Knock Out
Everyone dribbles the grid protecting their own ball while trying to knock everyone else's out — three knockouts and you're done, and the last player in wins.
A great warm-up for a dribbling session — ball control, keeping the head up, change of direction, and change of pace all in one game.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones and a ball for every player.
- Build: Build a 20-by-20 grid — vary it for your numbers and their skill.
- Place: Every player starts inside the grid with a ball.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Dribbling and ball control, keeping the head up and staying aware of surroundings, change of direction, and change of pace.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Protect your ball while knocking everyone else's out of the grid — the first two knockouts cost push-ups, the third puts you out, and the last player standing wins.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put the whole team inside the grid, each player with a ball.
Coach says
Everybody in with your ball — it stays with you the whole game.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the rules — protect your own ball while trying to knock everyone else's out of the grid. Players must stay with their ball and can't leave it for long. The first two times a ball gets knocked out, that player does 5 to 10 push-ups and gets back in the game. The third time, they're out, and the last player standing wins.
Coach says
Guard yours, hunt theirs. Knocked out? Push-ups and back in. Third time — you're out.
3Play▾
Coach does
Let the battle run down to the last player standing. Keep the ball close with lots of touches, and heads up looking for the other players.
Coach says
Little touches, head up! Know who's coming for you!
Look for: Heads up between touches — players looking for the other players and aware of their surroundings, not buried in their own ball.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Start a new game as soon as a winner stands. Change the rounds — name a part of the foot they must dribble with, or make dribbling out of bounds yourself count as a knockout.
Coach says
New game — this round I name the part of the foot. And dribble out on your own? That's a knockout on you.
If it's not working
If nobody's ball ever leaves the grid, walk the corners in while they play — tighter space forces the battles — then open it back up.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Harder: Make players dribble with a certain part of the foot, or count dribbling out of bounds yourself as a knockout.