Fruit Bowl
Strike at any of four goals from outside its line and collect that goal's fruit for your pair's bowl.
At a glance
- 20 m square, a pop-up goal on each side, a shooting line 4 to 6 m out, and a pile of discs by each goal: the fruit.
- Pairs share a hoop outside the square: the bowl. Everyone dribbles a ball and shoots at any goal from outside its line.
- Score, then take one disc from that goal's pile to your bowl. Yellow discs (bananas) only count if you scored with your other foot.
- Play 2-minute rounds. Aim for one disc of every colour in your hoop.
- Progress 1: Orange discs (oranges) only count from a first-time shot.
- Progress 2: Add two defenders in bibs who try to win a ball. Swap them every minute.
If it's not working: Move the shooting lines closer to the goals.
- players
- run
- shot
- 1in this order
A pop-up goal faces in from the middle of each side, with a shooting line 4 to 6 m out and a pile of discs beside each goal: red apples, yellow bananas, green pears, orange oranges. Each pair's bowl is a hoop just outside the square. Everyone dribbles at once. Here one child scores at the orange goal from outside its line, takes one orange and drops it in their pair's bowl.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips and age tweaks
Set up
- Place a pop-up goal in the middle of each side of the square, facing in.
- Put a pile of one disc colour beside each goal: red apples, yellow bananas, green pears, orange oranges.
- Mark a curved shooting line of discs 4 to 6 m out from each goal.
- Put the hoops around the outside. These are the fruit bowls, one per pair.
8 to 12 children, 20 m by 20 m square.
How to play
- Everyone dribbles freely in the middle.
- Strike at any goal from outside its shooting line.
- Score, then take one fruit from that goal's pile and drop it in your pair's bowl.
- Yellow fruit (bananas) only count if you scored with your other foot.
- Aim for a fruit salad: at least one of every fruit.
- Play 2-minute rounds, then count the fruit.
Keeping everyone moving
Everyone has a ball and there are four goals. Missed shots are just a chase and another go.
Make it easier
- Move the shooting lines closer to the goals.
- Use cones to make the goals wider.
Make it harder, step by step
- Orange discs (oranges) only count from a first-time shot.
- Add two defenders in bibs who try to win a ball. Swap them every minute.
Three things to say
- Look up to choose a goal.
- Get the ball out of your feet before you strike.
- Follow the shot in.
Words that work: "Great try with the other foot!", "Brave shot from far out!", "Lovely teamwork filling your bowl!"
Colts habit
Lift each other: bowl partners cheer each other's fruit.
Both feet
Bananas need the other foot.
Heads up
Pick the goal with fewest children near it.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2019
- 6 m, bananas other foot only.
- 2020 to 2021
- Shooting line 4 m, bananas any foot.
A young leader can run this one, with an adult coach beside them.
Safety: Strike only at a goal with no one standing in front of it.
Keeping score: How many different fruits did my pair get? Can we make a fuller salad than last round?