Pirates and the treasure: dribbling against defenders
Foundation game (U4-U8): pirates dribble out from their ship, dodge the two or three guards, knock over a tall treasure cone with the ball and dribble home carrying the cone. The team that collects the most treasure wins.
Step 1¡Al abordaje!
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Los piratas salen conduciendo hacia el tesoro; los guardianes salen a cazar.
Objective
Dribble with the head up to see the defenders, exploit free space with a change of pace and dribble back under control while carrying an object.
Organisation
30x30 yard square. About ten tall cones (the treasure) in a line along one side of the square. Pirates, each with a ball, on the opposite side (the ship). Two or three guards in different coloured bibs inside the square, without a ball.
Development
- 1On “all aboard!”, the pirates dribble towards the treasure.
- 2The guards try to win the ball and kick it out of the square; a pirate who loses the ball collects it and returns to the ship to start again.
- 3To win a treasure, the pirate must knock over a tall cone by striking the ball with the foot (knocking it over with hands or body does not count).
- 4Once it is down, they pick up the cone and dribble the ball back to the ship; the guards can keep trying to win the ball on the way back.
- 5The treasure only counts when cone and ball both reach the ship.
- 6Rounds of 2-3 minutes; the team (or pirate) with the most cones wins. Change guards every round.
Coaching points4
- Ball close and under control, especially with a guard within two metres.
- Head up to see where the guards are and pick the cone furthest from them.
- Explode: when the path is clear, big touch and sprint to the treasure.
- Accurate strike with the inside of the foot to knock the cone over; the ball must not run away.
Common mistakes3
- Everyone heading for the same cone and colliding.
- Hitting the cone too hard and having to chase the ball far away.
- Running back to the ship without the ball or with the ball far from the foot.
Variations3
- Pirate teams with a ship each.
- Cones of different colours worth different points.
- Caught pirates become guards (mix with sharks and minnows).
Progressions2
- More guards and a smaller square.
- Cones may only be knocked over with the weak foot.
Regressions2
- Guards who only walk or may only tackle in a central channel.
- No guards in the first round: just dribble, knock over and return.
Tips
- Keep spare cones to restock the treasure without stopping the game.
- Count the treasure out loud at the end of each round to keep the excitement up.