Games

Relay games

Relay in columns

Players form two or more columns with cones in front of them. At the coachs signal, they start racing each other dribbling the ball around the cones (freestyle or as directed by the coach), passing or taking over the ball from one player to the other.

Romanian relay

Players hold their ball on their stomach (lap) and lift themselves up on their hands and feet (like a crab). With their legs to the front they try to take the ball around the cone and back or to pass it to a teammate who would take the ball to the opposite side.

RELAY GAMES

Relative to the number of participants and the coachs intent, form 2, 3, or 4 groups. (It is essentially better to form more groups to engage more players with the ball/task). Foot baskets should be at an equal distance from all the teams, but the distance should be changed and adjusted to the groups age and abilities.

Relays with balls

Dribbling to the cone and back and passing/delivering the ball to the next player. This game can be played in various ways (with basketball, handball, volleyball dribbling, and take-over).

Alternate relay

Participants are divided in two columns. At a given signal, the first player in the column passes the ball back through his legs to the other player behind him/her. That player passes the ball to the next one behind him/her and the game goes on until the last player in the column receives the ball. All the players then turn by 180 degrees and repeat the whole procedure. The team that finishes first wins the game

Through the tunnel

Participants are divided in two columns standing with their legs apart and at arm’s length from one another. At a given signal, the last player in the column crawls through the legs of his/her teammates carrying a handkerchief. He/she gives the handkerchief to the first player in the column who, in turn, runs to the back of the column and performs the same task as the other player. The game goes on until all the players have done the same and got to their initial positions. When the first player in the column waves the handkerchief, the task is completed.

Dribbling in pairs

The first pairs in the columns are given two balls each. At a given signal, they dribble the balls to the cones and back, but must on no account go apart. When they reach the goal, they pass the ball to the next pair, turn around, and proceed to the back of their column.

Lying relay

In this game, players are lying on their backs one behind the other. The first players in the columns keep the ball between their feet. At a given signal, they have to put the ball on the ground above their heads. The next player in line takes the ball with his feet and slings it over his/her head in the same way. The team that finishes first wins the game.

Options

  • The ball is slung overhead; the next player in line takes it with his/her hands, puts it between his/her feet, and slings it to the next player.
  • Players are at a shorter distance from one another. The ball must not be put on the ground but passed from one player’s feet to the others.
  • The ball is slung with the hands but received with the feet.
  • The last player in the column can start the game (in the opposite direction).

Through the hoop

There is a hoop in front of each column. At a given signal, the first player takes the hoop and carries it vertically along the column so that all the other players could go through it. When all the players have got through the hoop, the player that was carrying it remains at the back rolling the hoop forward to the first player. He/she repeats the exercise as do all the others once it is their turn. When the players are in their initial position, the first player in the column raises the hoop as a signal that they have finished the game. The first team to finish is the winner.

Relay In A Star

At the coachs signal, the first players in the columns run in a circle and they either go around the last player in the column or around the cones. Player 2 starts running when the first player touches him/her. The player that completes the circle stands at the back of the column. The relay is finished when the last player gets back to his initial position. This game can also be played with a ball, tasking the players to dribble it in different ways, carry it in their hands, or bounce it against the ground. They can also carry a relay baton, eggs, little balls, glasses of water, etc.

Columns compete

All the players in a group hold each other at the waist, running to a marker and back. The team whose last player manages to cross the start-line first wins. The group has to stick together all the time.

This relay can be organised in various different ways:

  • Players hold each other at the waist or in any other way; they can be told to run in a particular manner, walk or run backwards.
  • Holding on to each other, players can be told to jump on one or both feet.
  • Players put their hands on one another’s shoulders.
  • Holding the outstretched hand of the teammate in front of them, and putting their other hand on their shoulder.
  • Holding the right foot in the right hand and putting their left hand on their teammate’s shoulder.
  • Holding the right leg of the player behind in their right hand, while the left hand is on the shoulder of the teammate in the front.