Head/Catch Game

The team circles up, you toss the ball at each player's head and yell "HEAD" or "CATCH" — do the wrong one and you sit, and the last player standing wins.

This one is fun with a purpose — listening and reacting fast — for when the team needs a break from the normal drills or has earned a reward for hard work.

Ages 10–14Whole team in a circle15 minCones, 1 ball

The weekly budget is the part coaches miss. A coach who runs heading twice in a week is not being reckless, they are unaware there is a cumulative cap at all — say the cap, then trust the trained adult: about 30 minutes and 15-20 headers per player per week, everything counted, including games.

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: One ball — only you need one.
Build: Nothing to build — bring the team into a circle around you, everyone facing you.
Place: The ball stays in your hands; nobody else needs one.

Show me the setup picture

The whole team in a circle facing the coach in the middle, one ball in the coach's hands.

One thing to remember: Listening and reaction skills — and just having fun.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

You toss the ball at a head and yell "HEAD" or "CATCH" — the player does what you yelled, a wrong move means they sit, and the round runs until one player is left standing.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Circle the team up around you, everyone facing you. Only you have a ball.
Coach says
Make a circle around me — eyes on me, no balls needed.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the rule — every toss comes at the head as if they're going to head it, and you yell "HEAD" or "CATCH" as it goes. HEAD means head it back to you; CATCH means catch it and return it. The wrong action means that player sits, and only standing players stay active.
Coach says
Every ball comes at your head. I yell it, you do it — 'HEAD' means head it back, 'CATCH' means catch it. Get it wrong, take a seat.
3Play▾
Coach does
Work around the circle, one toss at a time, mixing the calls. Keep it light — this is the goof-around game, and fun is the whole point.
Coach says
HEAD! ... CATCH! Stay awake — I'm coming back around!
Look for: The quick reaction — players responding to your word, not to the flight of the ball.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Start a new round when one player is left standing. To really get interesting, flip it — players do the opposite of your call. You can call another body part too, but keep it simple.
Coach says
New round — opposite day! I say 'HEAD,' you catch it. I say 'CATCH' — head it!

If it's not working

If nobody ever sits, flip the rule — "HEAD" means catch it, "CATCH" means head it — and watch the circle wake up.

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

Why are we doing this?

Every toss looks exactly the same — a ball at the head — so the only thing a player can trust is your word, and listening beats instinct. It earns its spot as a reward: a break from the normal drills that keeps everyone switched on anyway.

What are they learning?

Listening and reaction skills — and just having fun.

How can I change it?

Harder: Play the opposite rule — players must do the reverse of your call — or call another body part, keeping it simple.

Next: Soccer Tennis — the flighted balls keep coming, and now the kids control them instead of you.