U8 Ball Mastery and First 1v1s

Red = stop, yellow = slow, green = go. Add: blue = sole roll turn, purple = swap balls with the nearest player. Start immediately as players arrive. No waiting for full squad — 4 players is enough to begin.

Sole rolls, inside taps, outside taps, stop-and-go, toe-taps. Each move for 30 seconds. Demonstrate once, then let them do it. The goal is 100+ touches each in 12 minutes. No coaching points beyond 'keep the ball moving — don't let it stop.'

Progress from solo dribbling to pairs: one player dribbles, partner tries to tag the ball with their foot. No tackling — foot-tag only. If tagged: switch roles immediately. The attacking player learns to shield and change direction; the defending player learns to move toward the ball. Keep it fun — this is play, not a drill.

Free 5v5 game. No coaching instructions during the game — just let them play. The ball mastery and dribbling work will show if it's landing. One coaching observation at the end: name one player who kept the ball close to their feet.