Treasure Chest Raid

Develop dribbling at speed with changes of direction, plus scanning to pick the fastest route home through traffic.

Mark a 25x20 yard box with a coned 'treasure chest' square in the centre holding all the balls. Mark a den in each corner. Split into four even teams, one per den.

1. On 'RAID!', every player can run to the chest, take ONE ball, and dribble it back to their den.
2. As soon as a ball is in the den, sprint back for another — no carrying, dribbling only.
3. When the chest is empty, allow stealing: dribble one ball at a time out of ANOTHER team's den (no guarding your den).
4. Coach calls 'STOP!' after 60–90 seconds — the team with the most treasure wins the round.
5. Return the balls to the chest and play 3–4 rounds.

• Dribble with little touches — treasure bounces away if you boot it.
• Eyes up on the way to the chest — pick your ball and your route home early.
• Use the outside of your foot to swerve past raiders coming the other way.
• Finish the job — the ball must stop inside the den, not roll through it.

• Players kick the ball ahead and sprint after it — that's not dribbling; demand a touch every stride or the ball goes back.
• Everyone raids the same nearest den when stealing starts — coach players to scan for the fullest, least-defended den.
• Balls are left rolling outside the den and don't count — teach players to stop the ball dead with the sole inside the den.

• Must beat a cone slalom on the way home.
• Add one 'guard dog' defender who can tackle raiders between chest and den.
• Weak foot only for the final round.

• Shrink the pitch so runs are shorter.
• No stealing phase — just empty the chest.
• Youngest players may carry the ball home for round one, then dribble.

• One ball per raid — take a second and both go back to the chest.