Reaction Colour Game

Objective

• -Sharpen reaction speed off a visual cue
• -Practise changing direction at speed safely
• -Keep every player moving with no queues

Setup

1. 1Four coloured cones on the corners of a twenty yard square.
2. 2Players jog in the middle of the square.
3. 3A pile of balls sits on one corner for the ball rounds.

How to play

1. 1Coach shouts or holds up a colour and players sprint to touch that cone.
2. 2Play five rounds of 45 seconds with a short walk between.
3. 3Progress to every player dribbling a ball to the called cone.

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

• -Standing flat footed waiting
• -Running through the cone instead of turning off it
• -Watching a friend rather than the coach