Movement skills/concepts
Dribbling and controlling a ball with the foot (feet), trapping a ball with the body and feet, space awareness.
Set-up
- Large balls and markers/cones.
- Children are spread out in a defined area, each with a large ball.
Activity: Can you …?
- move the ball slowly, keeping it close to you, and stop it on the signal
- using the inside/outside of your foot, tap the ball along the ground, stop on a signal and dribble in a different direction
- roll the ball, run around in front and stop it
- dribble along lines and stop the ball on each corner
- dribble freely and stop the ball on every line you come to
- dribble around cones spread out in the area in various patterns, (e.g. full circle, reverse direction, zigzag in and out of the circle)
- when you meet someone, both stop your ball and give each other a ‘high five’, then dribble the other person’s ball away
In pairs with a large ball:
- stop a ball passed by your partner and pass it back
- stop a ball passed by your partner to your left/right and pass it back
- stop a ball passed by your partner, pass it back and move to a different place for the next pass
- see how many passes and stops you can do in 30 seconds
- with a ball each, pass and stop without the balls colliding
- one partner rolls the ball to try to score a goal (set up with two markers) and the other defends by trapping/stopping the ball; keep the competition fair by adjusting the width of the goal and the distance rolled
Can you see …?
- keeping the ball close
- touching the sides of the ball
- using the inside, outside and sole of the foot
- using both left and right feet
- balance and control
- control before speed
You could ask …
Which part of the foot do you use to control the ball?
How can you cause the ball to stop immediately after it hits your feet?
Variations
Vary equipment: Use a hockey stick and a small ball.
