Week 23

Outcomes

• ✓Players can stop the ball suddenly with the sole.
• ✓Players can restart immediately after a stop with explosive pace.
• ✓Players can use the stop-and-go to beat a passive defender.

Equipment

• 1 ball per player
• 8 cones
• 4 pinnies

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Grid with balls. Cones scattered.

   How to run it: Players arrive and explore: run fast with the ball, STOP dead, run again. Repeat — see how sharp the stop can be.

   • ›Praise sudden, clean stops.
   • ›Note who already uses the stop naturally.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game: Red Light Green Light Soccer

   8m

   Set up: Players line up at one end of the grid with their ball. Coach at the other end.

   How to run it: Coach has their back to players. Players dribble forward on Green Light. When Coach spins around shouting 'RED!' everyone must stop their ball clean. If the ball rolls after RED, player goes back 2 steps. First to reach Coach wins a high-five.

   • ›Clean stop = sole on top of ball, immediately.
   • ›Restart on Green = explosive first touch.
   • ›It's about clean stops, not winning the race.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game: Stop-and-Go Duels

   12m

   Set up: Pairs, each pair has one cone between them 6 yards apart. One ball per pair.

   How to run it: Player A dribbles toward the cone, does a stop (sole-stop), waits one second, then bursts past. Player B watches and tries to guess which way A will go after the stop. If B guesses right, B gets a point. If A surprises B, A gets a point.

   • ›The stop creates doubt in the defender's mind — that's the goal.
   • ›Hold the stop for a full second — let the defender commit.
   • ›After the burst, look up — where are you going?

4. 4. Small-Sided Games: 3v3 Stop-and-Score

   15m

   Set up: Two 3v3 games. Standard goals. One 'surprise zone' marked 5 yards from each goal.

   How to run it: Play 3v3. If a player stops the ball completely dead in the surprise zone and then restarts to score, the goal counts triple. Normal goals count once.

   • ›Surprise zone rewards patience and technique before shooting.
   • ›Defenders: if attacker stops in the zone, close down immediately.
   • ›Attacking teams: look for the triple-point opportunity.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Seated circle.

   How to run it: Everyone taps ball slowly forward — STOP (sole). Then slowly back — STOP (sole). Do 5 each direction. Breathe and name today's skill: 'Stop and Go!'

   • ›Slow the body and mind down after high intensity.
   • ›Name the skill clearly before they leave.

Outcomes

• ✓Players can use the stop-and-go instinctively under pressure.
• ✓Players can deceive a moving defender with a sudden stop.
• ✓Players can string multiple pace changes in one dribble.

Equipment

• 1 ball per player
• 8 cones
• 4 pinnies

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Grid with balls.

   How to run it: Players arrive and challenge each other: who can do the most dramatic stop-and-go in 30 seconds? Vote for the most surprising move.

   • ›Fun voting builds community.
   • ›Exaggeration of the move is fine — theatrics reinforce the technique.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game: Slow-Motion Chasers

   8m

   Set up: Three players are Slow-Mo Chasers (pinnies, must move in slow motion). Others dribble normally.

   How to run it: Chasers move in slow motion. Dribbling players must ALSO slow down to a crawl when within 2 yards of a Chaser — they can only escape with a stop-and-go burst. If a Chaser tags you (even slowly), swap to be a Chaser.

   • ›The slow approach forces a decision: stop or turn?
   • ›Burst away with conviction after the stop.
   • ›Slow-Mo Chasers: be dramatically slow — it's funnier.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game: The Magician's Circle

   12m

   Set up: Players sit in a circle. One player is the Magician, dribbling inside the circle. Circle players reach in to try to touch the ball.

   How to run it: Magician uses stop-and-go to avoid reaching hands — stop when a hand comes, burst away when clear. 30 seconds as Magician, then rotate. Count how many 'safe stops' the Magician makes.

   • ›React to the hand — that's the trigger for the stop.
   • ›Don't freeze too long — get moving again quickly.
   • ›Circle players: reach in smoothly, not aggressively.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games: 4v4 Deception Cup

   15m

   Set up: One 4v4 game. Standard goals.

   How to run it: Play 4v4. Any player who uses a stop-and-go and then beats a defender earns a 'Deception Chip' (use a small cone as a chip). A team wins a bonus round if they collect 3 Deception Chips before the other team.

   • ›Coach officiates Deception Chips — make it exciting.
   • ›Celebrate every chip earned, even if the goal doesn't follow.
   • ›Defenders: watch for the stop — don't lunge in.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Seated circle.

   How to run it: Dramatic cool-down: players mime a stop-and-go in slow motion together — slow, STOP, 1-2-3, BURST. Then all collapse dramatically and rest 30 seconds. High-fives and go home!

   • ›Physical release after high effort.
   • ›End with laughter.