Category: Conditioning
Type: Drill
EPIDEMIC
Description of Drill:
Take four cones and make a square. Depending on how many players you have you may want to use an entire half of the soccer field. Place your entire team of players into the square and then pick one player to be the “Carriers.” This player now must try and tag their teammates and help the epidemic spread. Once the “Carrier” tags somebody, that tagged player must link hands with the “Carrier” that tagged him/her. Now these two players, attached at the hands, must work together to try and capture another player and build on their chain of disease. When they tag a third player, that player must also join in on the chain of disease and
now the three of them must work together, running around the square trying to spread the Epidemic. The object of the drill, besides building fitness is to create a gigantic chain of athletes, linked by their hands, chasing after free bodies. By the end of the drill you should have 1 long line of players working as a team to close off an area of the square to contain and capture the last free player.
What to look for Coaches: This drill is a ton of fun and allows the athletes to get fit, while building team unity and having a blast. It is important though that you, the coach, mandate a rule that states, all players must jog at all times or they are automatically linked to the carrier. With younger athletes this isn’t a problem, but
as the kids get older they get smart and try and stand in a corner or something of that nature. Just keep your eye out and make sure their having fun, but also make sure they are getting the fitness that the drill is designed for. Also, if you have a big group of players, 20 or so, you may want to start the game with 2 “Carriers.” By doing this their will be two separate lines at the end, having to work together to capture the last “disease free” athlete.
Submitted by: Coach Clay
|
|
|
