A simple but effective warm‑up exercise that puts players’ kicking and catching techniques under the microscope, and lets you see who really is keeping their eye on the ball.

What you need for this game

• 12+ Players (ideally this game has at least six players on each side, but you can make it work with fewer men)
• 1 Ball
• 8 Cones

Set-up

Use cones to mark out a playing area measuring 35m x 15m. Use more cones to mark out a 5m “dead zone” in the middle of the area, as shown 1.

Rules

Possession changes sides when either the ball is knocked down, intercepted or lands in the dead zone.

What you do as coach

1. Divide your players into two equal teams then place half of each team on either side of the dead zone. Nominate a player to start and throw him the ball.

2.On your whistle, the ball holder must kick the ball over the dead zone to a team mate on the other side.

3.Opposition players should attempt to intercept or knock down the kick and gain possession of the ball. Once they have the ball they must then kick it back across the dead zone to find one of their own team mates.

Award two points for each successful kick and catch made.

How you can progress the game

Make play tighter, and therefore more difficult for the kicking team, by decreasing the size of the playing area.

If you think your players need more space to work, increase the size of the playing area.

Really test out your players’ catching and kicking skills by getting them to kick with the wrong foot or catch with only one hand.

• Divide players into two teams.
• Place half of each team either side of the dead zone.
• Explain: Before play starts, let your players know that you’re looking for them to demonstrate excellent kicking and catching technique.

• Ball carrier kicks the ball over the dead zone for a team mate to catch.
• Call out: You want this game to be competitive, so call out to your players, urging them to keep the pressure on the team in possession.

• Defenders try to intercept kick, then kick over the dead zone to own team mate.
• Observe: Encourage competition in the air. Who is keeping their eye on the ball? Who is putting the opposition under pressure?