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Player arrivals and departures
Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.
Your practice
Control a moving ball and stop with balance.
U860 min8 starting players20 × 25 mField practice
Bring 8 balls and 16 cones. Use ground play and line targets. Keep water available.
Look for progress
Stop the ball within one step without falling forward.
Look up after stopping and name a clear exit.
Check the surface, boundaries and equipment before play. Pause or simplify whenever needed. Confirm local youth football rules. Numbered slots replace names.
Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. Walk with the ball, stop beside a chosen line and show that either foot is free to move again. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.
Small touches, soft stop, eyes up. A quiet final touch and a balanced stop.
Run the activity
Walk with the ball, stop beside a chosen line and show that either foot is free to move again.
Pause on a raised hand and point to the space you chose.
Swap the ball on the round signal and notice this feature: A quiet final touch and a balanced stop.
Play
Walk with the ball, stop beside a chosen line and show that either foot is free to move again.
Ground play only. No heading, sliding, body contact or tackles at a player's feet. Intercept loose ground passes only. Offer water or a pause whenever needed.
Watch for
A quiet final touch and a balanced stop.
If you see: The final touch pushes the ball beyond reach.
Try: Walk the last two steps and soften the contact before stopping.
Organisation
4 separate stations. Roles: carrier and receiver / shadow; extra players observe. Advance one slot each round. 2 turns cover every player. A first carrier turn can take up to 60s of activity. Waiting is active observation; add balls or reduce group size if it becomes too long.
Next step: Let the partner choose an earlier stop with a raised hand.
Move on: Stop the balls and identify the start positions for mirror stops.
20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 4 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 4 balls and 12 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Control a moving ball and stop with balance. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show stop turn using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. Settle the ball: Use small touches and stay balanced. 2. Stop and look: Keep the ball close enough to stop. 3. Turn into space: Turn only after checking the new route.
Use one ball in each lane. The carrier leads and the partner watches from the side.
Small touches, soft stop, eyes up. A quiet final touch and a balanced stop.
Run the activity
Take three small touches, then cushion the ball to a stop.
Hold balance for a moment; the partner checks the ball is within one step.
Restart toward the other end and exchange roles on the round signal.
Play
Take three small touches, then cushion the ball to a stop.
Ground play only. No heading, sliding, body contact or tackles at a player's feet. Intercept loose ground passes only. Offer water or a pause whenever needed.
Watch for
A quiet final touch and a balanced stop.
If you see: The final touch pushes the ball beyond reach.
Try: Walk the last two steps and soften the contact before stopping.
Organisation
4 separate stations. Roles: carrier and receiver / shadow; extra players observe. Advance one slot each round. 2 turns cover every player. A first carrier turn can take up to 60s of activity. Waiting is active observation; add balls or reduce group size if it becomes too long.
Next step: Let the partner choose an earlier stop with a raised hand.
Move on: Stop in place, recall a quiet final touch and a balanced stop. and walk to water with the balls still.
20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 4 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 4 balls and 12 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Control a moving ball and stop with balance. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show stop turn using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. Settle the ball: Use small touches and stay balanced. 2. Stop and look: Keep the ball close enough to stop. 3. Turn into space: Turn only after checking the new route.
Offer water and rest. Leave balls still outside the walking route. Before restarting, show the next decision: The stop happens before the exit is selected.
Small touches, soft stop, eyes up. Every player has a rest opportunity and understands the next start position.
Run the activity
Stop every ball and offer water or seated rest.
Check the surface, clear the next station and keep boundary buffers empty.
Name what to look for next: The stop happens before the exit is selected.
Play
Stop every ball and offer water or seated rest.
Ground play only. No heading, sliding, body contact or tackles at a player's feet. Intercept loose ground passes only. Offer water or a pause whenever needed.
Watch for
Every player has a rest opportunity and understands the next start position.
If you see: Players begin moving balls while others cross the area.
Try: Keep every ball still until the area is clear and all players have heard the start signal.
Easier: Demonstrate only the first action, then begin slowly.
Next step: Invite a player to point out the next receiving or observation position.
Move on: Show the first decision in gate journeys before the restart signal.
20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 1 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 0 balls and 4 cones. Players gather for rest or reflection; no ball is used. Focus: Control a moving ball and stop with balance. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations.
Agree an entrance and two exits within each station; use existing line segments if markers are shared.
Small touches, soft stop, eyes up. The stop happens before the exit is selected.
Run the activity
Enter slowly and stop just beyond the entrance.
Look at the partner, who points to the occupied exit.
Carry through the other exit, stop inside the station and return the ball.
Play
Enter slowly and stop just beyond the entrance.
Ground play only. No heading, sliding, body contact or tackles at a player's feet. Intercept loose ground passes only. Offer water or a pause whenever needed.
