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U6 · Both feet, all surfaces block · Week 3 of 6 · More surfaces
Laces and quick feet
Challenge of the Day to start, laces drive, quick feet, a touch tower, ball guard, the sole shuffle again and free play.
- Every partUse the inside, outside, sole and laces of the foot.
- Both feetUse your weaker foot as much as your stronger foot.
- Quick feetSmall, quick touches keep the ball close.
The session in five lines
ArriveChallenge of the Day while you set up (7 min)
Laces driveTechnical · push it ahead with the laces (7 min)
Quick feetTechnical · tiny touches (7 min)
Touch towerChallenge · build a tower (7 min)
Ball guardGame · guard your ball (7 min)
Sole shuffleFamiliar game · sole and laces (7 min)
Little matchLittle match · learn corner kick (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. With one adult and more than six children, ask a parent to take the second group. Stages are short on purpose: young children change activity every six or seven minutes.
1Arrive
Challenge of the Day while you set up
7 min
KitA ball each4 lines or 8 cones
The coach says one challenge at the gate, such as ten left-foot touches or five sole rolls, and children count their own score.
Everyone counts their own touches. Nobody is racing.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: What was your score?
2Laces drive
Technical · push it ahead with the laces
7 min
DribbleStop
Kit2 linesA ball each
Push the ball a few strides ahead with the laces, run onto it, then slow it with the sole. Do it with each foot.
Keep calling the same three points: every part, both feet and quick feet.
Ask: Where does the ball touch your shoe?
3Quick feet
Technical · tiny touches
7 min
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball each
Dribble with the smallest touches you can. The ball should never be more than one stride from you. Then add one big touch and run.
Ask: How many touches did you take?
4Touch tower
Challenge · build a tower
7 min
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball each
Five touches with each part of the foot, one after the other: inside, outside, sole, laces. That is a tower of twenty. Can you build it without losing the ball? There is no timer.
Easier: three touches each. Harder: weaker foot only.
Ask: How high was your tower?
5Ball guard
Game · guard your ball
7 min
KitA ball eachA bib for the adult
You are a hungry giant, walking slowly, with arms down. Children keep their ball close and away from the giant, with quick touches. If the giant gets within reach, say "oops" and turn the ball away.
Keep calling the same three points: every part, both feet and quick feet.
Ask: How did you keep your ball safe?
6Sole shuffle
Familiar game · sole and laces
7 min
KitA ball each
The sole shuffle from week 1. Today roll the ball with the sole, then push it ahead with the laces and run.
Keep calling the same three points: every part, both feet and quick feet.
Ask: Where did the ball go after the roll?
7Rule: corner kick
Little match · learn corner kick
12 min
Kit2 small goalsA ballBibs, two colours
Little match, 3v3, a small goal at each end and no goalkeepers. The rule today: corner kick. When the defending team sends the ball over its own end line, the attackers restart with a kick from the corner.
You are the referee. Show the rule once, then let them play. When it happens, stop play for a few seconds, say what happened and restart. Nobody keeps a score. With more than six children, run a second small pitch next to it so nobody waits.
Ask: What was the rule today?
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 3, 4, 5.
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.