Rounders: Warm Up Grid - Sprint and Stretch

Split the group into teams of 5. One team throwing the ball around posts. One team running around the posts. The ball starts by the batting square and has to be thrown to post one then 2 then 3 then 4 then back to the batting square. The running team have to run and tag. The first player in the batting square has to run to tag 1st post player this player has to run to release the player at 2nd post etc until the player on the forth post is tagged and runs back to the batting square. Start again when ball and players are back in position again. Best of 5 runs.

Split your group into two teams: A throwing team and a fielding team. The fielders have to put one player by each post and the rest in the field. Players from the other team have 1 ball each. Each player from the throwing team has to come into the batting square and call out which base they are going to run to. Immediately after call out they must then throw the ball to one of the fielders after which they have to try and beat the ball to the post. The ball then gets thrown back to the square for the next player to call, throw and run.

Ask the players to spread themselves and have 1 ball for the players to throw or roll the ball to each other. The player in the middle has to try and catch the player in possession of the ball. or get to the ball before a player does if it is badly thrown.

Set Up: 2 teams of 5. The fielding team consists of: bowler, backstop, 2nd post, 3 fielders (1 on 2nd post). The batting box 6 metres away from the bowling box. Pitch set out with posts or cones, spaced out accordingly. The Game: Each innings lasts for 15 good balls. After 5 good balls the fielders rotate.

1 catcher, 5 attackers, and 3 defenders. Cones, tennis ball or rounders ball. There are always more attackers than defenders. Catcher starts in the inner circle and is on the same team as the attackers. The 3 defenders are in the next ring, and the rest of the attackers are in the outer ring. The attackers aim to get the ball to the catcher, and for the defenders to try and intercept. Attackers may pass the ball around the outside of the circle to each other to create space. Teams can move but must stay in their own circle. They are not allowed in anyones else's. Underarm throwing only. Points System: Defenders 1 point for a touch, and 5 points for a catch. Attackers get 1 point every time the catcher receives the ball.

1 player batting against 4 fielders. Game starts by the bowler bowling a good bowl towards the batter who hits the ball into the direstion of the 2 fielders. Rounders are scored if the batter runs around the bowler and back or if the batter hits the ball in between the 2 cones (3 and 4) by the 2 fielders on the left. Fielders can score a point by touchjing cone 1 with the ball before the batter gets back having run round the bowler.

Set up: 4 posts are set up in the shape of a diamond. Each post being 9 metres from the centre of the diamond. You need 3 teams of 4, 4 bats and 1 ball. Batting team each stand at a post. The other 2 teams take the bowler and fielding roles. The Drill: The bowler decides who to bowl to first, and the remaining 3 batters stand behind the post and make contact with it. The bowler bowls the ball for the batter to hit. The fielders can field the ball into any post to get any of the batters out. If a batter is out then their team loses 4 points. 1 point is scored for every post a batter reaches. Each team of 4 faces 6 good balls and the score is added up. After each ball the bowler can decide which batter to bowl to (it can be any of the 4 batters). The fielding team must react and move position, depending on which batter the bowler is bowling to. After 6 good balls the next team goes into bat.

Scatter some cones (divots) across the area, some the right way up, and some upside down. Split the group into two teams - 'Hackers and Greenkeepers' - and spread them out across the area. On the word 'Go' the Hackers run round turning the divots upside down and the Greenkeepers must turn them the right way up.

Purpose to make sure players are paying attention at all times Player in the middle should try to avoid being hit below the waist by a size 5 sponge ball. Players on the outside of the circle must keep the ball inside the circle. Players rotate after 1 minute. A scoring system could be put in place. Eg dodger gets a point every time the ball goes out of the circle. Players on the outside get a point every time the dodger is hit by the ball.

1 player (worker) stands in the middle of a circle of 5 players. The 5 players try and hit the worker with a soft ball below the waist. They score 2 points if they do. The players are not allowed inside the circle. If the ball goes outside of the circle the worker gets 5 points. Player is in the circle for 1 minute then rotate.