Watch for
The stop happens before the exit is selected.
If you see: The player decides an exit before looking.
Try: Pause with a still ball, name both exits, then read the signal.
Organisation
4 separate stations. Roles: carrier and receiver / shadow; extra players observe. Advance one slot each round. 2 turns cover every player. A first carrier turn can take up to 60s of activity. Waiting is active observation; add balls or reduce group size if it becomes too long.
Next step: Give the signal after the carrier has stopped.
Move on: Stop the station balls, show the game target lines and explain this condition: Score by stopping the ball under control over the end line.
20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 4 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 4 balls and 12 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Control a moving ball and stop with balance. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show gate escape using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. See both exits: Check both sides before the signal. 2. Choose the open gate: Take the free crossing under control. 3. Clear the route: Look up before choosing the next route.
Score by stopping the ball under control over the end line. Use the numbered teams and neutral roles for this pitch. Agree line targets inside the shown area. Restart with a gentle ground pass; opponents retreat at least two metres until the first touch.
Small touches, soft stop, eyes up. Notice one end-line stop that lets the player turn back without chasing the ball.
Run the activity
Before each round, explain the scoring condition: Score by stopping the ball under control over the end line.
Play within the marked pitch using the current numbered roles; restart from the nearest boundary after the ball leaves.
At the next pause, give one observed example: Notice one end-line stop that lets the player turn back without chasing the ball.
Play
Before each round, explain the scoring condition: Score by stopping the ball under control over the end line.
Ground play only. No heading, sliding, body contact or tackles at a player's feet. Intercept loose ground passes only. Offer water or a pause whenever needed.
Watch for
Notice one end-line stop that lets the player turn back without chasing the ball.
If you see: The player decides an exit before looking.
Try: Pause with a still ball, name both exits, then read the signal.
Organisation
2 pitches. Teams use numbered A/B slots. Odd groups use a neutral who helps the team with the ball. Rotate slot assignments between rounds; everyone plays and each odd-pitch player takes a neutral turn.
Easier: Pause at each restart to show the available choice. Keep the same exit open for two attempts.
Next step: Give the signal after the carrier has stopped.
Move on: Stop every ball, bring the numbered groups together and leave a clear space for walking or seated reflection.
20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 2 numbered pitches, 8 numbered player slots, 2 balls and 4 cones. A and B are teams; N is the supporting neutral. End lines are scoring targets. Focus: Control a moving ball and stop with balance. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show decision game using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. See the options: Look for a carry, pass or safe return. 2. Choose a clear route: Choose the route that is clear now. 3. Keep the next option open: Move to help the next player with the ball.
Round-by-round player roles
Round
Assignments
1 · 180s
1: team A (station 1); 3: team B (station 1); 5: team A (station 1); 7: team B (station 1); 2: team A (station 2); 4: team B (station 2); 6: team A (station 2); 8: team B (station 2)
2 · 180s
1: team B (station 1); 3: team A (station 1); 5: team B (station 1); 7: team A (station 1); 2: team B (station 2); 4: team A (station 2); 6: team B (station 2); 8: team A (station 2)
3 · 180s
1: team A (station 1); 3: team B (station 1); 5: team A (station 1); 7: team B (station 1); 2: team A (station 2); 4: team B (station 2); 6: team A (station 2); 8: team B (station 2)
4 · 180s
1: team B (station 1); 3: team A (station 1); 5: team B (station 1); 7: team A (station 1); 2: team B (station 2); 4: team A (station 2); 6: team B (station 2); 8: team A (station 2)
Leave the balls still and walk comfortably within your own station. Recall one choice from the session, then ask: What helped the ball stay close when you stopped?
Small touches, soft stop, eyes up. Stop the ball within one step without falling forward. Look up after stopping and name a clear exit.
Run the activity
Leave all balls still; choose comfortable walking or seated rest.
Point to the movement you remember without a ball, then reflect: What helped the ball stay close when you stopped?
Share one observed example or say that you need another look; count the players and equipment before finishing.
Play
Leave all balls still; choose comfortable walking or seated rest.
Ground play only. No heading, sliding, body contact or tackles at a player's feet. Intercept loose ground passes only. Offer water or a pause whenever needed.
Watch for
Stop the ball within one step without falling forward. Look up after stopping and name a clear exit.
If you see: The review names only the score and misses the choice that led to it.
Try: Ask for one specific example: Notice one end-line stop that lets the player turn back without chasing the ball.
Easier: Allow a pointing gesture or one word instead of a spoken explanation.
Next step: Invite a player to explain what they would change if the same route closed next time.
Move on: Check every player and collect stationary equipment before leaving the area.
20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 1 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 0 balls and 4 cones. Players gather for rest or reflection; no ball is used. Focus: Control a moving ball and stop with balance. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations.
