Week 40

Outcomes

• ✓Players can roll the ball along the ground to a partner standing 3–4 yards away.
• ✓Players can stop a rolling ball from a partner using the sole of their foot.
• ✓Players willingly pass instead of always dribbling when a friend is close.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 20 flat cones
• 4 small pop-up goals
• 1 pinnie per player (4 colors)

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Place a ball at each spot in a 20x20 yard grid. No instructions — just balls everywhere.

   How to run it: As players arrive, encourage them to find a friend and roll the ball back and forth like a bowling game. If a child wants to dribble solo, that is great too. Greet every player by name and give a high-five.

   • ›Passing is always an invitation, never a demand — let dribbling happen naturally.
   • ›Celebrate any moment a child rolls the ball to a friend: 'You shared! That is brilliant!'
   • ›Keep the atmosphere fizzing with joy and noise.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Hot Potato Pass

   8m

   Set up: Players pair up in a 20x20 grid, partners standing 3 yards apart. One ball per pair.

   How to run it: One partner holds the ball — it is a HOT POTATO! They must pass it quickly to their partner using the inside of the foot before it burns them. Coach counts to 3 and shouts 'HOT!' — the player holding the ball at that moment does a silly dance and swaps partners. Repeat with new pairs.

   • ›Cue 'kick with the flat part on the inside of your foot — like a door swinging open.'
   • ›The silly dance means no one minds being caught — keep it joyful.
   • ›Change partners frequently so everyone meets every teammate.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Postal Service

   12m

   Set up: Place 6 'post boxes' (upturned cones) around a 20x20 grid. Players pair up, one ball per pair.

   How to run it: Each pair is a postal team delivering parcels (the ball). One player dribbles to a post box, stops, and passes (rolls) to their partner who has run to another post box to collect it. Teams must visit as many post boxes as possible in 90 seconds. No running with the ball during the delivery — pass it! Swap the dribbler and the runner every round.

   • ›Movement of the receiving player ('run to a box!') is as important as the pass.
   • ›Praise any pass that travels on the ground to a partner.
   • ›If the pass misses, both players chase it together — no blame.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — 3v3 Sharing Stars

   15m

   Set up: Two 15x10 yard mini-pitches, small goals at each end. Teams of 3 in pinnies, no goalkeeper.

   How to run it: Play 3v3. Introduce the 'Sharing Star': if a team scores a goal AND the scorer received a pass from a teammate before shooting, the goal counts as a star goal and everyone cheers extra loud. Dribbling and solo goals count normally. Rotate teams every 4 minutes.

   • ›Let dribbling happen freely — passing is a bonus, never compulsory.
   • ›When a star goal happens, make it a huge celebration.
   • ›Restart play quickly after goals with a roll-in from the coach.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Players sit in a circle. Each pair sits together.

   How to run it: Ask each pair to show their best pass to each other — just one pass across the circle. The whole group counts it in: '1, 2, PASS!' Then the Hearts Cheer: everyone puts a hand in the middle and shouts 'Hearts!' Remind players of the at-home homework.

   • ›Use every player's name at least once during this segment.
   • ›End on high — kids should leave smiling and wanting to come back.
   • ›Keep it under 5 minutes; attention wanders fast at this age.

Outcomes

• ✓Players attempt at least one pass to a teammate during a game.
• ✓Players celebrate a teammate's pass as enthusiastically as their own goal.
• ✓Players can receive a pass and dribble on in one movement.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 20 flat cones
• 4 small pop-up goals
• 1 pinnie per player (4 colors)
• 2 hula hoops

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Two hula hoops in the centre of a 20x20 grid as 'sharing circles.' Balls inside each hoop.

   How to run it: Players arrive and dribble freely. Any player can pick up a ball from a sharing circle. Encourage grabbing a ball and rolling it to a waiting friend. Total freedom — this is just warming up and connecting.

   • ›Greet every child by name with a fist-bump.
   • ›If two kids naturally pass, celebrate loudly to set the tone.
   • ›No structure needed — just smiles and movement.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Lighthouse and Boats

   8m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. One player stands in the middle as the 'Lighthouse' with a ball. The rest are 'Boats' dribbling around.

   How to run it: The Lighthouse rolls their ball toward any Boat. The Boat must stop it, dribble around the grid once, and return to roll the ball back to the Lighthouse. Then a new Boat becomes the Lighthouse. Everyone rotates through the role. Coach narrates in a dramatic harbour-keeper voice.

   • ›The Lighthouse role builds the passing and receiving loop naturally.
   • ›Encourage 'good stop!' when a Boat receives the ball cleanly.
   • ›Keep rotation quick — every player should be Lighthouse at least once.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Tag-Team Treasure Hunt

   12m

   Set up: Scatter 12 flat cones (treasures) across a 20x20 grid. Players pair up, one ball per pair.

   How to run it: Pairs work together to collect treasure: Player A dribbles to a cone, passes to Player B who has run near the cone, and B sole-stops the ball ON the cone to collect it. Swap roles each time. Most treasures collected by the pair in 2 minutes wins. Repeat 2-3 rounds, swapping partners.

   • ›The pass-then-receive sequence is the core pattern — praise it every time.
   • ›Both players must touch the ball to collect — reinforce teamwork.
   • ›Losing pairs can always find more cones — add more mid-game.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — Festival Rounds

   15m

   Set up: Three 12x10 yard mini-pitches. Round-robin: 3 teams, 4-minute games, rotate pitches.

   How to run it: Play 3v3 mini-festival. Each round has a theme: Round 1 = play freely. Round 2 = Sharing Star rule (bonus cheer for pass-then-goal). Round 3 = free again. Coach circulates between pitches, narrating and celebrating. Total goals across all pitches are announced after each round.

   • ›Keep transitions between rounds under 60 seconds.
   • ›Celebrate all goals equally — sharing star goals get extra noise.
   • ›No offsides, no throw-ins — maximise touches and game time.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Circle. All players sit with their partner from the treasure hunt.

   How to run it: Ask each pair to show their best pass-and-receive to the group. Group counts along: '1, 2, PASS!' Give every pair a specific compliment from the session. Hearts Cheer. Homework reminder.

   • ›Specific praise ('I loved how you ran to the cone, Lily!') is more powerful than generic.
   • ›Keep energy positive even if a player struggled today.
   • ›End with every player smiling — that is the only outcome that matters.