A tournament-orientated practice

Organisation

• Ask players to organise themselves into pairs with a ball between two
• If you don't have enough balls, use cones or other objects
• Challenge the players to take one step away from the ball (or another object)
• Demonstrate the instructions as you give them to the players (e.g. put your hands on your head; stand on one leg)
• Challenge the players to be the first to pick up the ball when you shout “ballˮ
• Play to three points, then ask the players to mix and find a new partner

Ways to make the exercise easier

• The players can play by themselves, so there is no direct competition

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Add more players around one ball or object (e.g. 3-4 players per ball)

Great questions to ask the players

• What kind of communication am I using when I give instructions?
• What tricks can you use to beat your partner to the ball/object?

Safety tips

• When they collect the ball, the players should keep their heads back to avoid banging heads.

Organisation

• Organise mini-matches of 2v2 on multiple pitches
• Assign pairs randomly to encourage mixing
• Play short matches of 2v2 and create a league ladder
• Winners move up a pitch, losers move down – if it's a draw, have a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner
• Encourage the players to let each other know where they are by using different communication techniques (e.g. shouting or waving their arms)

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Larger goals or targets to score in

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Smaller goals or targets to hit

Great questions to ask the players

• What kinds of communication help you work well with your partner? How did you communicate with your voice? How did you communicate with your body?
• If you don't have the ball, how can you help a team-mate who has it?
• What should you do when you lose the ball?

Safety tips

• Create a safe zone between each pitch

Organisation

• Organise mini-matches of 3v3 on multiple pitches
• Assign pairs randomly to encourage mixing
• Before you start the game, give pairs two minutes to discuss which communication skills they will use to work well together
• Play short matches of 3 v. 3   and create a competition where each team will play each other
• Encourage the players to use different communication techniques (e.g. shouting or waving their arms)

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Larger goals or targets to score in

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Smaller goals or targets to hit

Great questions to ask the players

• What would happen if teams did not communicate with each other during the game?
• What kinds of verbal communication (ways of talking) did you observe people using? What kinds of non-verbal communication (body language) did you observe?

Safety tips

• Create a safe zone between each pitch