Pirate Crew
Win the ball with a teammate within two big steps and the coach shouts Crew! for a treasure point.
A normal game; when a child wins the ball with a teammate within two big steps, the coach near halfway shouts Crew! for a treasure point.
Set up
- Mark the pitch and put a goal at each end.
- Give each team bibs.
- The coach stands near halfway to watch.
4v4 or 5v5; 30 m by 20 m (older 40 m by 30 m).
How to play
- Play a normal game.
- When a team wins the ball, if a teammate was within two big steps of the child who won it, the coach shouts Crew! and the team gets a treasure point.
- Goals count one. Crew points count one.
- Restart with a dribble. No throw-ins.
- Play 5 minutes, then rotate finishers.
Keeping everyone moving
Every defender is needed to help, and finishers roll on often.
Make it easier
- A crew point for any win of the ball.
- A bigger pitch.
Make it harder
- Crew points count only if the team then makes a pass.
- The winning pair must be two different children each time.
Three things to say
- One player presses.
- A second helps close by.
- A third blocks the pass.
Words that work: "Great crew!", "Brave press!", "Well done helping!"
Colts habit
Lift each other by being the helper.
Both feet
Win the ball with either foot.
Heads up
Look for who needs help.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2018 to 2021
- Not used.
- 2016 to 2017
- 4v4, 30 m by 20 m. With more players, 5v5 on 40 m by 30 m.
Safety: No pushing or pulling. Win the ball with feet only.
Keeping score: Each child counts how many crew points they helped with, compared with last time.