Tiny feet, hundreds of touches — dribbling and ball mastery for the very youngest players.
The Ball Is Your Friend
- Soccer
- U6
- 45 min
- 6–12 players
- 1 coach
- Effort 2/5
- 15x15m grid
- u6
- dribbling
- ball-mastery
- fun
- first-touches
Kit: A ball each, 12 cones, 4 bibs for helpers
Wake the Ball Up
Setup: A 15×15m square, a cone in each corner. Every player has a ball inside the square. If you are short of balls, put two together and take turns.
How it works: The ball has been asleep all week, so we wake it up. Call one move at a time and let them try it on the spot, then dribble slowly into a new space and wait for the next: toe-taps on top of the ball, roll it side to side with the sole, little pushes forward and back, then wiggle it between both feet. Keep everyone drifting into gaps so nobody bumps.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'little touches, keep the ball close enough to tie your lace.'”
- “Say: 'quick look up to find a space, then eyes back on your ball.'”
- “Name the soft touches you see out loud so the others copy them.”
Easier
Do every move standing still, then walk to a new space.
Harder
Add a 'freeze' call — foot on top of the ball, hold dead still until you say go.
Red Light, Green Light
Setup: Line the players along one side of the square, a ball each at their feet. You stand at the far side as the traffic light.
How it works: Green means dribble towards you. Red means stop the ball dead, one foot on top. Anyone whose ball is still rolling on red takes one giant step back. First to reach you with the ball under control becomes the traffic light for the next go. Slip in an 'amber' for tip-toe slow dribbling.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'small pushes when you want to stop quickly.'”
- “Say: 'toe up, foot on top, trap it like you are catching a mouse.'”
- “Make a fuss of control, not speed — the calm dribbler wins here.”
Easier
Shorten the pitch and allow two touches to stop.
Harder
Call red more often, and ask them to stop it with the sole of the weaker foot.
Through the Gates
Setup: Scatter six to eight little gates (two cones about a metre apart) around the square. Every player has a ball.
How it works: Players dribble and take the ball through as many different gates as they can. Each gate counts once, then go and find another. Count out loud for thirty seconds, have a breather, then try to beat your own number. Change it up: only the left foot, or only the sole.
What to say
- “Say: 'look up and pick your next gate before you finish this one.'”
- “Tell them: 'slow down through the gate, then speed up in the space.'”
- “Count along with them and cheer every new best number.”
Easier
Make the gates wider and count any way through.
Harder
A gate only counts if you turn and change direction the far side of it.
Sharks and Minnows
Setup: All the players are minnows, lined up on one side with a ball each. You (and any helper in a bib) are the sharks in the middle, with no ball.
How it works: On 'swim', the minnows dribble across to the far side without a shark tapping their ball out of the square. If your ball is tapped out you turn into a friendly shark for the next swim. Keep going until you have a whole shoal of sharks and one or two minnows left, then start again.
What to say
- “Tell them: 'head up to spot the shark, ball close to hide it.'”
- “Say: 'run into the biggest space, away from trouble.'”
- “Keep the sharks moving at a fair, gentle speed so everyone gets a go.”
Easier
More space and slower sharks, with a safe 'island' cone to rest on.
Harder
Shrink the square and add another shark.
Put the Ball to Bed
Setup: Everyone into a circle, ball resting between the feet.
How it works: Nice and gentle now. Roll the ball slowly around your feet, then reach forward over it to stretch the backs of your legs, easy does it. We are putting the ball to bed until next week.
What to say
- “Keep your voice low and calm so they settle.”
Ask the players: Ask each player to show one move they liked tonight. Then everyone helps roll the balls into the bag.
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