Get across the river

WHY USE IT

This activity allows for foundation-phase children to not only practice making decisions but also support ball mastery and encouraging communication in their team.

SET-UP

Set up a rectangle area that is suitable for the number of players and their age. The long sides of the rectangle are called ‘river banks’. At each corner of the rectangle you can add smaller squares or ‘homes’. You will need some bibs and a ball for each child.

HOW TO DO IT

The aim of the game is to cross the river as many times as possible without being eaten (tagged) by the crocodiles.

Choose a number of crocodiles who are placed in the centre of the rectangle (‘in the river’). The remaining players must travel from one river bank to the other and each wins a point for crossing safely. If they are tagged by a crocodile, they lose a point and the crocodile wins a point.

This can be a timed game, after which you can swap the crocodiles over. You can then introduce a football to each of those players who are crossing the river.

Similar to before, each player wins a point for successfully dribbling the ball across the river, while not getting tackled by the crocodiles. They can get two bonus points if, when crossing the river, they stop the ball in one of the ‘homes’ in the corners of the rectangle.

You can progress this to having one ball between a team of players. They will have to throw the ball to each other to cross the river, making sure the crocodiles do not catch the ball. Bonus points can be won for throwing to a player in the ‘home’.

Using the same point system, you can then ask players to pass and dribble the ball rather than throw it to cross the river.

COACHING POINTS

Remind players to look and run into space and use their body to shield the ball from the crocodiles. When dribbling, players should be using small touches to keep the ball close and bigger touches to run into space.

Communication is important when working in a team. Shout to your team-mate if you are free.

ADAPATIONS

There are lots of different ways to progress this game. You can add time limits, use both or only one foot, ensure that every child on the team has to touch the ball before getting over the riverbank, increase or decrease the size of the river and ask players to end in a specific ‘home’.