Week 8

Outcomes

• ✓Players can kick a stationary ball with the flat inside of the foot.
• ✓Players can direct a kick toward a cone target 3-4 yards away.
• ✓Players can receive a ball gently and set it for another kick.

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. Pairs of cones set up as targets (gates) 5 yards apart.

   How to run it: Players arrive and experiment with kicking the ball through gates. Let them use any part of the foot. No instruction — pure exploration of kicking.

   • ›Observe which part of the foot kids naturally use.
   • ›Note any inside-of-foot kicks to highlight later.
   • ›Keep it playful — no correction yet.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Giant's Bowling

   8m

   Set up: Set up 5 'bowling pins' (tall cones) 5 yards from a kicking line. Players take turns kicking to knock pins down.

   How to run it: Players line up (loosely — no real queue) at the kicking line, each with a ball. Kick to knock as many pins as possible. Demonstrate the inside-of-foot kick: plant foot beside ball, lock ankle, kick through with inside. Reset pins between turns. Make it theatrical — announce each bowl.

   • ›Plant foot is the key cue: 'Plant your standing foot next to the ball.'
   • ›Lock the ankle — 'make your foot strong like a hammer.'
   • ›Celebrate any pin knocked down regardless of technique.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Robot Ball Delivery

   12m

   Set up: 20x20 grid with 6 'delivery stations' (cones with a flat cone beside each one as a target). Players in pairs, sharing a ball.

   How to run it: Player A places the ball at a station and kicks it to hit the target cone. Player B retrieves and delivers it to the next station. Swap roles every 3 kicks. Players earn 'delivery points' for direct hits. Encourage using the inside of the foot on every kick.

   • ›Paired activity doubles the reps over solo lines.
   • ›Cue 'turn your foot out like a duck' for inside-of-foot contact.
   • ›Accuracy over power — cones are close.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — 3v3 with Kick-In Restarts

   15m

   Set up: Two 15x10 pitches. 3v3, goals at each end. When ball goes out of bounds, restart with an inside-of-foot kick-in (not a throw-in).

   How to run it: Play 3v3. Every out-of-bounds restart is a kick-in using the inside of the foot. Coach assists with positioning for kick-ins. Normal play otherwise. Rotate teams every 4 minutes.

   • ›Kick-ins give 5-8 inside-of-foot reps per game organically.
   • ›Help players set up for kick-ins: 'ball still, plant foot, kick!'
   • ›Celebrate clean kick-ins as much as goals.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Circle. One ball in the middle.

   How to run it: Coach rolls ball to each player, who stops it and kicks it back with inside of foot. Everyone else counts the kick (1, 2, 3...). Hearts Cheer.

   • ›Counting keeps everyone engaged even when not kicking.
   • ›Correct technique once per player: 'plant, lock, kick.'
   • ›Positive only — end on a high.

Outcomes

• ✓Players attempt to pass to a teammate using the inside of the foot.
• ✓Players can score a goal from a stationary ball.
• ✓Players understand that the inside of the foot is more accurate than the toe.

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. Pop-up goals placed randomly around the space (not just at ends).

   How to run it: Players arrive and shoot at any goal they choose — total freedom. Goals are everywhere so everyone is always close to a scoring opportunity.

   • ›Multiple goals maximize shooting reps during free play.
   • ›Note which players naturally use inside-of-foot.
   • ›Pure fun — no coaching yet.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Keeper Volcanoes

   8m

   Set up: Place 6 tall cones (volcanoes) spread around a 20x20 grid. Every player has a ball.

   How to run it: Players dribble and try to knock over the volcano cones with inside-of-foot kicks. Each knocked cone is set back up by the coach. Count how many you topple in 90 seconds. Second round: use only your weaker foot.

   • ›Moving targets (cone to find, stop, kick) train realistic kicking scenarios.
   • ›Cue: 'approach the side of the cone — plant, lock, kick!'
   • ›Celebrate weaker foot attempts especially.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Goalkeeper-Free Shooting Stars

   12m

   Set up: Set up 4 small goals in a 20x20 grid, all facing different directions. Players work in groups of 3.

   How to run it: Groups of 3 take turns: player A places ball 4 yards from a goal, kicks with inside foot, player B retrieves, player C sets up next. Rotate every 5 kicks. Group earns 1 star per goal. Aim for 10 stars together. Challenge: score on all 4 goals in one sequence.

   • ›Groups of 3 keep everyone active.
   • ›Emphasize placement over power — small goals reward accuracy.
   • ›Celebrate team totals over individual scores.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — Festival with Passing Bonus

   15m

   Set up: Three 12x10 mini-pitches. 3v3 round-robin.

   How to run it: 3v3 mini-festival. A goal that was set up by an obvious inside-of-foot pass (ball touched a teammate before the shot) counts as 2 points. Coach recognizes these: 'TEAM GOAL!' Rotate every 4 minutes.

   • ›Team goals begin to introduce the concept of combination play.
   • ›Do not demand passing — just reward it when it happens.
   • ›Keep the competitive element light and fun.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Circle. Ball in each player's hands.

   How to run it: Players spell out H-E-A-R-T-S using their body while balancing the ball — each letter is a pose. Then Hearts Cheer. Homework reminder.

   • ›Spelling activity ends on creativity and identity.
   • ›Every letter pose gets group applause.
   • ›Connect to club identity: 'We are Austin Hearts!'