Pirate's Treasure

Fun game

Protect your dribble while collecting 'treasure'.

8 min 6–14 Half court
Ball-handlingU8U10

Game guide

6–14 · 1 ball each, cones/beanbags

Get everyone ready

Four collectors · two pirates1–4 each dribble a ball from their own base. 5 and 6 are pirates and start without balls. Six beanbags are treasure in the middle; coach supervises. Base 1Base 2Base 3Base 4123456

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Scatter 'treasure' (beanbags/cones) in the middle. Players dribble around the edge.

A coached example. In live play, players make their own decisions; the outcome can change.

Look for: Protect the ball as you reach for treasure.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Scatter 'treasure' (beanbags/cones) in the middle. Players dribble around the edge.

  1. On 'go', dribble in and grab one treasure at a time to your base.
  2. You must keep dribbling the whole time.
  3. 'Pirates' (1–2 taggers) try to tap balls away.
  4. Most treasure when time's up wins.

Suggested reset

On the end signal, stop every player and collect loose balls and treasure or flags. Return items to their bases, change pirate or team roles and restart only after players are back in their own spaces.

Coaching cues

  • Protect the ball as you reach for treasure.
  • Keep the dribble alive.
  • Head up for pirates.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Weak hand only.

Easier: Remove the pirates for the first round so they only manage the dribble and the pick-up.

Trading Post: Award double points for treasure carried across to a teammate's base instead of your own.

What this drill teaches

Keeping a dribble alive while the brain is busy elsewhere. Reaching for treasure and watching for pirates forces the dribble to run on autopilot — the moment ball-handling stops needing full attention is the moment it's actually learned.

In games: Games constantly ask kids to dribble while doing something else — reading a defender, finding a teammate — and this builds exactly that split attention.

What good looks like
  • Dribble continuing while the other hand collects treasure
  • Ball shielded on the far side as pirates approach
  • Heads swivelling for pirates between pick-ups

U8: no pirates at first — managing dribble-plus-pick-up is plenty. U10: expect live pirates, weak-hand rounds and treasure protected all the way home.

Equipment

1 ball each, cones/beanbags

Setup

Scatter 'treasure' (beanbags/cones) in the middle. Players dribble around the edge.

Steps

  1. 1On 'go', dribble in and grab one treasure at a time to your base.
  2. 2You must keep dribbling the whole time.
  3. 3'Pirates' (1–2 taggers) try to tap balls away.
  4. 4Most treasure when time's up wins.

Coaching points

  • Protect the ball as you reach for treasure.
  • Keep the dribble alive.
  • Head up for pirates.

Why kids love it

Treasure-hunting turns tricky one-hand ball control into an adventure they don't want to end.

Variations

Harder

Weak hand only.

Easier

Remove the pirates for the first round so they only manage the dribble and the pick-up.

Trading Post

Award double points for treasure carried across to a teammate's base instead of your own.

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