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The Skill Race - Fun and Endurance

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This game is for all those days when training needs to be a lot more than just teaching something – it needs to be a way of lifting the spirits of the players, Maybe on the first day of training after a big defeat or just a day when players’ spirits seem low, this is a fantastic game to lift their spirits and bring a smile to their faces.

One of the most important things to keep track of is the amount of fun your players are having during training sessions. This game makes them come out and enjoy competing once again, increasing their endurance in the process as well! This may seem quite complicated but, actually, is a very simple setup which gives you the options of changing things as and how you want to.

Age Group: 8 to 12 years

THE SETUP

- 6 markers (shown in red) and numbered M1 to M6
- 2 gates (shown in orange) and numbered Gate 1 and Gate 2
- The running distance should not exceed 10 metres
- 5 footballs (shown in white) and numbered Ball 1 to Ball 5
- 4 small goals (shown in blue) and numbered Goal 1 to Goal 4
- Players divided into teams of equal numbers and number as P1, P2, etc.
- A coach or neutral player (C)
- A defender (D)

If you are planning on running the entire thing simultaneously, then you will need to multiply the markers, goals, gates and footballs with as many teams as you have.

THE RULES

- Player P1 starts dribbling with Ball 1 through Gate 1 and Gate 2 before shooting the ball into Goal 1
- P1 then runs around marker M1 to pick up Ball 2
- P1 needs to perform a particular skill, like a step-over or double step-over or feint until s/he reaches M2, where they need to shoot at Goal 2
- P1 goes around Goal 2 and runs towards M3 to pick up Ball 3
- P1 dribbles Ball 3, performing a skill before passing the ball to C. P1 needs to receive the return wall-pass near M4 and take a first-time shot at Goal 3
- P1 then runs around C and picks up Ball 4
- P1 needs to perform another piece of skill, like a step-over or double step-over or feint until s/he reaches M5, where they need to shoot at Goal 4
- P1 then runs around Goal 4, to receive a pass from D
- P1 needs to receive Ball 5 and run as fast as possible, with the ball, to M6
- P1 goes around M6 and enters a 1v1 situation with D
- P1 dribbles past D and cross the finish line as soon as possible
- Once P1 crosses the finish line, s/he needs to pass the ball all the way to P2 for P2 to start the process

Note the individual time of each team and each player as they complete the course. Compare with other teams that are either racing simultaneously or one-after-another.

PROGRESSIONS

There really isn’t a progression for this game because this game has a totally different purpose however, you can always make things a little more difficult for players who are slightly better so here are some ways of doing that.

- Increase the number of skills/special moves that players need to show before markers M2, M4 and M5
- Vary the defensive pressure applied by D
- When the ball is passed to C, C can throw the ball back for the player to head it into Goal 3 instead of finishing with the foot

COACHING POINTS

- Encourage the players throughout the game – this is meant to be fun for them
- This game tests players in almost every aspect. Make a note of each player and where they are having problems. This will give you an idea of what to address in future coaching sessions
- Do not stop the game in the middle to correct or fix. Let the players solve their problems themselves