Kids Make the Rules
Each team suggests a rule, everyone votes with their feet, and rules stack up through the session.
At a glance
- Two pitches, a goal at each end, 4 teams by random bib draw. Hold up the card: no heading, no slide tackles, be kind.
- Each team has 1 minute to suggest one rule, like score in either goal, or goals from outside a line count double.
- Everyone votes by standing next to the rule they want most. That rule is played for 5 minutes on both pitches.
- Then vote keep, bin or tweak, and suggest the next rule. Kept rules stack up over the session.
- Progress 1: Keep two rules going at once.
- Progress 2: Keep two rules going, and two touches at most each.
If it's not working: The coach offers a menu of 3 rules to choose from.
- players
- Ccoach
- run
- 1in this order
The vote, on one of the two pitches. The coach holds up the never-change rules card. Each team has suggested one rule, two of them shown here at a cone each (score in either goal, and long shots count double), and everyone votes by going to stand beside the rule they want most. The chosen rule is then played for five minutes on both pitches. Seven of the children shown.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks
Set up
- Mark two pitches side by side.
- Hold up the card with the never-change rules: no heading, no slide tackles, be kind.
- Split children into 4 teams by random bib draw.
8 to 12 children. Two pitches of about 25 m by 20 m.
How to play
- Each team suggests one new rule in 1 minute (for example you can score in either goal, or goals from outside a line count double).
- Everyone votes by standing next to the rule they want most.
- The chosen rule is played for 5 minutes on both pitches.
- At the end, children vote keep, bin or tweak.
- Play the next rule. Rules that are kept can stack up over the session.
Keeping everyone moving
Suggesting and voting takes under 2 minutes. Both pitches play at once. If a rule creates waiting or leaves someone out, it goes straight in the bin.
Make it easier
- The coach offers a menu of 3 rules to choose from.
- Only one new rule at a time.
Make it harder, step by step
- Keep two rules going at once.
- Keep two rules going, and two touches at most each.
- Children explain why their rule makes the game better.
Three things to say
- Children suggesting rules that keep everyone involved.
- Children adapting their play to new rules.
- Children listening to others' ideas.
Words that work: "Brave idea!", "Great work sticking with a hard rule!", "Nice, you listened to your teammate's idea!"
Colts habit
A different child presents their team's rule each round.
Both feet
The coach can suggest other foot only for 1 minute as a rule.
Heads up
Children must check which rule is on before kick-off.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2018 to 2019
- 1 rule per round, menu optional.
- 2016 to 2017
- Children make their own rules and explain why.
Safety: The never-change rules are fixed. The coach can veto any rule that is unsafe or leaves someone out.
Keeping score: Each child remembers the best rule they invented and tries to invent a better one next time.