The Ball Thief

How to run it

A dribbling game for the youngest. Everyone bounces their ball while a ball thief tries to steal one. The children learn to shield the ball with the body, bounce with their heads up and find open space.

Set-up

A square of about 15 × 15 m. Five players inside, each with a ball. A ball thief (red, no ball) waits outside. A "prison" is marked with a cone a few metres outside the square.

Instructions

1. 1Five players bounce around the square. The thief waits outside until the coach says "go".
2. 2The thief runs in and goes for the nearest ball. Everyone keeps bouncing and keeps an eye on the thief.
3. 3The player being chased bounces away towards open space. The thief speeds up.
4. 4The thief catches up. Put your body between the thief and the ball and bounce with the hand furthest away.
5. 5The thief gets there and takes the ball out of the bounce.
6. 6The thief bounces the ball to the prison by the cone. The player who lost it runs after.
7. 7The thief leaves the ball in the prison and runs back in to hunt. The player picks up the ball.
8. 8In the prison: five bounces on the spot before you may go back into the game.
9. 9The player bounces back into the square. The thief hunts the next ball – change thief after a minute.

Coaching points

• Show how to protect the ball: body towards the thief, bounce with the hand furthest away.
• Bounce towards empty space, not out to the edge of the square.
• The thief may only take the ball in the air or in the bounce – no pushing.
• Change the thief often so that everyone gets to chase and to bounce.
• Nobody is out – after the prison you are straight back in the game.

Variations

Equipment

• 4 × Markers
• 1 × Cone