Gate Chase

Objective

• -Improve acceleration with the ball
• -Develop quick turns
• -Encourage fast decision-making

Setup

1. 1Mark a rectangle 25 x 20 yards.
2. 2Set out lots of small cone gates around the area.
3. 3Each player has a ball and starts on the end line.
4. 4Choose 2 players as chasers in bibs.

How to play

1. 1On the coach's signal, dribblers move into the area and try to run through as many gates as possible.
2. 2The chasers try to win the ball and dribble it out of the area.
3. 3If a dribbler loses the ball, they become a chaser or do a quick restart, depending on numbers.
4. 4After 60 seconds, stop and count the gates.
5. 5Change the chasers and go again.

Progressions

• +Progressive Tempo: add a fourth maximal round
• +Ball For Every Player: shrink the working area
• +Reaction Start: two cues, one a decoy
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Progressive Tempo: stay at the first two tempos only
• -Ball For Every Player: bigger area, share a ball between two
• -Reaction Start: coach counts players in
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Progressive Tempo — Three rounds: 60% pace, 80% pace, then match pace with full recovery between.
• -Ball For Every Player — Every player works with their own ball so no one waits in a queue.
• -Reaction Start — Every repetition begins from a visual or audio cue rather than a set count.
• -Partner Race — Players work in matched pairs and race each repetition, best of five.
• -Mobility Focus — Each round finishes with a controlled mobility hold for the hips, groin and ankles.
• -Change Of Direction — Add a 90 or 180 degree turn into every repetition before the finish.
• -Team Target — The whole group works to a shared score target and repeats the round if they miss it.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Taking too many touches
• -Running with the ball too close
• -Ignoring space and traffic