Relay races

Relay races are those team games of movement, where the task of the game is performed by the members of the team individually, replacing each other. They are usually done in a form of a column or queue. They are particularly useful for practising the technical elements of football in a competitive situation.

Relay races can:

• develop the coordination skills and the condition
• warm up the teams of a small number of players
• prepare the material of instruction
• practise the acquired material of movement
• practise the final exercises of the class
• satisfy the need to play in every age group

The main types of relay races:

• relay with one round
• relay races with queues facing each other
• relay races with tools of the game (football)
• relay races with complex exercises

Combat games

Combat games are those games where there is a body versus body combat during the performance of the task of the game. When applying combat games, care must be taken that players or teams of similar power face each other. The rules of the game must be strictly observed, so that violence and injuries are avoided. These games are useful in the instruction of the challenges and struggles that occur in matches. 

The classification of combat games:

• pair combats
• group combats
• team combats

Cock-fight

We make pairs of similar height and power. The members of the pairs stand opposite each other, crossing their arms in front of their chest. At a signal they start hopping on one foot and try to move each other from their balance position by clashing at their shoulders, so that they need not put down their raised foot onto the ground. The players who manage to move their partner from their balance get a point. 

Pull him across the border. Push him across the border.

We make pairs of similar height and power. The pairs stand opposite each other on either side of the half line of the court, holding hands. At a signal they try to pull their partner across the line onto their own half. The one who manages to do this gets a point. In every pair the winner is the one who gets more points. It can be played with one hand, pulling or pushing, or with two hands, sitting in a bent position, pushing with the back.

Push him out of the circle.

We draw three circles of gradually smaller sizes next to each other on the ground. The players stand in the biggest circle. At a signal they try to push each other out of the circle. If a player has both feet out of the circle, touching the ground, he is out of the competition, and stands into the next circle. If there are already two players there, the combat starts again. If a player is also out of the second circle, he continues the game in the third one; if he is pushed out of that too, he is out of the game. The winner is the player who remains the last one in the biggest circle. The second is the one who is the last in the second circle, and the third is the one who is the last in the smallest circle. 

Push him into the circle.

Depending on the number of players, we draw a circle of about 6 to 8 metres in radius on the ground. The players stay out of the circle, and at a signal they try to push each other into the circle. The player who has both his feet inside the circle, touching the ground, is out of the game and stays inside the circle. The winner is the player who stays last out of the circle.

Simple rugby

The two goals of 2 meters in width each are marked by the high jump fences at the two goal lines of the court. A small kick-off circle is also drawn at the centre of the court. The ball is placed in this at the start of the game. The teams line up at their own goal line and, when the whistle is blown, they run toward the ball. The team that manage to take possession of the ball try to take the ball to the goal of the opponent by individual or team work. The player who runs with the ball can be attacked, so wrestling can also occur. However, this can be avoided by a smart team work, and the play can be continuous. If the ball gets into the goal by any means (thrown, rolled, kicked or if a player runs into the goal with the ball in hand), a goal must be awarded. The winner is the team that score more goals in the time of play.    

Point scorer

The field of play is marked and the teams are selected, one of the teams is marked by ribbons. The players are scattered in the field of play. The referee throws in the ball, and the team that manage to get it try to keep it in possession, so that they perform as many passes as possible. In the meantime the opponents try to get the ball, so that they can pass. Every pass is worth one point, and the scoring is continuous; if the team lose the ball, they keep their points scored so far, so when they get it back, they continue scoring from that. The winner is the team that score more points in the time of play. This game can be played both by hand or foot, depending on the prior training. The rules can freely be changed according to the objectives (man marking, number of steps, etc.).  

Substitution football

The teams are formed and the field of play is marked. Indoors the whole court can be used. The tools used as the goal are placed at the centre of the two goal lines. One of the teams is marked by ribbons. The teams are divided into further groups. Hence in every team there will be players number one, two and three. The teams are seated behind their own goal line, and the ball is put at the centre of the court. The referee calls one of the three groups by their number: “Two”. Then those players enter the court from both teams who became number two. They try to get the ball and attack the opponent’s goal. They play until the referee stops the game by a double blow of the whistle, and calls another number. At that signal the players immediately leave the court, and the groups called take their places, and they continue the game where it was interrupted.

Line football

A line is drawn at both ends of the hall, about 2.5 m from the wall; these will be the lines of defence. The centre line is also marked at the centre of the hall. Both teams are divided into two groups by numbering the players. The players with number one will be the strikers, while the players number two will be the defenders. The strikers can freely move between the two defence lines, the defenders are between their own defence lines. After casting lots, the strikers of one of the team start playing with a kick-off. They try to approach the opponent’s defence line and kick the ball through that, beyond the goal line or onto the wall. The defenders at the line can save and fend off the ball by foot, head or their body, but they must not defend by hand. The winner is the team that manage to kick the ball beyond the opponent’s goal line on more occasions, keeping the rules.     

Two-court football

Two teams are formed, with 5 players each. The teams are divided into two parts, offensive and defensive players. There are two strikers and three defenders in both teams. The field of play is divided into two by the half-line. In the offensive half there are only the two appointed strikers and the opponent’s three defenders, while in the defensive half only the three defenders and the opponent’s two strikers. In the game the strikers pass each other the ball they have received from the defenders, constantly moving around, and try to score goals. The opponent’s defenders try to avoid the goals and forward the ball to their strikers. The winner is the team that score more goals in the time of play.