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Sharks and Minnows

A fun chasing game where dribblers (minnows) try to get past defenders (sharks). Kids love this one!

🎂 Ages 3-10⏱ 15 minutes👥 4-20 players

🖼️ Visual Guide

Sharks and Minnows drill diagram showing a multi-zone game area with arrows for defending pressure — Top-down guide: multi-zone game area with clear movement paths for defending pressure.
Generated from the exercise skill, setup, and instruction text so the visual system scales across the full library.
Field Diagramfun games

🎯 Objectives

Dribbling under pressure, shielding the ball, spatial awareness, and having fun with the ball.

🎒 Equipment Needed

Soccer ball (1 per minnow), cones to mark the playing area

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📐 Setup

Mark out a rectangular area (about 20x15 meters). Choose 1-2 players as sharks (no ball) in the middle. All other players (minnows) line up on one end with a ball.

📋 How to Run It

1On "Go!", minnows try to dribble from one end to the other without losing their ball.\n2. Sharks try to kick the minnows' balls out of the area.\n3. If your ball gets kicked out, you become a shark!\n4. Last minnow standing wins!\n5. Play multiple rounds.

💡 Coaching Tips

Start with 1 shark for younger groups. Encourage minnows to use moves to get past sharks. Celebrate creative dribbling, not just speed.

🔄 Variations

Make the area smaller for more challenge. Allow sharks to dribble a ball too. Add "safe zones" in the middle where minnows can rest for 3 seconds.

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Looking for gear for this drill?

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