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2021s: Everyone's a Keeper
12 players · 2 coaches · cage · habit: lift each other
| Minutes | Block | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | 3v3 | |
| 10 to 40 | Station 1 and Station 2, 15 minutes each | Station 1: Teddy Keepers, Station 2: Spider Keepers |
| 40 to 60 | Match | A match |
0 to 10 min 3v3
Set up two small pitches with a goal at each end. As children arrive they go straight in: 1v1, then 2v2, then 3v3. Coaches feed a spare ball in from the side the moment one goes out. No throw-ins or corners: dribble it in or pass it in, to keep it fast. The match is the warm-up.
10 to 40 min Station 1 and Station 2, 15 minutes each
Two groups of about 6. Group 1 starts on Station 1, group 2 on Station 2. Swap at 25 minutes. A coach at each station.
Station 1
Teddy Keepers
Everyone guards their own teddy with their hands while rolling balls at everyone else's.
Set up
- Spread the discs around the area, one per child.
- Put a teddy (or cone) on each disc.
- Every child stands by their teddy holding a ball.
Stage 1: play it
- Each child guards their own teddy.
- On Go, children roll their ball gently along the ground at other children's teddies.
- Keepers stop rolled balls with their hands and pick them up.
- A saved ball is rolled straight back out.
- If your teddy is knocked over, stand it up and keep going.
- After 60 seconds, everyone moves to a new teddy.
Stage 2: progress it
Roll with the other hand.
Stage 3: progress it
Guard two teddies.
If it's not working: Make the area bigger.
Keeping everyone moving: Every child attacks and defends at the same time. Nobody is ever out.
Three things to say
- Hands behind the ball.
- Get your body behind it.
- Look up before you roll.
You need: soft toy or cone (teddy) (1 per child), ball (1 per child), discs (1 per child)
Station 2
Spider Keepers
Pairs hold hands like a spider and defend their gate together while rolling or throwing at other gates.
Set up
- Set out one cone goal per pair, spread across the area and facing different ways.
Stage 1: play it
- Each pair defends their own gate together, holding hands like a spider.
- One child in the pair has the ball and rolls or throws it at any other gate.
- Spiders save with any hand but must not let go of each other.
- After a save, the saver throws the ball out.
- Every 90 seconds, pairs swap who holds the ball.
Stage 2: progress it
Two balls in play.
Stage 3: progress it
Only low throws count.
If it's not working: Wider gates, bigger balls.
Keeping everyone moving: Every pair is keeping all the time. No queues.
Three things to say
- Move feet sideways together.
- Talk to your partner.
- Hands ready.
You need: cones (a 3 m gate) (2 per pair), ball (1 per pair)
40 to 60 min Match
A match
One big pitch, 6v6 with goalkeepers. Kick-ins or dribble-ins instead of throw-ins, to keep the touches up. A spare ball comes in the moment one goes out. One coach refs, the other feeds spare balls from the side.
Equipment for the whole session
- soft toy or cone (teddy) (1 per child)
- ball (1 per child; 1 per pair)
- discs (1 per child)
- cones (a 3 m gate) (2 per pair)
Habit of the week: Lift each other
Say it at the start, watch for it all session, name one moment on the walk off.
Reminders
- Drinks when moving. The huddle is the walk off: one moment of the habit, with the child's name.
- A ball at every foot. Nobody stands without one for 30 seconds.
- No queues and nobody is ever out.
- Talk under 30 seconds. Show it, don't tell it.
- Every game has stages: start at stage 1 and move on when it is working.
This week at home
For parents: Throw Target Buckets, a Everyone's a Keeper game for the garden or the park.
https://carnmoneycolts.co.uk/game-ek-throw-target-buckets.html