only: one to control, one to pass through the gate.
  2. Two touches, and the new gate must be at least 5 m from the last one.
  3. Add two gate guards who stand in gates to close them, so pairs must find an open one.

Three things to say

  • Pass, then go. Never stand and watch your pass.
  • Pick a gate your partner can see, and call their name.
  • Get to the new gate before your partner is ready to pass.

Words that work: "Brilliant, you moved the moment you passed!", "Great call, your partner found you!", "You made it easy for your friend!"

Colts habit

Work hard: after every pass, run to a new gate.

Both feet

Pass with your left foot, then your right, every other pass.

Heads up

Look up for an empty gate before you run.

For your birth year

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

2020 to 2021
A ball each: pass through a gate, chase your ball, stop it with your sole, then pick a new gate.
2018 to 2019
Pairs as written, with gates 2 m wide and partners about 5 m apart.
2016 to 2017
Gates 1.5 m wide, two touches, and the new gate must be at least 5 m away.

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

Safety: Passes stay on the ground. Look up before running across the square so pairs don't collide.

Keeping score: Each child counts the new gates they ran to in 60 seconds and tries to beat their own number.