Fast feet

No player likes to be tackled when carrying the ball, so arm them with evasion skills. This game promotes fast feet by changing stride patterns at pace while working on passing and communication.

Set-up

Eight players and four balls in a 15m square with four agility ladders placed randomly within. If you do not have ladders, use channels of cones or poles (picture 1). Set up as many squares as players/ equipment permit.

The rules

When you blow a whistle, four players pick up balls and run through a ladder at pace (picture 2), stepping through every rung.

The other players jog around the square then run to a ladder for a pass before running through a ladder themselves (picture 3). Keep going for one minute.

Scoring

• Add up the number of ladders completed and compare team scores.

Tell them

“Heels off the ground, low centre of gravity, ball close to chest when going through a ladder.”

“Keep your head moving constantly, listen for calls and make quick, catchable passes.”

“Loud calls for passes.”

Coaching tops

Avoiding a tackle as long as possible means more ground gained, more momentum and more time for support to arrive and keep things moving.