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Practice games

Parcel Post

Also called Pass the Parcel Party

Three players share two balls, so the free player is always one pass from a parcel.

Practice 12 min 9 to 12 players Cage Half pitch 2016 to 2019

Pass, Receive, Heads Up Lift each other

At a glance

  • In a 25 m square, groups of three share two balls and no bibs. Two dribble and the third (F) is free.
  • F moves into a gap and calls for the ball. A player with a ball passes to F, who takes it on and dribbles.
  • The passer is now the free player (F). The next pass goes to them.
  • After 90 seconds the coach mixes the groups.
  • Progress 1: Add a thief in a bib. A parcel the thief wins is dribbled straight back to its group.
  • Progress 2: The free player's first touch must take the ball away from the thief, into space.

If it's not working: Play in a bigger area, and let the free player stand still to receive.

Parcel Post: set-upFF1231 pass to F, 2 F takes it on, 3 passer is now free25 m by 25 m
  • one group
  • other group
  • Ffree player
  • run
  • dribble
  • pass
  • 1in this order

Two of the groups of three. In each group two children have a parcel and the third, F, is free and calling for one. In the blue group a parcel is passed to F, who takes it on with their first touch, and the passer moves off as the new free player. The green group does the same at the same time.

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

Set up

  • Mark a 25 m by 25 m area.
  • Make groups of three, each with two balls (parcels).
  • No bibs for the groups: each child knows their two group-mates.

Groups of 3, 9 to 12 children. 25 m by 25 m.

How to play

  • The two players with parcels dribble. The third (F) moves and calls for a parcel.
  • A player with a parcel passes to F, who receives and dribbles on.
  • The passer is now the free player.
  • After 90 seconds, the coach mixes the groups.

Keeping everyone moving

Two balls for three players means the free player is only ever one pass from a ball. There are no lines and nobody is out.

Make it easier

  • Play in a bigger area, and let the free player stand still to receive.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Add a thief in a bib. A parcel the thief wins is dribbled straight back to its group.
  2. The free player's first touch must take the ball away from the thief, into space.

Three things to say

  • Free player moves into a gap and calls.
  • Pass to the receiver's feet.
  • First touch away from the nearest player.

Words that work: "Great call, you asked for it!", "Brave touch past the thief!", "You made your group work!"

Colts habit

Call for the ball clearly, so your friend knows you are free.

Both feet

Receive with one foot, dribble off with either.

Heads up

Find your group's colour among the others.

For your birth year

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

2018 to 2019
No thief.
2016 to 2017
Thief, and a first touch into space.

Safety: Remind children to watch for other groups crossing.

Keeping score: Each child counts their own clean receives in a round and tries to beat it.