A numbers game

WHY USE IT

A warm-up game aimed at improving players’ awareness of finding space, teaching players to look up when running with the ball, building confidence and developing technical aspects of controlling and moving with the ball.

 

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Each player needs and ball and to start by finding some space within the area.

 

HOW TO play

As the players dribble the ball around the area, the coach calls a number, each linked to an instruction.

“Number one, on the run”: Dribble or run with the ball into space.

 

“Number two, under my shoe”: Stop the ball using the sole of your foot.

 

“Number three, under my knee”: Stop the ball and tap it with each of your knees.

 

“Number four, head on the floor”: Stop the ball and quickly get down to put your head on it.

 

“Number five, staying alive”: Complete 10 toe taps on the ball while doing a little dance with your hands for fun.

 

“Number six, do some tricks”: Players can make up their own trick, turn or skill here - or coaches can offer suggestions, such as penguin taps, or kick the ball up and catch it.

 

PROGRESSIONS

As players become more confident on the ball, coaches can call more than one instruction at a time, so players have to put two or three skills together. Coaches can also ask players to come up with their own rhyme ideas.

As players learn the rules, coaches could call out the numbers and players could respond by calling out the linked instruction.

 

COACHING POINTS

Encourage players to keep their heads up when moving around the area, to ensure they know where the space is and where other players are.