Shield and keep the ball
Ready when: Dribble with the head up (b2) done.
What you are learning
Shielding: keeping your body between the defender and the ball, with the ball on your far foot, so a defender cannot reach it. Then keeping the ball as a team by passing.
Words on this card Inside, Shield, Keep away, One-touch
- Inside
- The inner edge of the foot (by the big toe) and the outer edge (by the little toe).
- Shield
- Keeping your body between the defender and the ball.
- Keep away
- A passing game where one team keeps the ball from a few defenders.
- One-touch
- Passing straight away, or controlling once and then passing.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand side on with the ball on your far foot and the defender behind or beside you.
- Bend the knees, arms out a little for balance, not pushing.
- As the defender moves, turn so your body stays between them and the ball.
Your part while they practise
Follow closely without touching.
Step by step
- The dribbler keeps the body between the ball and the defender.
- The ball stays on the far foot.
- One against one in a circle for 30 seconds.
- Then keep away in a group.
How much: 6 rounds of 30 seconds, then 1 game 12 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Keep away
4 v 2 or 5 v 3 in a square; the bigger team passes to keep the ball.
Who plays: 4 or 5 attackers against 2 or 3 defenders; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The attackers spread round the square; the defenders start in the middle
- The attackers pass to keep the ball inside the square
- When a defender wins it, they swap with the attacker who lost it
- 2 minutes, then new defenders
- Fair play
- A grown-up attacker plays one-touch only.
- Points
- The attackers score 1 point for every 5 passes in a row; a defender scores 2 points for each ball won.
- Fouls
- The ball goes to the defenders
- The ball leaves the square
- An attacker holds it more than 3 seconds
- Pushing with the arms while shielding
- Winning
- The most points after everyone has defended.
- 2 points for 1 star
- 4 points for 2 stars
- 6 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A slow defender.
A faster defender.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball is on the near side
Body between you and them
Ball on the far foot. - they kick the ball away under pressure
Keep it close, shield
Turn your back, keep it.
Self-check
Keep the ball 10 seconds against a closing defender, 3 times of 5.
Stop and get a coach when
Repeated knocks to the shins.
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 shielding, protecting the ball.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/football-i2