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Practice games

Race Back

Also called Recovery Race

Lose the ball and your whole team races back into its own half before it can defend.

Game 16 min 6 to 14 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2019

Off the Ball Win It, Keep It, Score Work hard Lift each other

At a glance

  • Two teams in bibs on a 30 m by 40 m pitch (20 m by 30 m for 5v5), a goal at each end, discs across halfway. Your own half is home.
  • Play a normal game. When your team loses the ball, shout Home! and race back into your own half before you defend.
  • The team that won the ball attacks fast before the others are back. Lost it in your own half? You are already home.
  • When the ball goes out, dribble it back in. Play 4 minutes, then swap ends.
  • Progress 1: Home is a line of discs 5 m in front of your own goal, not halfway.
  • Progress 2: Home is 5 m out, but the player who lost the ball may chase straight away to slow the attack.

If it's not working: Use a shorter pitch, so home is closer.

Race Back: set-upblue's home: now they can defendhalfway1231 yellow wins it, 2 Home! race back, 3 now defend.30 m by 40 m
  • team racing home
  • team attacking
  • run
  • dribble
  • 1in this order

The 7v7 size, 30 m wide and 40 m long, with five players drawn. Blue were attacking the top goal and have just lost the ball. Yellow drives forward at once. The blue players shout Home! and race back over the halfway line into their own half, the shaded half with the goal they defend. Once they are home, they can defend. A teammate who was already in the home half defends straight away.

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

Set up

  • Mark a pitch 30 m wide and 40 m long for 6v6 or 7v7, or 20 m wide and 30 m long for up to 5v5.
  • Put a pop-up goal at each end and a halfway line of discs.
  • Make two teams in bibs. Put spare balls at the side.
  • Your own half is the half with the goal you defend. That is home.

3v3 to 7v7. 20 m wide and 30 m long for up to 5v5, 30 m wide and 40 m long for 6v6 or 7v7. Two pitches side by side for bigger groups.

How to play

  • Play a normal game to goals.
  • When your team loses the ball, shout Home! and race back into your own half.
  • Once you are in your own half, you can defend.
  • The team that won the ball attacks fast before the race is over.
  • Lost it in your own half? You are already home, so defend straight away.
  • When the ball leaves the pitch, dribble it back in. Play 4 minutes, then swap ends.

Keeping everyone moving

Every change of ball starts a race, so everyone is attacking or getting home. Use two pitches if you have more than 10.

Make it easier

  • Use a shorter pitch, so home is closer.
  • Only the player who lost the ball has to race home. Everyone else can defend.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Home is a line of discs 5 m in front of your own goal, not halfway.
  2. Home is 5 m out, but the player who lost the ball may chase straight away to slow the attack.

Three things to say

  • Lost it? Turn and sprint home straight away.
  • Run the quickest way back, then face the ball.
  • Shout Home! so your whole team goes together.

Words that work: "Great race home!", "Brilliant, you never gave up on it!", "Lovely shout, your team heard you!"

Colts habit

Work hard: sprint home for your team every time.

Both feet

Attackers finish with either foot while the race is on.

Heads up

On the way home, look over your shoulder to find the ball.

For your birth year

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

2018 to 2019
4v4 or 5v5 on a pitch 20 m wide and 30 m long, with halfway as home.
2016 to 2017
6v6 or 7v7 on a pitch 30 m wide and 40 m long.

Safety: Look where you are running on the way home. No sliding tackles. Keep a clear space round the goals.

Keeping score: Each child counts their races home in one game and tries to beat it next time.