Dribbler's Tag: Safe With the Ball at Your Feet

Tag game in a square where you are only safe while dribbling a ball. It warms up the body and builds heads-up dribbling.

How to play

1. Mark a 20 x 20 m square with four cones and scatter 12 loose balls inside (1 min).
2. Three taggers wear pinnies; everyone else runs and is only safe while dribbling a ball (2 min).
3. Anyone dribbling longer than 5 seconds must pass to someone without a ball; if you get tagged, swap pinnies with your tagger (3 min).
4. Remove two balls so sharing has to happen faster; change taggers every minute (3 min).
5. Wrap-up: everyone does 10 soft sole touches and leaves the ball in the middle (1 min).

Rules

• Tag only on the shoulder or back, never push.
• Nobody keeps the ball longer than 5 seconds.
• Always pass along the ground to someone asking for it.
• If two players reach the same ball, the first one keeps it, no fighting.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairment: use a bell ball and a partner who calls out approaching taggers.
• Limited mobility: a safe corner zone where the student receives and returns passes with the hands.
• Students unsure with the ball: can be safe by touching a cone for 3 seconds instead of dribbling.

Learning goals

• Dribble with the head up to spot taggers.
• Give the ball away with a crisp ground pass.
• Warm up the body gradually before the main activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soccer balls: 12
• cones: 4
• pinnies: 3

Teacher tip

Use size 4 balls, slightly soft, so they don't run away. The typical problem is ball-hogging: count the 5 seconds out loud the first few rounds.

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