Game: Catch them out

Use this game of catch, pass and movement to work on players’ quickness, high ball awareness and ability to handle under pressure. You can add lots of variations to the initial game.

Organise to take a high ball, like from a kick-off and then put the opposition under pressure.

1. Split into two teams of three and put each team into a box.

1. Have one team kick or throw to the other team. While the ball is in the air, they run to a designated box.

1. The receiving team catch the ball, and pass it so each player touches the ball, with the last player kicking or throwing the ball into the designated box.
2. Repeat until one team drops the ball inside their box. If a kick/throw goes outside the box, the receiving team pick up the ball and kick from any point inside their box.

VARIATIONS

• Play with just three boxes, but further apart. The kicking team leave their box once they have kicked.
• Play with four players, and one player can chase the kick, as long as they start in their box as the kick is made.
• With older players, the catchers can be lifted. They score a bonus point for this.
• Have the receiving team call out which box the opposition needs to run to when the ball is in the air.

TECHNIQUE

• Call early.
• Kick or throw the ball, but preferably kick.