Week 5

Outcomes

• ✓Players can change direction using the inside of the foot.
• ✓Players can turn away from a cone or obstacle.
• ✓Players can dribble a simple L-shape path around cones.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 30 flat cones
• 4 small pop-up goals
• 1 pinnie per player

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. Place cone 'walls' (lines of 3 cones) randomly that players must go around.

   How to run it: Players arrive and dribble. The walls force them to change direction. No instruction — let them problem-solve. Coach watches and narrates: 'Nice dodge! You changed direction!'

   • ›Walls naturally force direction changes — no coaching needed yet.
   • ›Praise any change of direction you see.
   • ›Stay positive and descriptive in narration.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Dragon Tails

   8m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. Each player has a ball and a pinnie as a tail. No dragons yet — everyone is a knight.

   How to run it: All players are knights with dragon tails (pinnies). Knights must dribble and steal other knights' tails. If your tail is taken, do 5 toe-taps to get back in. The change-of-direction required to dodge and steal makes this perfect for the theme. Play 3 two-minute rounds.

   • ›Cue 'push the ball with the inside of your foot to turn!'
   • ›Watch for players who just run away without the ball — remind them to keep it close.
   • ›Energy will be high — channel it with clear calls.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Crazy Maze

   12m

   Set up: Build a loose maze using 20 flat cones in a 20x20 grid — not strict corridors, just obstacles placed 2-3 yards apart.

   How to run it: Players dribble through the maze as fast as they can, changing direction around every cone. Time a player going through — can anyone beat 20 seconds? Let players rearrange cones to make their own maze sections. Encourage inside-of-foot nudges to curve around cones.

   • ›Slow down to show: push ball left with RIGHT inside foot to turn right.
   • ›Let players set their own routes — autonomy builds creativity.
   • ›Praise any inside-of-foot turn.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — 3v3 Escape Game

   15m

   Set up: Two 15x10 pitches. 3v3, goals at each end. Add 4 obstacle cones in the middle of each pitch.

   How to run it: Play 3v3 as normal. The obstacle cones in the middle create natural moments where players must change direction. No special rules needed — obstacles do the work. Rotate every 4 minutes.

   • ›Obstacles in the middle naturally create direction-change situations.
   • ›Call out any inside-of-foot turn you see: 'Did you see that move?!'
   • ›Keep games flowing — no stoppages for obstacles.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Circle. Coach places one cone in the middle.

   How to run it: Each player demonstrates their best change of direction around the center cone. Group claps and cheers. Then slow breathing: hands up (breathe in), hands down (breathe out) x3. Hearts Cheer.

   • ›Every demo gets equal applause.
   • ›Breathing activity transitions to calm for pickup.
   • ›Remind: practice direction changes at home.

Outcomes

• ✓Players use direction changes to avoid defenders.
• ✓Players can change direction with speed during a game.
• ✓Players choose to go around players rather than through them.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 24 flat cones
• 4 small pop-up goals
• 1 pinnie per player

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: 20x20 grid with scattered cones and balls.

   How to run it: Players arrive and play freely. Coach occasionally chases players and their ball playfully, forcing direction changes. Pure fun.

   • ›Chase playfully — this is joyful, not stressful.
   • ›Celebrate every dodge.
   • ›Set the tone that today is high-energy fun.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Fox and Chickens

   8m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. Two players are foxes (no ball). The rest are chickens with balls.

   How to run it: Foxes try to kick the chickens' balls out of the grid. Chickens must change direction to escape. If your ball is kicked out, retrieve it, do 3 toe-taps, and re-enter. Swap foxes every 90 seconds.

   • ›Foxes create real pressure — chickens must react and change direction.
   • ›Praise the dodge, not just surviving.
   • ›Keep re-entry instant so no one stands watching.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Jungle Escape

   12m

   Set up: 15x20 grid. Scatter 8 cones as 'jungle trees.' Two players are 'tigers' (no ball). Rest are 'explorers' with balls.

   How to run it: Explorers dribble through the jungle. Tigers try to step on any ball and stop it. If a tiger stops your ball, you swap roles. Explorers must change direction around trees and away from tigers. Coach narrates: 'The tiger is coming — CHANGE DIRECTION!'

   • ›Tigers add pressure that makes direction changes urgent and real.
   • ›Praise any successful evasive maneuver loudly.
   • ›Rotate tiger roles frequently so everyone experiences both.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — Festival Rounds

   15m

   Set up: Three 12x10 mini-pitches. 3v3 round-robin, 4-minute rounds.

   How to run it: 3v3 mini-festival. Introduce 'juke goal': any goal scored after a visible direction change (inside-of-foot turn) near goal counts double. Coach calls it out: 'JUKE GOAL!' when it happens.

   • ›Juke goal recognition encourages creative play.
   • ›Do not stop the game to award points — call it out in the moment.
   • ›Rotate teams and keep energy high with commentary.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Circle, balls in laps.

   How to run it: Ask each player: 'What direction did you go today — left or right?' Silly question gets silly answers. Then ask them to show with their body. Hearts Cheer. Homework reminder.

   • ›Keep it light and fun.
   • ›Every answer is right — reinforce participation.
   • ›End with energy for the week.