Jungle adventure

WHY USE IT

This is a fun warm-up game for players to practise dribbling in a busy area, along with spatial awareness, keeping their head up and using different parts of their feet to move the ball.

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age, ability and number of your players. Each player (‘explorer’) needs a football (‘Jeep’). Place a number of cones around the area. Blue hoops represent a river, bigger cones represent trees, smaller cones (you can also use bibs or beanbags) represent treasure.

HOW TO play

Players dribble around the area (jungle), trying to avoid trees, the river and other players. When the coach calls an animal, players must complete related actions:

• Snake – dribble slowly and twist through cones
• Elephant – Take big touches and stomp loudly
• Monkey – Do quick, cheeky turns and dribble in a zigzag
• Tiger – Dribble fast to the river for a drink

progressions & aDAPTATIONS

• You can send players on a treasure hunt to retrieve the treasure and safely deposit it back with you.

• You can also select one or two players to be hungry crocodiles (without a ball), who try to tag explorers by touching their football. When tagged, explorers must freeze and do 10 toe-taps to unfreeze.

COACHING POINTS

• Encourage players to dribble with their heads up to spot danger – other players and obstacles.

• Encourage them to change direction and speed, and use different parts of their foot.

• Players should try to keep the ball close to them with small touches in busy areas.