Tues. May 22, 6 PM, Upper Longridge Park
In our first practice will be concentrating on the skills of:

Offense

touch

ball control

dribbling

passing

shooting

The structure of the practice will be (approx.):

Ball Handling

Ball Roll - with the bottom of the foot: front and back; side to side; in a small circle

Tick Tock - pass the ball from the inside of the left foot to the inside of the right

Hat Dance - lightly touch the ball with the bottom of the left foot, then hop to touch the ball with the bottom of the right foot.

Juggling - bounce the ball off your knee as many times in a row as you can.

Square Dance - Everyone dribbles within one 15 yd. square.  Keep moving and use all parts of the foot.  Try cut backs, pull backs, and different fakes against imaginary opponents.  Keep your head up to not bump into teammates.  Don't lose the ball.
Attack!: All players protect their ball while trying to kick others outside of the square. If a player's ball is kicked out of the square they leave the square and wait for the round to end.

Pass drill - two lines, about 5 yards apart, each person has a partner.  Pass the ball to your partner's foot, back and forth, concentrating on accuracy.  After a few passes, take one step back.  After a few rounds, switch to throw-ins (bring ball behind head, keep both feet on ground).  Can rotate lines and switch back to passes.  Continue to about 15 yards.
 

Relay Race - three lines (or as many as are needed), each with one ball. Four cones are in a line in front of each team.

GO - the first child in line dribbles the ball, weaving around the cones, and back. They leave the ball for the next child in line. Give a high five and the next in line goes. When each child has gone twice, the whole line sits down.
 

Penalty Shots - three lines at penalty mark distance.  Cones and targets in the goal.  Shoot and retrieve ball.  Points: first look at goal, then eye on ball, head down, contact ball with laces (lower on ball to raise shot), follow through.

 

Dribble and Shoot - three lines.  Dribble around cones and then shoot from penalty mark area.  Retrieve ball and go to a different line.
 

Quick Shot and Give and Go - two lines behind the 18 yd line.  One coach on each side of penalty area.  (for Give and Go: Player first passes to coach)  Coach executes centering pass and player shoots directly from the pass (no dribbling).  Retrieve ball and go to other line. Rotate players to the coach position so they make the 1-touch pass.
 

Up the side, Center pass, Shoot - Explain throw-in.  Explain bringing the ball up the side. Two lines near midfield, cones diagonally toward corner.  From each line: 1st player goes to sideline and does a throw-in to 2nd player.  2nd player dribbles up the side, 1st player breaks to center.  When 2nd player clears the last cone, center pass to 1st player, who shoots as quickly as possible.  Retrieve ball and go to end of other line.
 

Corner Kick - explain corner kick.  Two kickers (one at each corner).  Two players lined up on 5 yd line.  Six players lined up on 18 yd line.  Six players 10 yds behind the 18 yd line. Corner kick from one side.  Then from the other side.  Rotate players (everyone will not get to kick).
 

15 min. (or whatever works) 7 vs. 7 game, 2 goal keepers, 2 balls! (or scrimmage with another team)

Next Time: We will vote on our team name!

A trick to practice at home... Hold the ball with both hands. Lift your knee, drop the ball and bounce it off your knee, then catch the ball. Try to do that ten times in a row. If you can do that, then try to bounce it twice off of your knee!

Other home practice ideas:

pass back and forth with your Father, Mother, or friend.

Try to shoot and hit a target like a cone or a tree. See how far away you can be and still hit the target.

  Next practice: Thurs. May 24, 6P, ULP
 

<bc@bjb.org>