Welcome to The Dugout
It is the 46th minute of a World Cup Final. The score is level. Your team is tired. The opponent likes to keep the ball. And the second half is about to begin. In this short challenge, you are not just learning about football. You are stepping into the role of head coach. You will make three tactical decisions. Each choice changes the match. Some decisions may create momentum. Others may protect your team. Some may work beautifully in one situation and fail in another. That is the point. Football is not only about knowing the rules. It is about reading the moment, making a call, and learning from what happens next. This experience was built using custom code blocks in Rise to create a more interactive, decision-based flow. Ready? Step into the dugout.Football Basics: Click the Pitch to Learn the Game
DEMO LINK For this week’s challenge, I created a simple interactive football basics activity for new fans, casual viewers and beginners who want to understand the game without feeling overwhelmed. The idea is built around a top-down football pitch with numbered clickable markers. Each marker opens a short explanation of one key football concept, such as the goal, players, positions, the ball, passing, dribbling, shooting, defending, set pieces and offside. I wanted the interaction to feel like the learner is reading the game from the pitch itself rather than moving through a traditional slide deck. The pitch acts as the main navigation screen, and the markers guide learners through the basics in a clear, visual way. How I approached the design I used a clean football pitch as the central visual so that the learning stayed connected to the game environment. The numbered markers are deliberately large and easy to spot, so learners know where to click without needing long instructions. Each pop-up includes: Element Purpose Short explanation Introduces the football term in plain English Quick example Helps the learner understand how it appears in a real match Visual support Shows the concept rather than only describing it Learner takeaway Gives the learner one simple point to remember Design rationale The design is intentionally simple because the audience is new to football. I avoided too much technical detail at the start and focused on helping learners build confidence. For example, the offside section ( Marker 10) uses a visual comparison of not offside and offside, showing what the situation looks like before and after the pass. The key message is: Freeze the picture at the moment the ball is passed. That one sentence gives beginners a practical way to understand a rule that many people find confusing. Interaction idea The learner clicks each marker on the pitch to reveal a short learning point. This could easily be expanded with: Possible addition How it could improve the activity Progress tracking Shows how many basics the learner has completed Audio narration Supports learners who prefer listening Short quiz questions Checks understanding after each topic Match scenario cards Lets learners apply each rule in context Final recap jingle Helps learners remember the key basics Reflection This was a fun way to turn football rules into a small exploratory learning experience. Instead of explaining the game as a long list of rules, I tried to make the learner feel as if they are standing above the pitch, clicking into the parts of the game they want to understand. I look forward to your input and feedback. Best Nadia :-) Here is my example: DEMO LINKCoach-Player Mid-Season Check-Ins
Imagine if every mid-season check-in sparked real growth and ownership in your players. In this course, you'll discover how to transform assessments into collaborative, reflective conversations that empower players to connect their progress to key qualities, team behaviors, and their unique potential. Through practical frameworks, real-world dialogue examples, and interactive activities, you'll learn to adapt your approach for every age and program level. By the end, you'll be equipped with tools and strategies to guide meaningful check-ins, set actionable goals, and foster a culture of continuous development on your team. This mid-season check-in is a precursor to the end-of-season reflection and 1-on-1 meeting you will have at the end of the season.
