Dribble Tail Tag
Every player dribbles a ball with a pinnie tucked into the waistband as a tail and tries to steal other players' tails without losing control of the ball. It forces students to dribble with their eyes up and shield the ball with their body.
How to play
- Mark a 25 x 25 yard square with cones; each student has a ball and a pinnie tucked into the back of the waistband, hanging about 8 inches.
- On the signal, everyone dribbles inside the square and tries to pull tails while keeping control of their own ball.
- A player who loses a tail goes to the edge, does 5 alternating sole taps on the ball, tucks the tail back in, and rejoins.
- Each stolen tail is dropped at a center cone and is worth one point.
- Play 3 rounds of 2 minutes with a 1-minute break to count points and hand the tails back.
- In the last round, cut the space in half so players have to shield the ball more.
Rules
- A player who picks up the ball or leaves it still cannot pull tails until dribbling again.
- No covering your tail with a hand and no grabbing clothes.
- Carry only one stolen tail at a time.
- On the whistle, everyone traps the ball under the foot and freezes.
Variations
Easier
Play the first round without balls and the second with balls for only half the class.
Standard
Everyone has a ball and a tail in a 25 x 25 yard square.
Harder
Players may dribble only with their weaker foot.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the tail hangs from the back of the wheelchair, the student moves a large ball by hand, and others may only take the tail at a walk.
- Visual impairment: the student holds hands with a sighted guide who dribbles and calls out traffic.
- Fitness level: a tired student may spend 30 seconds in the sole-tap zone without losing points.
Learning goals
- Dribble with eyes up.
- Shield the ball with the body and changes of direction.
- Handle the frustration of losing a tail and get right back in.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soccer balls: 25
- pinnies: 25
- cones: 5
Teacher tip
Check that pinnies hang loose: if they are tucked too deep, clothes get yanked. Freeze play at the first collisions and remind students that fast dribbling is useless without looking up.
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