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Protect Your Ball

U8 · 60-minute practice

Explore and notice

Ready to start

10:00

Rest and transitions are included in each activity. Pause for additional breaks.

Next: Shadow shields

Side on; ball on the far foot.

Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. Stand beside a still ball; point to the far side of an imaginary shadow and move the ball there. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.

s04-arrival20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 3 numbered stations, 6 numbered player slots, 3 balls and 10 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Keep the ball on the side away from an opponent. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show shield exit 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. Keep the far side: Keep the ball on the far foot; no contact. 2. Turn away: Use a small turn with the ball close. 3. Find the open exit: Leave through the clear side; do not push.Station 1Station 2Station 314253620 × 25 m · 2 m perimeter bufferNumbered circle: player · small dot: ball · triangle: cone · dashed arrow: route1. Keep the far sidecornercornercornercornergategategategategategateStation 1: #1: keep the ball on the far sideStation 1: #4: shadow without contactStation 2: #2: keep the ball on the far sideStation 2: #5: shadow without contactStation 3: #3: keep the ball on the far sideStation 3: #6: shadow without contact142536Ball 1Ball 2Ball 3Keep the ball on the far foot;no contact.2. Turn awaycornercornercornercornergategategategategategateStation 1: #1: turn with the far footStation 1: #1: keep the ball closeStation 2: #2: turn with the far footStation 2: #2: keep the ball closeStation 3: #3: turn with the far footStation 3: #3: keep the ball close142536Ball 1Ball 2Ball 3Use a small turn with the ballclose.3. Find the open exitcornercornercornercornergategategategategategateStation 1: #1: leave through the clear sideStation 1: #1: keep the ball closeStation 2: #2: leave through the clear sideStation 2: #2: keep the ball closeStation 3: #3: leave through the clear sideStation 3: #3: keep the ball close142536Ball 1Ball 2Ball 3Leave through the clear side;do not push.Solid gold: ball · dashed pale: player · dotted blue: shadow / defender

Player arrivals and departures

Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.

    Record an observation and choose the next practice