Cachorro Grande / Top Dog

A game format that is used in many different sports.

Winners go up, Losers go down.

Winner on the top pitch is the “Big Dog”

Can be played as 1v1 or any number of players.

Once learnt this game can quickly spiral out of control and take over entire sessions!

One of the best aspects of this game is that it constantly presents opponents who are stronger, weaker and similar to each players own level.

Progress up or down the ladder will not be relentless, players will bounce around levels.

Structure

Anyone who has played table tennis will recognise this game as 'top table'. There is no getting around the confusion that players initially have with the movement of up and down, but they pick it up by doing it, be ready to sacrifice a bit of time and quality to get the 'shape' of the game into their heads and you will be rewarded.

• Arrange a ladder of small sided pitches. I usually do this at the half way line on a full size pitch.

• Designate the pitch at one end the 'top' the other the 'bottom'.

• Allocate 2 players to each pitch.

• Shout "play". After a set period; 3min, 5min, first player to 4 goals... shout "stop"

• The complicated bit. The player who won moves one pitch toward the top. The player who lost moves one pitch toward the bottom.

• The player at the bottom who lost does not move. I often ask an older player to stay in this role, or do it myself.

• The player at the top who won is the 'Top Dog' they stay on the top pitch.

• If the players draw, then the player who scored last goes up; rewarding the fight back. Or toss a coin, or the younger goes up, or whoever came up goes up again, etc, etc…

Adaptations

• Make the pitches bigger and play 2v2 or 3v3.

• Put the strongest players at the 'bottom' to begin with.

• Change the Top and Bottom ends half way through.

• Goals only via headers requires chipping too.

• Have two ladders one for stronger and one for weaker players

Note: In the diagram all the winners and losers are on the same side, obviously this will not happen in real life. Hence the confusion. Also only one set of goals is shown in the diagram but again these should be on all pitches.