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U5 · Me and my ball block · Week 5 of 6 · Challenge
Fast feet, slow feet
Stop It Dead to start, little touches with the weaker foot, stop in a hurry, a route round the bibs, chase through the bibs, fast feet slow feet and free play.
- Little touchesKeep the ball close, with a touch every step or two.
- Both feetUse the left foot as much as the right.
- Sole on topTo stop the ball, put the sole of your foot on top of it.
The session in five lines
ArriveStop It Dead. Stop each time you pass someone. (7 min)
Little touchesWeaker foot first. (7 min)
Stop in a hurryStop in one touch on the call. (7 min)
Bib routeHow many bibs in a row? (7 min)
ChaseFollow the coach through the bibs. (7 min)
Fast feet, slow feetSlow, fast, stop. (7 min)
Rules matchLittle match · the rules so far (12 min)
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Minutes per stage. The last block is the conditioned game or the closing game. The dashed block is for changeovers and water.
Kit
8 conesPlus 2 goals. Use small goals, or two cones for each goal. A ball eachOne for every child, plus a spare, from the bag. BibsTwo colours for the two teams.
Different numbers?
| Players | Groups | Who plays |
|---|
| 6 | 1 | One group of six with one adult. The other adult helps. |
| 7 | 2 | 4 and 3, one adult with each |
| 8 | 2 | 4 and 4 |
| 9 | 2 | 5 and 4 |
| 10 | 2 | 5 and 5 |
| 11 | 2 | 6 and 5 |
| 12 | 2 | 6 and 6 |
No more than six children per adult. Every child has a ball, so nobody waits for a turn. With one adult and more than six children, ask a parent to take the second group. Stages are short on purpose: five-year-olds change activity every six or seven minutes.
1Arrive
Stop It Dead while you set up
7 min
KitA ball each4 lines or 8 cones
As each child arrives, they take a ball and dribble anywhere. Each time you pass another child, stop your ball dead. Today the twist: after you stop, go in a new direction.
While the children play, the second adult sets out the four-cone area beside the pitch for the next game.
Ask: Who stopped the most?
2Little touches
Technical · weaker foot first
7 min
Left footRight footCount
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball each
Dribble with little touches, weaker foot first: ten touches with the weaker foot, then use both. Keep the ball close and keep moving.
Keep calling the same three points: little touches, both feet, sole on top.
Ask: Which foot felt easier at the end?
3Stop in a hurry
Technical · stop in one touch on the call
7 min
DribbleStopGo
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball each
Dribble at a good speed. Call Stop at different times and sometimes say nothing. Children stop in one touch with the sole on top, then go.
Ask: Did you stop in one touch?
4Bib route
Challenge · how many bibs in a row?
7 min
DribblePark
Kit6 bibs flat in a ringA ball each
Six bibs lie flat in a ring. Dribble from bib to bib round the ring and park the ball on each bib with the sole. Count how many bibs you get in a row before the ball escapes. There is no timer.
Easier: bigger ring. Harder: weaker foot only.
Ask: How many did you get?
5Chase through the bibs
Chase game · stop on the bib
7 min
FollowStop on the bibGo
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball eachA bib for the adultA bib flat on the ground
Lay one bib flat on the ground. The adult dribbles round and parks the ball on the bib. Everyone stops with the adult. Then the adult sets off again and the children follow.
Keep calling the same three points: little touches, both feet, sole on top.
Ask: Who stopped closest to the bib?
6Fast feet, slow feet
Game · slow, fast, stop
7 min
Slow feetFast feetStop
KitA ball each
Dribble with tiny slow touches. When the adult says Fast, go faster with the ball still close. When the adult says Slow, go back to tiny touches. Finish with a Stop.
Ask: Which was harder, slow or fast?
7Match 1: the rules
Little match · the rules so far
12 min
Kit2 small goalsA ballBibs, two colours
2v2, a small goal at each end and no goalkeepers. Use every rule so far: kick-off.
You are the referee. Call the restart each time and ask the children which rule it is. Nobody keeps a score.
Ask: Which rule did we use most?
Go deeper
Optional. The detail behind the three coaching points, for when you want more. Draft 1: starting points for a coach to adjust, not rules.
Dribbling: close and head up
Keep the ball within a stride and look up between touches.
Most useful in stages 2, 3, 4.
What good looks like
- The ball stays close, with a touch every step or two.
- The head comes up between touches to find space.
- Both feet get used, and different parts of the foot.
If you see this, try this
- Big kicks and the ball runs awayAsk for tiny touches, like tickling the ball.
- Eyes stuck on the ballCall "heads up", hold up some fingers and ask how many.
- Only the strong foot is usedPlay a round with the weaker foot only.
More detail
- Start with the inside of the foot and the sole. Add the outside and the laces later.
- Stopping and starting matter as much as running with the ball.
Ask the players
- Where is the biggest space?
- Which part of your foot kept it closest?
Change it
Easier: Walk first. Use a bigger area, or fewer players moving at once.
Harder: Smaller area, a weaker-foot round, or a defender who only shadows.
Stopping and receiving
Take the ball under control so the next action is easy.
Most useful in stages 3, 4, 5.
What good looks like
- Sole on top of the ball, toes up, and the ball is stopped.
- Knees soft, body ready, eyes on the ball.
If you see this, try this
- The ball bounces off the footAsk for a softer pass, and "give" with the foot like catching an egg.
- A stiff leg reaches for the ballBend the knee and take a small step to it.
More detail
- Sole stop first. As players grow steady, move on to receiving with the inside of the foot.
- Stopping the ball is how a player makes it theirs.
Ask the players
- Was the ball under your foot or did it get away?
Change it
Easier: Roll the ball very slowly, from close.
Harder: Add a second ball to the next player, or receive while walking.