Count-Up Youth Movement Games

Objective

• -Develop coordination and agility through games
• -Build fitness without adult conditioning work
• -Keep every player smiling and moving

Setup

1. 1An open square with coloured cones on the corners in a 20 x 20 yards area.
2. 2Give every player a home cone and a ball.
3. 3A ball each and plenty of spare cones.

How to play

1. 1Play tag, follow-the-leader and shadow games inside the square.
2. 2Every game finishes with a dribbling lap of the square.
3. 3Keep rounds short and change the game often.
4. 4Start on the whistle and count reps out loud as a group.
5. 5The squad has three attempts to beat its own total.

Progressions

• +Shorten the time window
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Lengthen the window and lower the target
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Split into two teams and compare totals
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Long runs with no ball
• -Adult conditioning drills for young players
• -Counting sloppy reps to inflate the score