The aim of the game is to make 10 catches by a team without getting caught whilst holding the ball by the other team. If a player is touched the ball goes to the other team and they try to achieve 10 catches. First team to take the 10 catches whilst staying in the grid wins. Players can run with the ball and if they do run out the grid the ball goes to the other side as well as if the ball is dropped.

Set up 3 small teams and 3 hoops. The hoops should be placed an equal distance apart with several balls in each (dependant on number of players). The aim of this game is to get rid of all the balls in your hoop one by one by moving them to another team's hoop. Players must carry the ball and place it inside the other team's hoop (no throwing or rolling the ball).

Set up in 2's with 1 bat and ball. Player B must stand opposite to player A, so that they can see the end of the bat when the batters arm is fully outstretched. The aim of the game is for player A to hit the ball into space, and both players race to retrieve the ball first. Player B is in charge of the drill. They shout "CLEAR". On hearing this call player A self feeds the ball and hits it safely into space. Whoever reaches the ball first is the next player to hit the ball. If you get to the ball 3 times in a row you win a point.

In this game the batter tries to score as many rounders as they can by hitting the ball through the area so it either flies over or rolls through the area out the end or either side. The only criteria is that the ball has top enter the front of the area to be able to score a rounder. When the ball is caught the catching fielder becomes the bowler the bowler becomes the batter and the batter becomes a fielder

Set up: Pitch marked out in the same shape as a normal rounders pitch with cones 6m apart. Split players into two small teams (no more than 5v5). Use a size 4/5 size sponge/plastic ball Rules: The bowler throws the ball underarm with a bounce from the bowling box to the batting box. The batter can hit the ball with any part of their body. Once the batter has hit the ball they then run around the 4 bases. They can stop at any base. The fielders then field the ball into the bowler to stop the batter from running on. Gradually more rules are introduced once the principles of play have been learned.

Set up a pitch using cones that is roughly the same size as a netball court (30m x 15m) and divide your players into two equal teams. Players can run in all areas of the pitch but they are not allowed to run with the ball. Players must try to get the ball to a player in the shooting circle for them to score a point.

Fielding team has 1 player by each post and back stop with one fielder standing in the field beyond the 1st post. ( you can vary each time) Player with a ball in the batter square has to throw the ball into the direction of the deep fielder. after which this player should try to run a a rounder ( to 4th post)all fielders should run to line up behind the fielder on 3rd post to relay the ball all the way down the line to try and beat the runner.

Players stand in teams behind their cone, with a ball each. When the coach says 'Go' each player rolls their ball out diagonally, through the cones nearest their starting position. After rolling out their own ball (along the ground) players must sprint out and collect the ball thrown by the other side. As soon as they have collected the ball they must sprint back with the ball in hand past the starting cone. The coach decides which player makes it back first and awards their team one point.

4 batters and 4 feilders. Player self hits the ball between the 1st and 2nd post (cones) all fielders have to remain on the out field until the ball is hit. The batter has to try and run around 1st post and back to the batting cone to score a rounder. The fielders are trying to score a point by touching the batting cone with the ball before the batter does

Set up : Split players into two teams (no more than 5v5 - set up several mini-games if necessary). Pitch marked out with 2 goals. Size will depend upon your players' ability and numbers in the group but 20m by 10m is a good starting point. The Game: This is an invasion game and the aim is to score a goal by rolling the ball through the oppositions goal. Rules: Roll only to score. Cannot move with the ball, defending team must be a metre away from the player with the ball. If the ball hits an attacking players' foot in open play the ball is given to the defending team. If the ball hits your team's foot from an attempt at goal then a penalty is awarded. The penalty is taken from behind the half way line and only one player can defend it from the corner of the pitch. On the coach's call of "GO" the attacker rolls the ball and the defender can run across to defend the shot.