Dribble Tag

How to run it

A playful warm-up where everyone – the tagger too – dribbles their own ball. Children practise dribbling with their eyes up, changing direction and protecting the ball with their body.

Set-up

A half-court area (about 10 × 12 m) marked with four discs. Five players with a ball each inside the area. A tagger (red) with their own ball waits by the half-court line. Add taggers for bigger groups.

Instructions

1. 1Five players spread out in the area with a ball each. The tagger waits at the half-court line – with a ball too.
2. 2"Go!" The tagger dribbles in. Everyone dribbles around looking for open space.
3. 3The tagger picks out no. 3. Everyone else keeps dribbling with their eyes up – don't look down at the ball.
4. 4No. 3 changes direction by the baseline. The tagger speeds up but still has to dribble.
5. 5Tag! The tagger touches no. 3 on the shoulder without losing their own dribble.
6. 6No. 3 dribbles out to the side line. The tagger turns to look for someone new.
7. 7At the side line no. 3 does five crossovers on the spot before coming back in.
8. 8No. 3 is back in the game. The tagger chases no. 2 at full speed.
9. 9No. 2 gets away with a quick change of direction. Change taggers after 45–60 seconds.

Coaching points

• Dribble with your fingertips, not your palm – the ball should bounce about hip high.
• Say "eyes up" often. Players who see the tagger early have time to change direction.
• Protect the ball: when the tagger comes close, dribble with the hand furthest away and keep the other arm out as a shield.
• A player who loses the ball fetches it and carries on – nobody is out.
• Swap taggers often so everyone gets to chase.

Variations

Equipment

• 4 × Markers