Technique Track

How to run it

A track with a slalom, a hurdle and a turning cone that ends with a shot on the goalie. The children practise carrying the ball, playing it past an obstacle and finishing – in one flowing exercise with lots of repetitions.

Set-up

Along one board: four cones in a row 2 m apart, a hurdle about 3 m after the last cone and a turning cone angled in towards goal. The players queue before the first cone with a ball each. A few spare balls lie by the board next to the queue. Goalie in goal.

Instructions

1. 1Three players queue with a ball each. The track: slalom cones, hurdle, turning cone and then a shot on goal. Spare balls lie by the board.
2. 2The first player dribbles the slalom between the cones. The queue moves up one place.
3. 3The player plays the ball under the hurdle, runs around it and picks the ball up on the other side.
4. 4Round the turning cone and in towards the middle. The next player starts the slalom. The goalie gets set.
5. 5Shot! Aim for a corner. Player two plays the ball under the hurdle.
6. 6Player two goes round the turning cone and player three starts. The shooter goes back along the board.
7. 7Player two shoots, player three is at the hurdle. The first player picks up a new ball by the board.
8. 8Player three goes round the turning cone. The first player joins the queue and player two heads back.
9. 9Player three shoots. Player two picks up a new ball and the first player steps up to the start.
10. 10New lap: the first player starts the slalom again and player two joins the queue.

Coaching points

• Small touches in the slalom and the ball close to the stick – look at the next cone, not at the ball all the time.
• Play the ball under the hurdle just hard enough that you get round in time to collect it on the other side.
• Shoot with your eyes up: pick a corner before you shoot.
• Don't wait for the player in front to shoot – start when they are past the hurdle so the track keeps moving.

Variations

Equipment

• 5 × Cone
• 1 × Hurdle