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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

Race Back: set-up 20 m by 30 m

Yellow has just won the ball, so blue races back over halfway into its own half (shaded) before it can tackle.

Set up

  • Mark a pitch with 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. 30 m by 20 m for 5v5, 40 m by 30 m for 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

  • 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.

2020 to 2021
Not used.
2018 to 2019
4v4 or 5v5 on 30 m by 20 m, with halfway as home.
2016 to 2017
6v6 or 7v7 on 40 m by 30 m.

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.