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Swerve Run Around a Defender

Use a curved run to get around a defender without slowing down.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Put a cone as the defender 10 yards ahead.

Core: Jogs. Beat your own count of tags kept.

Ages
11 and up
Time
10 min
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Cones, rugby ball
Level · skill
Developing · Evasion

The steps

How it works

  1. Put a cone as the defender 10 yards ahead.
  2. Run straight at it, then lean and curve around the outside.
  3. Hold the ball in the arm away from the cone.
  4. Do 8 runs each side.

Coaching point

Run at them, then bend away.

Safety: Warm up first and run on flat, non-slip ground. Stop if a muscle feels tight.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Tag-belt dodge: a partner tries to pull your tag while you step and weave, with no body contact. A pulled tag just means swap roles.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (two cones to weave). Beat your own count of tags kept.

Story

You are a fox slipping past the farmer.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own count of tags kept. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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