Week 36

Outcomes

• ✓Players can adjust their shooting technique to meet a fun rule constraint.
• ✓Players can think creatively about how to score under different conditions.
• ✓Players can laugh and play joyfully even when the rules are silly.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 6 small flat-cone goals
• 16 cones
• pinnies

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Three goals up. Balls for everyone.

   How to run it: Players shoot freely. Coach suddenly announces: 'LEFT FOOT ONLY for 30 seconds!' then 'EYES CLOSED for one shot!' (supervised, nearby). Mix silly rules in arrival play.

   • ›Giggles are great — this is meant to be silly.
   • ›Praise any attempt under each constraint.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game: Simon Says Dribble

   8m

   Set up: All players with a ball in the area.

   How to run it: Simon Says with dribbling: 'Simon says dribble fast', 'Simon says stop the ball with your knee', 'Simon says do a spin with the ball'. If Simon doesn't say, everyone who does it sits down for five toe-taps, then rejoins. No elimination.

   • ›Keep Simon Says calls quick and fun.
   • ›No elimination pressure — sit-down is fast and light.
   • ›Add increasingly ridiculous commands.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game: Rule-of-the-Round Shooting

   12m

   Set up: Three goals around the space. All players with a ball.

   How to run it: Each 90-second round has a rule posted on a cone: Round 1 = Left foot only. Round 2 = Must spin before shooting. Round 3 = Shoot with eyes closed (2 yards max, supervised). Round 4 = Must say 'HEARTS!' before kicking. Count goals per round.

   • ›Safety check on eyes-closed round — very close range only.
   • ›Laugh alongside the players.
   • ›Let players vote on their favourite rule.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games: 3v3 Crazy Goals

   15m

   Set up: Two 3v3 games. Different rule for each game: Game A = goals only from the left side. Game B = goals only after a bounce pass on the ground.

   How to run it: Play two 7-minute games with the crazy rule. Between games, players vote: 'Thumbs up = I liked this rule, thumbs down = change it!' Coach announces next rule based on votes.

   • ›Player input makes them invested.
   • ›Don't worry if the rule is imperfectly followed — fun first.
   • ›Keep score but don't over-emphasise winning.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Players in a group with one ball.

   How to run it: Each player invents a silly shooting rule for the group to try — just one attempt each. Coach tries one too. Biggest laugh gets the group cheer. High-fives.

   • ›Celebrate creativity and silliness.
   • ›Coach joining in builds trust and joy.

Outcomes

• ✓Players can play competitively while adapting to rule changes between games.
• ✓Players can suggest and vote on rules that make the game fun.
• ✓Players can maintain great effort and sportsmanship across varied game formats.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 8 small flat-cone goals
• 20 cones
• 2 sets of pinnies

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Goals up. All balls available. Coach has a list of 'secret rules' on a cone.

   How to run it: Players shoot freely. Coach whispers a secret rule to each player as they arrive: 'You can only score with your right foot today.' Players giggle and try to follow their own secret rule.

   • ›Secret individual rules create fun mystery.
   • ›No one needs to know each other's rule — it's just their own challenge.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game: Herd the Sheep

   8m

   Set up: Scatter 10 balls (the sheep) in the middle of the area. Two teams of shepherds on opposite sides.

   How to run it: Teams dribble a sheep (ball) to their side. Each shepherd can only move one sheep per trip. Most sheep on your side after 2 minutes wins. Play three rounds.

   • ›Dribble the ball — don't carry or kick it away.
   • ›Look up to see which sheep is nearest.
   • ›Competitive but playful — no pushing.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game: Rule Roulette Scoring

   12m

   Set up: Six small goals around the space. Each goal has a different rule card (left foot, right foot, spin first, call it, slow walk, volley).

   How to run it: Players score freely at any goal following that goal's rule. Count personal goals across all goals. Swap rules on goals every 3 minutes. Who can follow the most rules?

   • ›Variety keeps every player engaged.
   • ›Praise rule-following as much as goal-scoring.
   • ›Volley = drop-and-kick from hands — supervised and safe.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games: Mini-Match Festival

   15m

   Set up: Three 3v3 or 4v4 games. Players vote on one rule per game before it starts.

   How to run it: Before each 5-minute game, teams suggest one scoring rule. Both teams vote, majority wins. Play with that rule. Three games, three player-chosen rules. Rotate teams.

   • ›Even bad rules are interesting — let them own it.
   • ›Facilitate votes quickly — no long debate.
   • ›Cheer every goal under every rule.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Players sit in a circle with their ball.

   How to run it: Go around the circle: each player says their favourite rule from today. Coach writes them on a cone for 'next time'. Big group cheer. Collect balls.

   • ›Build anticipation for next session.
   • ›Every player's voice matters.