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Trash Can Ball – A Great Motivator for the Spring and Summer

by: Chris Booth
Middle School head Coach, Peterstown (WV)
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During the summer months, players come to our athletic facility to lift weights and to run for conditioning. For the longest time, it seemed to be a chore in getting the athletes motivated to come in and work out. This all changed a few years ago when we started playing trash can ball for our conditioning program. Since we started trash c an ball, attendance for lifting and conditioning has been near perfect.

 

What is it and how do you play it? Why should you play it? We take two trash cans out on the playing field and we put one on each 20-yard line. We then play the width of the field from the end zone end line to the 40 yard line. We take one cone and place it at the midway point of the 40 yard line. Now the field is set up to play and all that is needed is a utility ball and we are ready to go. If you have a lot of players, you can set up for multiple games to be played at the same time. Also, you can have some of the team lifting while others are playing the game.

 

How do you play? The way we play is we divide the kids up into teams of five players. Each team has a trash can to defend but there are no goalies. If you get caught guarding a trash can the other team is awarded a free throw from ten feet away. You can advance the ball by throwing it, kicking it, punting it, or by running with it. If a player is touched by an opponent while in possession of the ball, he must immediately give up the ball to that opposing player, and back away five yards to allow his opponent a free kick, a free throw or an opportunity to run with the ball. The way to score in this game is to advance the ball and put it in the opponent’s trash can while having every player of the scoring team across midfield. This is where the cone and goal post come into play.  The length of the game can be set by a predetermined time or set number of goals the winning team must achieve.

 

Why should you play the game? This game teaches the players pursuit and avoidance skills, skills they must use in football. The game also teaches the players how to work together to achieve a specific goal. This is all done while the players are working themselves into proper cardiovascular conditioning. This is an inexpensive game and a fun activity for all the players.






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