Find a clear route
A player changes touch size as the available space changes.
Each player has a ball. Spread four players around the outside of a square; everyone moves inside it and chooses a clear route.
A/B/C = attackers · D = defender · S = server · N = neutral · white dot = ball. Leave clear space between stations. Schematic, not to scale.- Players per station
- 4–5; use the planner for a whole group
- Space
- 12 × 12 yards per station; leave 3 yards between stations
- Equipment
- 1 ball per player · 4 flat cones per station · Optional bibs; use agreed team/role names if unavailable
Set up, then show one repetition
Each player has a ball. Spread four players around the outside of a square; everyone moves inside it and chooses a clear route. Mark four corners. Keep spare balls outside the near sideline. A fifth player joins with their own ball; increase width by two yards.
- Start
- Everyone begins walking with a ball. Choose an empty part of the square and travel there without following the same player.
- Score
- The challenge is to reach a new clear space with the ball still playable. Players may count their own controlled arrivals; there is no compulsory group score.
- Reset & rotate
- If a ball leaves, its owner retrieves it when the route is clear and returns from the nearest side. No one is out after a mistake.
U9 starting lens: Choose pressure by readiness, then watch: A player changes touch size as the available space changes.
Rounds that fit 10 minutes
- 1:00 · Show and try
Show a small touch in traffic, a longer touch into open space, and a controlled stop before the boundary.
- 1:53 · Play 1
Try the entry version and watch the main behavior.
- 0:20 · Rotate, drink, reset
Rotate roles as described. Take water when needed; shorten play instead of rushing the break.
- 1:53 · Play 2
Use the entry rules first. Progress only when players can start, score, and reset independently. Walk, use a larger personal area, and pause the ball before looking for the next route. Progress only when useful: One player travels without a ball as a moving obstacle; rotate that role each round. They block space without tackling.
- 0:20 · Rotate, drink, reset
Rotate roles as described. Take water when needed; shorten play instead of rushing the break.
- 1:52 · Play 3
Use the entry rules first. Progress only when players can start, score, and reset independently. Walk, use a larger personal area, and pause the ball before looking for the next route. Progress only when useful: One player travels without a ball as a moving obstacle; rotate that role each round. They block space without tackling.
- 0:20 · Rotate, drink, reset
Rotate roles as described. Take water when needed; shorten play instead of rushing the break.
- 1:52 · Play 4
Use the entry rules first. Progress only when players can start, score, and reset independently. Walk, use a larger personal area, and pause the ball before looking for the next route. Progress only when useful: One player travels without a ball as a moving obstacle; rotate that role each round. They block space without tackling.
- 0:30 · Notice and move on
Invite one example or gesture, collect balls safely, and move to the next activity.
If it breaks down
- Balls repeatedly collide: split the square into separate personal spaces, then reopen it when players can look and stop.
- Players cannot explain the objective: show one repetition with their roles, then remove one extra condition.
Make it easier
Walk, use a larger personal area, and pause the ball before looking for the next route.
Add a stretch
One player travels without a ball as a moving obstacle; rotate that role each round. They block space without tackling.
Safety & involvement
Check the surface and clearance around the grid. No pushing, holding, slide tackles, or challenges from behind. Begin with no-contact route blocking; allow clean ball-winning pressure only when players can control the approach. Stop play before retrieving a ball from another station.
Every player has a named role. Rotate through all roles, keep explanations between rounds, and offer a quieter demonstration or gesture response. Water and individual breaks are available whenever needed.
Learn the activity: demonstration, decision pictures & observation
Show this first
Show a small touch in traffic, a longer touch into open space, and a controlled stop before the boundary.
See one repetition before you explain it.
The movement, pressure, and coaching cue change together. Pause on any picture or select a step below.
Why this problem
Each player has a ball. Spread four players around the outside of a square; everyone moves inside it and chooses a clear route. The available space and target create a reason to act. Judge the choice in context: Many touches without looking do not show that the player is choosing a route.
Ask or invite a demonstration
When did a bigger touch help?
Look in the next game
A player changes touch size as the available space changes. Watch a few opportunities for two players; record the situation and choice rather than a head-turn or touch total.
Optional home game
With one ball in a clear small area, choose two safe landmarks. Dribble toward either one, stop before it, then choose the other. Try a different touch for two short rounds.
Use the same problem differently
Repeat a useful version; change one constraint when players are ready.