How rough and tumble play can help young players develop their physical, technical and social skills

Skills | Carl Wild | 22.07.2021

Chasing, rolling and wrestling games can help young players develop the physical skills they need for the modern game. Getty Images / Tony Marshall - The FA

Learning: 

• The benefits of rough and tumble play on children’s physical, psychological and social development

• How to blend rough and tumble play into other practice activities

• The physical demands of the modern game and how rough and tumble play can help prepare for these demands

Any coach working with young children will know that every opportunity that they get, the players will look to engage in some form of play. Whether this is whilst they are waiting for a practice to start, during a drinks break or even on their way to or off the pitch. 

Quite often this play involves players chasing each other, or engaging in some form of wrestling or grappling and sometimes it even involves a piece of equipment that they have chosen to be part of the game, such as a water bottle or even a hat. 

This particular form of play is known as Rough and Tumble Play (RTP) which is described as a form of high-energy physical play that is usually conducted with others.