Smugglers (with GK/no GK)

DESCRIPTION

Equipment/setup: 3 bases made of hoops/markers or cones. Lots of balls. Coloured bibs. Optional: 5m keeper area using markers.

Version without GK: Blue team smuggle "eggs" from blue to yellow den (square/hoop). They can dribble individually or pass between each other. Red team (agents) capture(tackle) eggs from smugglers and take them back to red base. No stealing from bases. Keep smuggling until no balls are left. Which team has the most balls?

Version with GK: Blue team shoot "eggs" into goal, GK is always on the agents' side ("super agent"). No outfielders are allowed within 6m of the goal, for safety reasons (mark out a 6m circle). Coach remains near the GK, and pauses the game if GK is getting overwhelmed. If there are 2 GKs, take turns saving on the line / defending the 6m circle. 

Variations:

• To increase intensity: introduce a timer
• Lower ability players: tackle immunity

Rules:

1. Make sure no one cheats by knocking balls out of a den/base.
2. If playing with a GK, no outfielders are allowed within 6m of the goal, for safety reasons (mark out a 6m circle).
3. Coach remains near the GK, and pauses the game if GK is getting overwhelmed.

COACHING POINTS

Version with GK works best with younger children (U10-U12). Not recommended for adults or older children due to there being multiple simultaneous shooters with ability to hit the ball hard.

Focus: warm-up, carrying, passing, tackling, shooting

GK focus:

1. Quick recovery to ready position
2. Dominate 5m area by closing down + making the goal small
3. Kick balls to side or out of play

Encourage: teams to brainstorm a strategy before each round.

Questions:

• Attackers - how can you get more balls to the den (e.g. use edges of pitch, long/short passing, wall passes) ? Do you all need to perform the same job?
• Defenders: How can you stop/slow down defenders (5Ds)? What kind of tackles can you use (block, jab). Do you all need to perform the same job?