Pinball Wizards
3v3 inside a square with a bumper on each side who plays the ball back in for whoever passed to them.
A bumper player on each side of the square; the team with the ball scores for every pass to a bumper and straight back in to a teammate.
Set up
- Mark a 20 m by 20 m square.
- Put one bumper player on each side of the square.
- Two teams of 3 play inside.
3v3 inside, 4 bumpers (one per side), 20 m by 20 m.
How to play
- The team with the ball scores a point for each bumper-to-bumper chain: pass to a bumper, bumper passes back in to a teammate.
- Bumpers play for whichever team passes to them.
- Every 90 seconds, bumpers swap with inside players.
Keeping everyone moving
Bumpers receive and pass often. All roles change every 90 seconds, so nobody stands out. Nobody is ever out.
Make it easier
- Bumpers can take two touches.
- No tackling for 5 seconds after a bumper pass.
Make it harder
- Bumpers one touch only.
- A point only if the ball goes to a different bumper next.
Three things to say
- Move to get free for the bumper's return.
- Pass to the bumper's front foot.
- Receive and turn.
Words that work: "Brave pass through the gap!", "Great bumper, you set them up!", "You worked hard to get free!"
Colts habit
Points go to the team, and bumpers share in every point.
Both feet
Bumpers pass back with the practice foot for a bonus point.
Heads up
Know where the free bumper is.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2020 to 2021
- Not used.
- 2018 to 2019
- 2v2 inside, bumpers take 2 touches.
- 2016 to 2017
- 3v3 inside, one-touch bumpers.
Safety: Bumpers stay on their line. No slide tackles.
Keeping score: Each team counts chains in 90 seconds and tries to beat its own total.