Bomber Man

DESCRIPTION

The Practice

One game I play with my young players (U6’s) to help develop their confidence on the ball is ‘Bomber Man’, although it has turned into a fan favourite that even my older players like to play as a warm-up exercise.

Suitable for: Foundation phase (5-11)

Objectives:

• To get players comfortable with ball manipulation
• To get players dribbling with head up
• Working towards understanding of spacial awareness
• To gain understanding of ‘dangers’ (other players in area, defender/bomber man, sidelines/out of bounds areas

How it works

• Set up area that suits number of players, 20x20 yards for 10 players
• Start of with all players dribbling in the area with their own football, encouraging them to show off best skills and tricks
• Once comfortable make one player the ‘Bomber Man’
• The Bomber Man’s job is to have a ball in their hands and to try and throw it at those of the other player. If they hit someone’s ball they become a Bomber Man as well. Game continues until their is one player left who wins round.

COACHING POINTS

Coaching points

• Dribbling with head up, looking out for danger (Bomber Man and edge of area)
• Keeping ball close to feet
• The 4 S’s - Space, Shielding, Skills, Speed

Progressions

• Make area smaller
• Add rule if players dribble the ball out of the area they become a ‘Bomber Man’ 

Why it works

As coaches it is our job and duty to encourage free thinkers and to always nurture mistake making, and this practice helps to achieve that for a few reasons. 

Firstly the kids love it - they like to pretend they are Messi and Ronaldo. It’s working on ball manipulation in a more realistic setting then just in a straight line. 

They are allowed to go where they would like in the area and get to try what they are comfortable doing while feeling free to experiment and show off their skills. At the same time, it also works to develop their spacial awareness.