Recovery Race

1. For each pair, mark a channel 10 metres wide and 20 long with a mini goal in the top right corner. Put a start marker in the middle, 6 metres from the bottom, and a 2 metre gate 5 metres in front of it, over on the left.
2. Two metres to the right of the start, put three markers: 1, 3 and 5 metres back. The defender picks one and stands on it. The attacker stands on the start with the ball.
3. The attacker goes whenever they like: through the gate, then on to goal. The defender may go the moment the ball moves, and has to win it or knock it out before it goes in.
4. A stop from the nearest marker is worth 1 point, from the middle one 2, from the furthest 3. A goal is worth 1 to the attacker. Then swap roles and walk back with the ball.
5. Set up a channel for every pair, side by side, and mirror every second one (goal top left, gate on the right, markers on the left) so defenders chase from both sides. Change channels every 3 minutes. With an odd number, three share a channel and rotate.

The first decision comes before anyone moves. The defender looks at the attacker and chooses a marker: too close and the stop is worth little, too far and they never catch up. Once the ball moves, the attacker has to go through the gate and the defender does not, so the defender who follows the ball loses; the one who runs to where the attacker is going, towards the goal side, gets there first. Arriving is the second choice. Come in at full speed and the attacker cuts past; slow down a few steps early, get between the ball and the goal, and pick the moment to tackle, when the touch runs too far or the attacker looks down. The attacker decides how fast they can go and still keep the ball, and when to put their body between the ball and the chaser.