Sharks and Minnows

Title: Sharks and Minnows Category: Technical Warm-Up / Fun Game Age Tags: U11, U13, U15, U17, 19U+ Skill Tags: Dribbling, Ball Control, Change of Direction, Awareness, Agility Purpose: Develop close ball control and quick changes of direction in a fun, competitive environment. Setup: Create a rectangular “ocean” using cones with a starting line and ending line. All players (Minnows) line up on the starting line with a ball. Coach (Shark) starts in the middle of the grid without a ball. Drill Steps: • On coach’s signal, Minnows dribble across the ocean toward the opposite line. • Shark attempts to kick balls out of the area. • If a player’s ball is knocked away, they become a Shark. • Play continues back and forth across the grid. • Last Minnow remaining is the winner. Coaching Points: • Keep the ball close under pressure. • Change speed and direction to avoid Sharks. • Keep head up to scan for space. • Use different surfaces of the foot. • Stay balanced and controlled while turning. Variations: • Weak foot only. • Limit area size. • Add time challenge. • Sharks must pass ball out instead of kicking. Time: 8–12 minutes