Weighted Kick Relay

Skills

Kick Short.

Purpose

Kicking to enable a player to run onto a lofted "chip" is essential for working the ball forward through a zone, or when the opposition have numbers expecting the long bomb.

Players

10⁺

Ages

11⁺

Balls

Cones

Distance (max)

160m

Setup
Kicks should medium-length - at least 15-20m - so space cones according to age and numbers. Form 2 x playing areas if you have plenty of cones and players. Two players (X & Y) are non-running pivot players at the top and bottom (goalsquare in diagram) and stand between the 2 lines. Everyone else starts on the same edge of the playing area.
Step 1
(A) kicks to stationary (X), then runs across the field to receive a return kick from (X).

(X) must chip the kick so it hangs in the air, allowing (A) to run onto it

Kicking with height allows (A) to adjust the pace of their run when the kick is slightly imperfect

Accuracy is key, so optionally have penalties for missing the target
Step 2
(A) stops, back pedals and looking further afield, sees (B) make a similar run across the ground. (A) does a similar chip kick for (B) to run onto.
Step 3
(C) is next, and so-on down the line. Once the last player in line receives - (G) in the diagram - they repeat what (A) did - kick to (Y) then run across the field to receives (Y)'s return kick.
Step 4
Now work back the other way up the line.

Players run back to their original starting cone when receiving the second time.
Step 5
Progression 1: Reverse the flow of play. Optionally rotate X & Y after a couple of laps.
Step 6
Progression 2: Lengthen the kicks if feasible.
Step 7
You can also turn this into a game by scoring 1 point to the kicker if their receiver's foot is within 1 step from the cone when they mark the ball.

Players keep own score, most points win after 1 lap.