Football Technique | Catch the Robbers
Suitable for players aged 7-8 years
SETUP
- Create an area up to 30m x 20m. Modify the size depending on the number of players
- Within the area use cones to make two 3m x 3m areas (‘police station’ and ‘prison’) at either end
- Split the players into 2 teams – ‘robbers’ have a ball each, ‘cops’ do not
HOW TO PLAY
- One group of players become ‘robbers’ and dribble their ball within the area
- The second group are the ‘cops’ and start the game inside the ‘police station’
- At the start of the game 1 ‘cop’ leaves the ‘station’ to tackle 2 ‘robbers’ who must go to ‘prison’. The ‘cop’ then returns and sends out another ‘cop’ to catch 2 more ‘robbers’. To tackle a ‘robber’ the ‘cop’ must kick their ball out of the area
- ‘Robbers’ have 2 lives, meaning they don’t remain in ‘prison’ until they have been tagged twice
- When all the ‘robbers’ are in ‘prison’ the teams swap roles. The fastest team to catch all the ‘robbers’ wins
PROGRESSION
INTERMEDIATE:
- Specify the use of the non-dominant foot only
OUTCOMES
- Agility while changing direction at speed
- Dribbling and changing direction with close ball control
- Keeping head up for awareness of space and other players while dribbling
- Players ability to use their body to protect the ball while under pressure