England DNA 5-11: stop and score

• Set up a square area – ensure it’s big enough to allow players time to dribble and experiment with the ball.
• Within the area, place flat cones at different distances apart (this encourages changes in speed and direction).
• Give each player a ball.

Players must move the ball between different cones, whilst using as many different parts of their foot as possible. This could include rolling with their sole, lifting with their laces or pushing with their toe.

When players get to a cone, they should stop the ball on top of it (for a maximum of three seconds). This action scores them one point.

The aim of the game is to collect as many points as possible within an allocated time limit. If players want to score a point at a cone that’s occupied by someone else, they must keep moving until it becomes free.

Observe your team as they play. If you spot an individual being creative or innovative, ask them whether they’re comfortable showing their skills to the other players. This could create a great opportunity for peer-led learning.

To move this session forward, split your group into two teams: the ‘guards’ and the ‘attackers’. The attackers, as above, should aim to score as many points as possible. However, the guards are now on hand to stop this from happening.

To disrupt the attackers, guards must dribble their ball to a cone and stop it on top – preventing any point scoring. Guards can stay on a cone for three seconds, but must then dribble to (and block) another.

This progression adds competition and encourages teamwork. As your players get older, you can explain how to work together to overcome the opposition through use of decoys and disguise.

To learn more about Foundation Phase DNA, click here.