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U6 · Both feet, all surfaces block · Week 5 of 6 · Challenge
Invent a trick
Touch Counter to start, invent a trick, copy that trick, a touch ladder, ghost trap 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
ArriveTouch Counter while you set up (7 min)
Invent a trickCreative · make up your own trick (7 min)
Copy a trickTechnical · learn from a friend (7 min)
Touch ladderChallenge · climb up and down (7 min)
Ghost trapChase game · trap the ghost (7 min)
Surface relayGame · pass the surface on (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. 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
Touch Counter while you set up
7 min
KitA ball each4 lines or 8 cones
As each child arrives, they take a ball and count how many touches they can make in a row without the ball going more than a stride away.
The twist: use a different part of the foot every ten touches.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: What was your best count?
2Invent a trick
Creative · make up your own trick
7 min
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball each
Ask each child to invent a trick using any part of the foot. Let them show a friend. Then everyone tries a friend's trick.
The coach asks, not tellsDo not show a right trick. Ask: how did you do that? Which part of your foot? Can you do it with the other foot?
Ask: Can you show me your trick?
3Copy that trick
Technical · learn from a friend
7 min
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball each
Pick a friend with a trick you like. Watch it, then copy it. Then swap and teach them yours.
Keep calling the same three points: every part, both feet and quick feet.
Ask: What did you learn?
4Touch ladder
Challenge · climb up and down
7 min
Kit8 cones, a line of 4 for each childA ball each
Each child has a line of four cones. Between the cones, take one touch, then two, then three, then four and come back down. Which part of your foot do you use? Can you go both ways? There is no timer.
Easier: use any foot. Harder: switch feet at each cone.
Ask: How far up the ladder did you go?
5Ghost trap
Chase game · trap the ghost
7 min
KitA ball eachA bib for the adult
You are a friendly ghost, floating slowly. Children dribble toward you, then switch to a different part of the foot and go the other way. Never tackle.
Keep calling the same three points: every part, both feet and quick feet.
Ask: How did you fool the ghost?
6Surface relay
Game · pass the surface on
7 min
KitA ball per pair4 cones for the corners of the area
Pairs, one ball. Each push uses a different part of the foot, and your friend must use a different one back. Inside, outside, sole, laces.
Ask: Which part did you use last?
7Match 7: the rules
Little match · the rules so far
12 min
Kit2 small goalsA ballBibs, two colours
3v3, a small goal at each end and no goalkeepers. Use every rule so far: corner kick.
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 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.