In relays and races, contribution of everyone affects final result of team. Like team sports, relay is a very important and popular training process in youth and youth football training of German football, and is also very popular among German coaches. If football is used as a baton, relay game can train various football skills of young players at the same time.
How to identify a relay?
The relay determines winner of race between a team and other team that is first to cover a given distance. In Germany relay races are usually divided into one-way relay races and round-trip relay races. A one-way relay requires players to run from start to finish, while a round-trip relay requires players to return to finish line at a certain point. As a rule, each team has no more than five players.
What are benefits of relay games and races?
Incorporating a relay into football practicegives kids maximum speed. Thanks to relay race, each child can run to his limit, thereby improving his maximum speed. Children can also develop their flexibility if coach uses a relay back and forth. If baton is replaced with a soccer ball, then running speed will decrease, but we can train technical abilities of children under time pressure.
How to integrate relay race into football practice?
If kids don't warm up properly for football practice, they risk muscle injury. Therefore, at beginning of training, use relay game as a warm-up, which can not only achieve warm-up effect, but also make children very happy and motivated to participate in training. In addition, during relay competitions, coach should avoid indicating crossing tracks so that children do not collide with each other and create danger.
Here we introduce you to some classic relay races
One
Procedure
Connect
Triangular relay
Force
01
Organization:
Mark two triangles (side length 15m) and place them parallel as shown.
Split into two groups. The players of each team are assigned to corners of triangle (marker poles) and only one player can stand next to two marker poles.
Process:
On command A runs to B and clap, B runs to C and clap. C runs to A.
Which team will be first to reach starting point?
Other formats:
Runs with ball and throws it to next player. If ball hits ground, team must replay triangle.
Change direction of movement. 02 Triangular Cone Goal Relay
Organization:
Build two triangular conical gates three meters wide as shown.
Set up two marker posts 7 meters before and after each gate and line up behind them.
Split into two teams evenly spaced before and after pole.
Process:
After instruction, first player of each team passes through goal and high fives opposing player.
One point for each run on goal
Who will get 20 points first?
Other formats:
Run back to target, then forward
Go through gate
Dribbing soccer ball past goal 03 cross relay
Organization:
As a standard, set up four marker posts at a distance of 20 meters, forming a cross, as shown.
Split into two teams as shown in figure behind pole.
Process:
On command, first player on team runs to opposite side and high fives first player on opposite side.
The high-five player runs to opposite side.
Which command is faster?
Other formats:
At same time, start running towards first player and go around opponent, reaching the middle.
Complete with ball in hand or dribble
to
Back
Connect
Power
01 Serpentine Relay
Organization:
The two markers represent start position.
Place four markers in front of each marker, as shown, to have players snake around pillars.
Split into two teams.
Process:
The first player of each team starts at same time, goes around pole and runs back to give next player a five.
Which team can wrap pole first three times?
Other formats:
The player rolls ball with his hands on pole.
Driving back and forth on a serpentine pole relay 02 stars
Organization:
Mark a 15m x 15m square on a 25m x 25m box
Split into four teams and stand on four markers in outer circle.
The ball belongs to first player of each team.
Process:
On command, first player runs to cone in inner circle with soccer ball in hand, puts ball on cone, runs back and gives next player fives.
The player runs up to cone, grabs soccer ball from cone and throws ball back.
Other formats:
Dribbling Relay
Walk around pyramid and throw ball to next player, like in volleyball.
Performed by manually spinning soccer ball. 03 Triangular Cone Conveyor Relay
Organization:
Two marking posts in parallel
Place four marker pads of different colors in front of start marker.
Place triangular cone next to first marking disk.
Process:
On command, first players of two teams run to triangular cone, take triangular cone and run to second marker disc, place triangular cone next to second marker disc, run back to starting point and next player high-five
Who will be fastest to return triangular cone to first marker disk?
Other formats:
Run back
Dribbing a soccer ball while running
Ball while running
Why is relay so suitable for football practice?
Because in relay each player is an indispensable part of his team and can contribute to success of team. In a relay race, a small mistake can cost whole team precious time or even lead to defeat of team. Therefore, as football coaches, we must teach children to value team and solve problems together and independently as a team.
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August 04, 2023