Dodging, the bounce and a first proper solo — taught by the oldest coaches on the field: tig and chase.
Chase Night
- Gaelic football
- U8
- 45 min
- 12–24 kids
- 2 coaches
- Effort 3/5
- 25x25m grid
- tag-games
- solo
- bounce
- evasion
Kit: A size-3 ball per child, 24 cones, 12 bibs
Cross the River
Setup: 25×25m square with a 5m river band marked across the middle. Two catchers in bibs live in the river. Everyone else on one bank, ball in hands.
How it works: On the call, everyone crosses to the far bank carrying their ball. Catchers may only tag inside the river. Tagged players join the river as catchers, so the river gets busier every crossing. Last three untagged win, then reset with new catchers. Round three: you must bounce the ball once in the river as you cross — that bounce under pressure is the point of the whole warm-up.
What to say
- “Pick your gap before you run, not during.”
- “Dodge with a side-step and a burst, not just speed.”
- “Ball in two hands the second a catcher gets close.”
Easier
Catchers walk; no bounce needed in the river.
Harder
Narrow the river to 3m and add a third catcher from the start.
Bounce Alley
Setup: Cone alleys about 10m long, a middle marker in each, groups of 3–4 per alley so nobody waits more than one turn. One ball per group to start, then ball each.
How it works: Run your alley, bounce the ball at the middle marker without stopping, catch it and finish through the end gate, then jog back down the outside and high-five the next runner to send them. After everyone has four runs, race the alleys as relays — a missed bounce means you fix it where it lands and carry on, no starting over. Keep the races short and run plenty of them.
What to say
- “Push the ball down hard — it has to bounce back up to your chest.”
- “Bounce it out in front, never under your feet.”
- “Slow feet into the bounce, fast feet after it.”
Easier
Stop at the marker, bounce, catch, then run on.
Harder
Two bounces per alley, or catch every bounce with your weaker hand on top.
First Solos
Setup: Pairs, one ball between two, spread out with a good arm-span of space around each pair. Walking pace only to start.
How it works: One partner walks and tries the solo — drop the ball onto the laces and kick it straight back up to the hands. The other partner walks beside them counting clean catches out of five tries, then they swap. Every swap, ask for one number out loud per pair. Nobody moves to a jog until they have three out of five walking. This is the hardest skill they will learn all year, so keep the tone light and the tries coming.
The technique, step by step
- Hold the ball in two hands out in front, arms long.
- Step forward and drop it onto your kicking foot — no toss.
- Point the toes and lift the laces up to meet your hands.
- Catch in two hands and take your next step without stopping.
Common mistakes
- Throwing the ball up before the kick — it drifts everywhere and the foot chases it.
- Kicking with the toes so the ball flies off at an angle — it is laces or nothing.
What to say
- “Drop it, don't throw it — the ball falls straight.”
- “Laces, not toes — like a gentle chip back to yourself.”
- “Catch with two hands and keep your feet walking.”
Easier
Let the solo bounce once before catching it.
Harder
Two solos in a row on the move, or solo on the jog through a cone gate.
Cops and Robbers
Setup: Central bank of balls in a marker circle. Four den squares in the corners, a team of robbers per den. Two or three cops in bibs roam the open ground.
How it works: Robbers raid the bank one at a time per den and carry a ball home. Cops can only tag a robber who is carrying — tagged robbers put the ball back in the bank and rejoin their den line. When the bank empties, count each den's haul, then let dens rob from each other for one wild minute before the reset. Swap cops every round so everyone hunts and everyone runs.
What to say
- “Pick your moment — go when the cop's back is turned.”
- “A swerve beats straight-line speed every time.”
- “Two hands around the ball even at full tilt.”
Easier
Two cops only, and cops must stay out of a 2m ring around the bank.
Harder
A robber who bounces the ball once mid-raid banks it as double.
Shake and Show
Setup: Circle up, balls at feet. Shake out arms and legs, then easy stretches — calves, quads, a big reach — about 10 seconds each.
How it works: While the group stretches, go around the circle: anyone who wants to shows one move from tonight — their bounce, their dodge, a solo try — and the circle copies it once. Keep it quick, two or three showers a night is plenty, and pick different children each week.
What to say
- “Stretch soft and slow — the running is done.”
- “Copy your friend's move with your best effort, not a messing version.”
- “Ball stays on the grass until the bag comes around.”
Ask the players: Ask: who escaped a tag tonight with a dodge? Get one or two to show the dodge again — naming the skill is how it sticks.
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