Coaching Young Athletes

3 Great Games That Will Help You Win Your Warm Up

The following games are fun, simple, vigorous activities, requiring minimal equipment and set-up. The kids will love them and so will you.

1. Frost & Thaw

Overview

Frost & Thaw is a very vigorous warm up game during which no one is eliminated.

Equipment

• Halved pool noodles
• “Gate” markers e.g. Pool noodles on pegs, ground marker domes, witches hats, etc

Set-Up

• Set up a square playing area.
• Form 4 “gates” marked on opposite corners of the playing area.
• Choose one player as “Frost” to carry a blue pool noodle.
• Choose one player “Thaw” to carry a red pool noodle.
• the other kids scatter inside the playing area.

Game

• “Frost” chases and attempts to tag the other players with their pool noodle. If tagged by “Frost” the tagged player “freezes” on the spot with their hands on their head.
• “Thaw” runs about touching “frozen” players with their pool noodle to “thaw them out” and allow them to re-enter the game.
• If “Thaw” is tagged by a “Frost”, they must run out the closest gate and re-enter the game by running back in the gate on the opposite corner. Within this time “Thaw” cannot help any “frozen” players.
• Play for a designated time or until all players are frozen.

Alternative

If “Thaw” is tagged by “Frost”, “Thaw” must freeze and hold their pool noodle up in the air. They must remain in this position, unable to help anyone, until another player grabs the pool noodle to become the new “Thaw”. This also releases the old Thaw back into the game as a regular player.

Notes

As this is a warm up game, I suggest adding the rule that no one is allowed to stand still, regardless of whether they are being chased or are chasing. This keeps everyone moving.

2. Tidy Up

Overview

“Tidy Up” is a great warm up activity involving lots of speed and agility, and during which the kids all have to work together.

Equipment

• Playing area corner markers
• 30 ground marker domes. (Bean bags, etc, would work just as well).
• 2 x bins or similar

Set-Up

Set up a square playing area. Scatter 30 domes across the playing area and place two pop-up bins (or similar) on opposite corners.

The kids line up along one side of the playing area.

Game

The kids run around the playing area, returning one cone at a time to either bin. They attempt to “clean up” the area in as little time as possible.

Notes

Repeat this game with the group trying to clean up in less time on each occasion.

3. The Sorting Game

Overview

“The Sorting Game” combines running, change of direction and decision-making.

Set-Up

• Set up a square playing area.
• Fill a bin with cones of 5-6 different colours.

• For each coloured cone in the bin, place another one of that coloured cone in a hoop somewhere within the playing area.

Game

The kids have to take one cone at a time from the bin and run to place that cone on top of the corresponding coloured cone in the hoop in the playing area.

Play for a certain time or until the bin is empty.

Over To You!

Try starting your sports session with one of these games. I would love to hear how it goes. Let me know by leaving a comment/reply or by using the contact details below.

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