Catch Me If You Can

Two players start kitty-corner and race around the outside of the grid, each dribbling flat out to catch the other — until your call stops or flips the chase.

It's a fun, competitive race that makes dribbling with speed the whole game — catch your partner and the ball had to come with you.

Ages 4–12Two players per grid, a ball each10 minCones, balls

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones for the grid and a ball for each of the two racers.
Build: Build a 10-by-10-yard grid.
Place: One player on each of two diagonal corners of the grid, each with a ball.

Show me the setup picture

A small square grid with two players on opposite corners, a ball at each player's feet, ready to race around the outside.

One thing to remember: Dribbling with speed — close control, keeping the ball close, and sharp touches.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

On "GO" both players dribble around the outside of the grid trying to catch each other; "STOP" freezes the ball, and "TURN" reverses the whole race.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set the two players on diagonal corners of the grid with a ball each.
Coach says
Opposite corners, ball at your feet. When I say go, you're chasing each other — around the outside.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the calls — on "GO" they dribble around the outside of the grid trying to catch their partner; on "STOP" they must stop the ball; on "TURN" they switch direction around the grid.
Coach says
'GO' means chase! 'STOP' — ball dead under your foot. 'TURN' — the whole race flips!
3Play▾
Coach does
Run the race and keep the calls coming. Watch for close control and speed with the ball — the ball kept close with sharp touches even at a sprint.
Coach says
GO! Keep it close — sharp touches! ... TURN!
Look for: The ball kept close at full speed — sharp touches, not one big kick and a footrace.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Add commands for later rounds — "LEFT" to use the left foot only, "RIGHT" to use the right foot only, "BOTTOM" to use the bottom of the foot only.
Coach says
New calls this time — 'LEFT' foot, 'RIGHT' foot, 'BOTTOM' of the foot only!

If it's not working

If the race outruns their touch — balls skidding away at every corner — slide the cones out a few steps while they run; longer sides, fewer turns, and the control comes back.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

Racing to catch a partner makes speed the point while the corners keep demanding control — a fun, competitive exercise where dribbling with speed does all the work.

What are they learning?

Dribbling with speed — close control, keeping the ball close, and sharp touches.

How can I change it?

Harder: Add the commands — "LEFT" for left foot only, "RIGHT" for right foot only, "BOTTOM" for the bottom of the foot only.