Close control and juggling
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
Keeping the ball close with small touches of the inside and outside of both feet, toe taps on the spot, and a first juggle: drop the ball, kick it up gently and catch it. Every football skill starts with a ball that stays near the feet.
Words on this card Inside, Laces, Dribble, Toe taps, Juggling
- Inside
- The inner edge of the foot (by the big toe) and the outer edge (by the little toe).
- Laces
- The top of the foot where the shoelaces are; used for shooting.
- Dribble
- Running with the ball kept close with small touches.
- Toe taps
- Tapping the top of the ball with the sole of each foot in turn, on the spot.
- Juggling
- Keeping the ball in the air with the feet, thighs and head.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Mark a small box. Dribble slowly inside it with tiny touches of the inside, then the outside, of each foot.
- Stop the ball and tap the top of it with the sole of each foot in turn: toe taps.
- Drop the ball onto your laces, kick it up gently and catch it.
Your part while they practise
Count touches aloud; do not correct more than one thing.
Step by step
- Dribble in a small box with the inside and outside of both feet.
- Change speed when you hear a clap.
- On "stop", toe taps on the spot.
- Drop the ball, kick it up lightly and catch it.
How much: 4 rounds of 2 minutes 8 min a session 4 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Juggle count
Kick the ball up and catch it, then two kicks and a catch, and so on; beat your best each week.
Who plays: the child against their own best; write the best down each week.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Drop the ball and kick it up once, then catch it
- Next try: two kicks in a row, then catch
- Keep adding a kick until the ball drops
- 5 tries; the best row is the score
- Fair play
- A younger child may let the ball bounce once between kicks.
- Points
- 1 point for each kick in your best row.
- Fouls
- The row ends
- The ball touches a hand or arm before the catch
- The ball bounces on the ground
- A kick goes higher than the head
- Winning
- Beat last week's best.
- 3 points for 1 star
- 6 points for 2 stars
- 10 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A bigger or softer ball; kick no higher than eye level.
Thigh, both feet.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball runs away
Small touches, keep it close
Softer touches, more of them. - the child looks only at the ball
Look up between touches
A quick look up, then back down.
Self-check
5 toe taps each foot without losing the ball and a catch after one kick, 5 times in a row.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the ankle or knee.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains touch, coordination.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/football-b1