Bees to Honey

Movement, chasing & carrying

Gaelic football
U8
50 min
12–20 players
2 coaches
Effort 2/5
20x20m grid
u8
nursery
fun-games
movement
ball carrying

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 20 cones, a ball each (size 3 or soft), 16 bibs (4 colours)

Warm-up8 min

Bees to Honey

Setup: A 20×20m square with cone "flowers" scattered inside. Four bib "hives" (one per colour) just outside the corners, 3–4 players per hive. Every bee holds a ball — that's their honey.

How it works: Bees buzz around the flowers — jog, side-step, spin — carrying the honey in two hands. On "HONEY HOME", everyone races their ball back to their own hive, puts it down, and sits. Last hive seated collects a flower for the other teams. Play four or five rounds, changing how they travel each time.

What to say

“Two hands on your honey — hug it tight when you run.”
“Look where you're going, not at your feet.”

Easier

Walk only; bigger square.

Harder

Bounce the ball once before you sit; call two hives at once so they choose the nearest.

Activity10 min

Tail Robbers

Setup: Same square. Every player tucks a bib into their shorts as a tail and carries their ball under one arm.

How it works: Everyone is a robber and everyone has a tail. Steal as many tails as you can while protecting your own — but you must keep your ball under your arm the whole time. Collected tails go in your other hand. When only a few tails are left, stop, count, hand them back, go again.

What to say

“Keep the ball tucked — elbow over it like a wing.”
“Twist and turn — don't just run in straight lines.”

Easier

No ball for the first round; coaches wear tails too as easy targets.

Harder

STEPR: shrink the square; weak arm carries only.

Activity10 min

Swap the Hives

Setup: Four cone hives, one per corner of the square, a colour at each. Groups of 3–4 bees start at a hive, ball each.

How it works: Coach calls two colours — those two hives swap, carrying their honey across the middle without bumping anyone. Then two more. Mix in "EVERYBODY MOVES" where all four hives swap at once. Score a team point for the first hive fully home and standing still.

What to say

“Find the gap — dodge, don't barge.”
“Slow feet in traffic, fast feet in space.”

Easier

One pair of hives at a time; walk through the middle.

Harder

Solo or bounce once during the crossing; add a coach in the middle as a friendly obstacle.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

House session; structure follows the ICGG session template.

Free on PitchPlans — new sessions weekly.