Count the Fingers: Heads-Up Dribbling

A dribbling warm-up where students must read the fingers the teacher holds up without losing the ball. It forces heads up and prevents collisions in a crowded space.

How to play

1. Free dribbling in half the gym, everyone in the same space (2 min).
2. The teacher holds up a number of fingers; whoever sees it calls it out while still dribbling. The number changes every few seconds (2 min).
3. Crossing traffic: two groups line up on opposite lines and cross at the same time, dribbling to the other side; the teacher keeps showing fingers during the crossing (3 min).
4. Roundabout crossing: a big cone stands in the middle and everyone goes around it to the right before carrying on (2 min).
5. Gentle ankle, knee and hip mobility using the stick for support (1 min).

Rules

• Dribble with soft touches; the ball never shoots hard toward a classmate.
• In the crossing, if someone is coming head-on, both move to their right.
• Keep the stick below the waist and close to the floor.

Variations

Adaptations

• Blind or low-vision students: a partner tells them the number and warns them during crossings; they dribble at the edge of the group.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the signal itself works for them, but explain each new task first with an agreed gesture.
• Nervous students: start dribbling between two fixed cones and join the crossing when ready.

Learning goals

• Dribble the ball while looking ahead.
• Prevent collisions by reading the space.
• Warm up the body with changes of pace and direction.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 30
• floorball balls: 30
• cones: 4

Teacher tip

Stand where the whole group can see you, ideally on one side rather than in the middle of the crossing. If nobody calls out the number, they are staring at the ball: slow things down.

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