Playing at home:

Soccer is a fun game to play. The better your skills, the more fun you’ll have! A great way to improve your skills is to play with friends or play on your own.

Here are a bunch of things you can do at home or in the local park. We have categories for games,  passing & receiving, dribbling, juggling and ball control and fast footwork. Many of the activities have links to video demos. Link: full video catalog

Try some of these activities. If you get bored with one, try a different one, or create your own. Most importantly, have fun!

Ball control / fast footwork:

These activities will help your feet learn to love the ball. (Your feet should make the ball purr, instead of making it go boo-hoo-hoo!)

Some activities use both feet. Some use one foot. If it’s a “one foot” activity, make sure you switch feet every now and then so you get touches with both your right and left feet.

Happy feet:  links: group demo video /  coach demo video

• Use the inside of your feet to continuously tap the ball from one foot to the other. Keep your knees bent, with your head over the ball.

• Goal: 60-80 touches in 20 seconds. If you reach a goal, set your next goal 5-10 touches higher. With practice, you may even get to 100 touches in 20 seconds, which is excellent!

Happy feet variations:

• Take four taps, then one out-in (step on the ball, then quickly roll it out and back in) with each foot, then repeat the pattern .

• Happy feet with a pull-back:  link: demo video

  • Do four happy feet, starting with your right foot

  • Do a pull-back with your right foot while turning to the right (slight hop off your left foot while turning)

  • Tap the ball with the inside of your right foot

  • Repeat the sequence, starting with your left foot

• Happy feet with a sole roll (tap / tap / inside roll):  links: player demo video / coach demo video

  • Do two happy feet: right foot then left foot.

  • Grab the ball with the inside of your right foot and roll the ball across your body (toward your left foot). You'll start the touch with the inside of your foot and finish it with the sole of your foot.

  • Repeat the pattern starting with your left foot: left foot tap, right foot tap, left foot sole roll.

  • Keep going and see if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

  • Goal: 15-20 tap-tap-rolls in 20 seconds

• Happy feet with a step-over turn:  link: demo video

  • Do four happy feet, starting with your right foot, moving slightly forward as you take your touches

  • Do a step-over with your right foot

  • Hop on your right foot, turning to the right, back toward the ball

  • Repeat going the other direction, starting with the inside of your left foot and doing the step-over with your left foot

  • All touches are with the inside of the feet. This forces a quick hop and turn off your step-over foot.

• Happy feet with a half-tornado (also called a spin-pull, half-Maradona or Garrincha):  link: demo video

  • Do four happy feet, starting with your right foot, moving slightly forward as you take your touches

  • Lightly step on the ball with your right foot

  • Spin around to the left (somewhere between 90 and 180 degrees)

  • Land on your right foot while doing a pull-back with your left foot as you complete the 180 degree spin

  • Repeat going the other direction, starting with your left foot

Inside-outside-inside-outside:  links: player demo video / coach demo video

• use the inside of your right foot to cut the ball to the left

• use the outside of your left foot to tap it to the left one more time

• use the inside of your left foot to cut the ball back to the right

• use the outside of your right foot to tap it to the right one more time

• Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Goal: 8-10 repetitions in 20 seconds

Inside-inside-outside (coach Lauren special):  link: demo video

• Tap the ball with the inside of your right foot to your left foot.

• Control the ball with the inside of your left foot while hopping slightly to the right. The key is to stop the ball with your left foot instead of passing it back to the right.

• Immediately push the ball to the left with the outside of your left foot. (You'll make both the inside and outside left foot touches before your left touches lands back on the ground.)

• Repeat the steps starting with your left foot.

• Goal: 15-20 repetitions in 20 seconds

Triangles:

• Basic "pull" triangle:  links: group demo video /  coach demo video

  • Start with ball between your left and right feet, about a step in front of you.

  • Pull the ball back and to the outside with the bottom of one foot.

  • Push the ball across your body with the inside of the same foot.

  • Push the ball back to the starting place with the inside or laces of the other foot. This completes the triangle pattern.

  • Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses. After 15-20 reps, repeat starting with your other foot.

  • Goal: 15-20 triangles in 20 seconds

• Behind the back ("reverse") triangle:  link: demo video

  • Start with a wide stance and the ball slightly in front and to the side

  • Do a sole roll with your right foot; the ball should roll past your left foot

  • Use the sole of your left foot to pull the ball behind your right heel

  • Use the inside of your left foot to tap the ball back to the starting position

  • Do 10-15 reps starting with your right foot, then do 10-15 starting with your left foot

  • Goal: 10-15 triangles in 20 seconds

• Single-foot triangle (ADVANCED):  link: demo video

  • One foot will do all three touches. You'll take quick hops on your other foot to move your body into the proper position for the next touch.

