Soft hands and happy faces — a first taste of catching, tucked inside games where every child has a ball of their own.
Magic Hands
- Gaelic football
- U6
- 45 min
- 10–20 kids + parent helpers
- 3 coaches
- Effort 2/5
- 20x20m grid
- u6
- catching
- nursery
- ball-familiarity
- fun-games
Kit: A size-3 football per child, 16 flat markers, 6 hoops, 4 bibs
Pop the Bubble
Setup: A 20×20m marker square, a ball each (share if short), helpers spread around the edges rather than bunched on one side.
How it works: Children roam the square hugging the ball. On POP, throw it just off your hands and catch it before it lands, like popping a bubble. On FREEZE, stop dead, ball hugged to the chest, and find the coach's eyes. Start with a tiny pop and grow it as they warm up. That freeze is your control switch for the whole night, so practise it early and often.
What to say
- “Hands like a cup, thumbs together, ready before the ball comes down.”
- “Watch the ball all the way into your fingers.”
- “On FREEZE, statue still, and hug the ball tight.”
Easier
Let it bounce once before you catch.
Harder
Clap your hands once before you catch it.
Egg Catchers
Setup: Pairs, one ball between two, two or three big steps apart. A helper with every three or four pairs.
How it works: Partner A gently underarm-tosses the ball so it drops into partner B's hands like an egg that must not crack. Five soft catches each, then swap. Every clean catch earns one step back to make the next throw a little longer. Drop it, and you both take one step in and start the count again.
What to say
- “Reach out to meet the egg, then pull it into your tummy soft.”
- “Two hands always — one hand cracks the egg.”
- “Thrower, aim for the tummy, nice and gentle.”
Easier
Kneel closer together and roll-toss it so it barely leaves the ground.
Harder
Step back after every clean catch and add a little lob.
Sky and Snow
Setup: Ball each, spread out with plenty of space, everyone facing the coach in the middle.
How it works: On SNOW, drop and catch a low soft one near your knees. On SKY, toss it just above your head and catch it coming down, bending the knees to soften it. Call them faster and mix them up, sneaking in more SKY, because that high one is the real work tonight. Count how many SKY catches the whole group can string together without a drop.
What to say
- “Get under the ball early — little feet, quick feet.”
- “Give with the ball, bend the knees as it lands.”
- “Eyes up, chin up, watch it drop.”
Easier
One bounce allowed on every SKY.
Harder
Turn a full circle, then catch the SKY ball you tossed.
Catch the Rainbow
Setup: A catch box marked at one end with a hoop nest behind it. Kids in two or three small teams on a start line about eight metres away, a helper beside the box as the thrower.
How it works: One child runs into the box, the helper lobs a soft high ball for them to catch — a rainbow arc, not a rocket. Catch it, carry it to the nest, drop it in, run back and tag the next child. Missed it, no bother — chase it, gather it in two hands, still bring it home. Count each team's nest at the end, then go again with a new thrower.
What to say
- “Call mine loud before you catch — brave hands.”
- “Move your feet to get under it, do not just stick out your arms.”
- “Squeeze it in and run tall to the nest.”
Easier
Thrower rolls or bounces it in instead of lobbing.
Harder
Two children run in and one must call it; catch it above your head.
Sleepy Hands
Setup: Circle in the middle, each child holding their ball in their lap, helpers filling the gaps.
How it works: Slow stretches through a story: reach to the sky to catch a star, fold down to pick a daisy, big slow arm circles like a windmill winding down, then hug the ball and rock. Voices get quieter as you go. Finish with the question, take a few answers, then balls into the bag one team at a time.
What to say
- “Stretch slow and tall — no rushing.”
- “Big breath in through the nose, long breath out.”
- “Ball still in your lap while a friend is talking.”
Ask the players: Ask who caught one tonight that they dropped the first time. Hands up, say their names, and tell them trying again is the whole game at this age.
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