Builders and Bulldozers

Get young players running, bending, changing direction, and scanning for the next target, all disguised as a game they will beg to play again.

Scatter 20 to 30 tall cones across a 20x20 yard square, half standing and half knocked over. Split the group into Builders (pinnies) and Bulldozers. Teams start on opposite sidelines.

1. On 'Go!', Bulldozers run in and knock cones over with a hand; Builders run in and stand them back up.
2. Nobody guards a cone and nobody touches the same cone twice in a row.
3. After 60 seconds, freeze. Count standing cones versus fallen cones to find the winner.
4. Switch roles and play again. Best of three rounds.
5. Round three: add a ball for each player so every job is done while dribbling.

• Look up for the next cone before you finish this one.
• Bend the knees, don't bend the back.
• Quick feet in, quick feet out.
• Spread out, the far corners are full of cones.

• One child follows a rival around fixing every cone they knock over; remind them the far corners are where the points are.
• Players run with a straight back and stumble at the cones; coach the little squat before every touch.
• Rounds run too long and the pace dies; 60 seconds hard beats 3 minutes of jogging.

• Every player dribbles a ball while doing their job.
• Cones may only be knocked over or fixed with the foot.
• Add a 'Foreman' on each team who can freeze one opponent for 3 seconds by tagging them.

• Shorten rounds to 40 seconds.
• Use fewer cones, spaced wider, for the youngest players.
• Play walking only for the first round to learn the rules.

• Hands only for cones, no guarding, no touching the same cone twice in a row.