Pirates and Treasure soccer drill

Pirates and Treasure: setup diagram

At a glance

Change the size of the area to fit your group: bigger makes it easier for the player with the ball, smaller makes it harder. Everyone who goes out comes straight back in, and nobody runs laps.

How to run it

1. Mark a small “ship” in each corner and put all the balls in the middle.
2. Split the players into four crews, one in each ship.
3. On “go”, everyone runs to the middle, takes one ball with their feet and dribbles it back. The ball must be stopped inside the ship.
4. When the middle is empty, the round ends. The crew with the most treasure wins.
5. Round two: when the middle is empty, pirates may steal from other ships, one ball at a time. No guarding and no hands. Stop after one minute and count.

Coaching points to say out loud

• “Feet only.”
• “Dribble, do not kick.”
• “Stop it in your ship.”
• “Look for the ship with the most.”

Make it easier or harder

• Easier

  Use fewer crews and a smaller square. Let the youngest players carry on until every ball is home, with no stealing round.

• Harder

  Balls only count if they arrive with the weaker foot, or pirates must do a turn on the way home. Add one “sea monster” defender in the middle who can tap a ball back to the pile.

Common mistakes

• Kicking the ball toward the corner from far away. It only counts if it is dribbled in and stopped.
• Using hands in the excitement. A ball moved by hand goes back to the middle.
• One long round. Short rounds with a count at the end keep the energy up.

Why it matters in a game

Winning a loose ball and getting away with it happens all game long. The stealing round also teaches children to look up and choose: which ship has the most, and which one is unguarded? Looking before you move is the heart of our lesson on receiving the ball.

The lesson that teaches it: Carry or Pass?.

Questions about Pirates and Treasure

• How many balls do I need?

  At least one for every two players, and more is better. If you are short, add cones to the pile as extra treasure that must be carried on top of a ball trip.

• What if one team always wins?

  Mix the crews after each round, or let the crew with the least treasure start two seconds early.

• Is this the same as “Steal the Bacon”?

  It is a close cousin. Coaches also call it Treasure Hunt, Robin Hood or Bank Robbers. The rules are the same: collect balls with your feet and bring them home.

Lessons that teach this idea

• Carry or Pass? (7v7 lesson)Watch which route the defender leaves open.
• Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
• Win It: Look, Then Choose (9v9 lesson)After gaining possession, use a clear forward advantage or secure the ball.

Related drills and guides

• Sharks and Minnows (drill)It trains dribbling under pressure: keeping the ball close, changing direction and using open space.
• Clean Your Room (drill)It trains striking a ball with the laces or the inside of the foot, and running to the next ball.
• Red Light, Green Light (drill)It trains keeping the ball close enough to stop it with the sole of the foot.
• Dribble tag (drill)It warms players up while training dribbling with the head up and quick changes of direction.
• Soccer age groups explainedWhat U6, U8, U10 and U12 mean
• Counterattack (soccer term)Attacking fast after winning the ball
• U6 soccer drills: fun games for 5 and 6 year oldsNine games for 5 and 6 year olds, a ball each, with what to avoid
• U8 soccer drills for 7 and 8 year oldsTen drills for 7 and 8 year olds: dribbling, 1v1, first passing and 3v3
• Soccer dribbling drills for kidsBall mastery, ball-each games, turns and 1v1 for every age
• U6 soccer practice plan: first practice of the seasonA 45-minute plan that uses this drill
• All dribbling and ball mastery drillsOne ball each: lots of touches, turns and changes of speed.