Dribbling game · 11.1 seconds
Sharks and Minnows
A dribbling game and a good first activity of a session. A rectangle about 20m by 15m marked with cones. All the players, the minnows, start on one end line with a ball each. One or two players, the sharks, start in the middle with no ball. On go, the minnows dribble across to the other end line and the sharks try to kick their balls out of the grid. Lose your ball and you join the sharks for the next crossing. Then everyone turns and goes back the other way, with more sharks each time, until one minnow is left. The last minnow wins. Start with one or two sharks and add one each round. Shrink the grid to make it harder. Six or more players, every player with a ball, cones for the grid and a bib or two for the sharks, 10 to 15 minutes.
Instructions
- Minnows on one end line with a ball each. One or two sharks in the middle with no ball
- On go, the minnows dribble across to the far line, ball close and head up
- The sharks try to kick the minnows' balls out of the grid
- Lose your ball and you are a shark for the next crossing. Go again the other way. The last minnow left wins
- Head up so you can see the sharks and the space
- Small, frequent touches to keep the ball close
- Use your body to shield the ball from the shark
- Change pace and direction to get away
Variation
- Add a safe zone halfway across where the minnows cannot be tackled. For the very youngest, sharks tag with two hands instead of tackling. Call a move, a stop turn or a drag back, that the minnows must use to cross. Shrink the grid as the sharks multiply.
Building lineups in seconds
Set your team sheet, plan your substitutions, and share it with the parents before you leave the car park.
