Kickstarters, Games, Races, and Relays: Coaching Fun with a Purpose
#47 - Strength & Speed Coaching - Pursuing Your Best ⚡️
Fun doesn’t mean fluff.
The best training environments have structure and purpose—but they also have joy. Athletes laugh, compete, move, and sweat… and can’t wait to come back tomorrow.
That’s what this issue is all about: how to use games, relays, and creative challenges to elevate your training sessions—without sacrificing intent.
Let’s build training that’s effective and electric.
Fun Isn’t the Enemy of Hard Work
Some coaches avoid using games or races in training—thinking they’re a waste of time or a distraction from “serious” work.
But if you coach them well, these tools can:
Raise the energy of the room
Build buy-in and team culture
Teach skills like acceleration, change of direction, and reactive agility
Reinforce effort, hustle, and communication
Turn warm-ups or finishers into high-output, low-coaching-load gold
Engagement and development? That’s a win-win.
Kickstarters: Fast, Fun, and Effective
Kickstarters are quick, high-energy activities at the start of a session. Think of them as a jolt to the system—physically and mentally.
Here are a few we love:
Partner Chase
Rock-Paper-Scissors Tag
Tennis Ball Drops
Agility Mirror Drill
Relay Races (with hurdles, cones, or bodyweight)
Relay Races & Small-Sided Games: Coaching without Lecturing
Small-sided races and games give you the chance to coach without over-coaching.
Instead of breaking down every technical detail, you let the game pull the effort and outcome out of the athlete.
Try:
Cones to Chaos: Partner races to an unknown cone
Mirror Relays: Follow the leader through quick changes of direction
Partner Tag: One partner, 10 seconds, tag your partner
Games like these create movement variability, test awareness, and build real-world athleticism—while keeping kids smiling.
Purposeful Fun Isn’t Random
Fun can be intentional and structured. Try this approach:
1. Anchor the Game to a Skill
Example: Sprint mechanic work? → Use a 10-yard reaction chase to reinforce it.
2. Set Expectations
Model intensity, effort, and sportsmanship. Fun doesn’t mean sloppy.
3. Debrief the Why
Afterward, connect the dots. “This drill helps us accelerate better out of a cut.” → Athletes learn and buy in—and it’s fun.
Quick Hit List: Games & Activities to Boost Engagement
Here’s a list of low-equipment, high-engagement tools to plug into your training week:
✅ Relay Races (forward, backward, lateral)
✅ Partner Races (mirror, chase, tag)
✅ Tennis Ball Series (drops, toss-and-go, reaction drills)
✅ Reaction Ball Challenges
✅ VBT Challenges (intent and velocity)
✅ Kickball, Dodgeball, Ultimate
✅ Noodle Tag (many variations)
✅ Small-Sided Yard Games (spikeball, frisbee, cornhole)
✅ Short Tumbling Series (crawl races, log rolls, bear crawls)
✅ Dueling Laser Races
✅ Hand-eye Coordination Series (single, double, juggle)
…and obviously many more.
These can be warm-ups, finishers, or standalone elements. The key is to match them to your goals—and keep it moving.
Coach’s Note
You don’t need to be a camp counselor or a hype man. You just need to be intentional and creative.
When in doubt:
Compete a little yourself
Laugh often
Praise effort loudly
Adjust on the fly
The weight room isn’t just a place to get strong—it’s a place to grow confidence, community, and connection.
Games help with that. Don’t overlook them.
Want Help Designing Sessions That Engage?
I offer consulting for PE teachers and Strength & Speed coaches looking to:
Build high-energy training systems with limited space or time
Layer in skill development through games and movement
Create year-round plans that combine fun with progress
Just reply or reach out—I’d love to help you craft something that works for your kids, your goals, and your schedule.
Until then, keep pursuing excellence.
— Preston ⚡️