  • Use the bottom of your right foot to pull the ball back and slightly to the outside. You'll take a slight hop on your left foot -- to the right (toward the ball) -- as you make this touch.

  • Use the inside of your right foot to push the ball across your body. You'll take a slight hop on your left foot -- to the left (toward the ball) -- as you make this touch.

  • Use the outside of your right foot to push the ball back to its starting position. You'll take a slight hop on your left foot -- slightly forward and at an angle to the right (toward the ball) -- as you make this touch.

  • Repeat for 10-15 triangles.

  • Switch feet and do 10-15 triangles with your left foot.

  • Goal: 10-15 triangles in 20 seconds

Pull-push:  link: demo video

• pull the ball back with the bottom of one foot

• push it out again with the laces of the same foot (not your toe!)

• repeat with your other foot

• Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Goal: 25-30 pull-pushes in 20 seconds

Stop - outside - pull-under:  links: group demo video /  coach demo video

• Stop the ball with the sole of one foot.

• Push the ball with the outside of the same foot.

• Grab the ball with the bottom of the same foot, pull it across your body, hop over it with your other foot.

• Repeat the pattern with your other foot: stop / outside / pull-under.

Duck feet:  use the bottom of your toes to pull the ball across your body from one foot to the other foot, and continue back and forth (making quack sounds is optional)

"V" pulls:  There are several varieties of V-pulls. They're called V-pulls because the ball comes back and goes out in a new direction, similar to the shape of a wide letter "V". U10 players should learn at least two of these moves well enough to use them in games. These moves are great for getting away from a defender, plus they work well even if you're standing still. (It's easy to get away from a defender when you're already running.)

• Front V-pull, outside of the foot:  link: video demo

  • Pull the ball straight back with the bottom of your right foot

  • Hop slightly backwards on your left foot while turning your body to the right about 90 degrees.

  • Land on your left foot facing to the right.

  • Push the ball in the new direction with the outside of your right foot. This will complete the "V" pattern.

  • The key is to make a slight hop and turn (pivot) with your other foot during the "pull" part of the move. This gives you room to make a strong "push" touch into space.

  • Be sure to work both feet: do a V-pull with your right foot (to the right), and follow it with a V-pull with your left foot (to the left). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Front V-pull, inside of the foot (slightly harder):  link: demo video

  • This is almost identical to the "Front V-pull, outside of the foot" described above. The difference: your second touch is with the inside of your foot, not the outside.

  • When you hop right after the "pull" touch, you'll have to turn slightly more (opening your body) in order to get the inside of your first foot in position to take the ball away in the new direction.

  • Once again, be sure to work both feet: do a V-pull with your right foot (to the right), and follow it with a V-pull with your left foot (to the left). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Reverse V-pull (also called a behind the back V-pull or pull-back Cruyff):  link: video demo

  • Pull the ball straight back with the bottom of your right foot -- behind your left heel. Your left foot can stay on the ground, or you can make a slight hop forward (more advanced).

  • When the ball rolls behind your left heel, push it with the inside of your right foot -- to the left -- behind your left heel. Some people call this "tucking the ball behind" your other foot.

  • The key is to pull the ball strongly so it rolls past your other heel. This makes it easy to tap the ball to the side and take off in the new direction.

  • Turn your body to the left to complete the "V" move.

  • Be sure to work both feet: do a reverse V-pull with your right foot (to the left), and follow it with a reverse V-pull with your left foot (to the right). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Front V-pull, 2-foot (slightly harder than single-foot V-pulls):  link: demo video

  • Pull the ball back at an angle with the bottom of your right foot toward your left heel.

  • As the ball starts to roll back, bring your right foot down to the ground and lift your left foot.

  • As the ball rolls under your body, take a touch with the outside of your left foot at a 45 degree angle forward and to the left. This will complete the "V" pattern.

  • Be sure to work both feet: do a 2-foot V-pull starting with your right foot (finishing to the left), and follow it with a 2-foot V-pull starting with your left foot (finishing to the right). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

V-pull combos:  Can you combine V-pulls, or combine a V-pull with another move?

• Combo: front and reverse:  link: demo video

  • Do a front V pull with your right foot, finishing to the right.

  • Do a reverse V pull with your right foot, finishing to the left.

  • Do a front V pull with your left foot, finishing to the left.

  • Do a reverse V pull with your left foot, finishing to the right.

  • Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Combo: 2-foot V-pull with an in-out move (ADVANCED):  link: demo video

  • Start a 2-foot V-pull with your right foot.

  • Do an in-out move with your left foot, finishing to the left.

  • Start a 2-foot V-pull with left foot.

  • Do an in-out move with your right foot, finishing to the right.

  • Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

• Combos: "V" pull with a step-over (ADVANCED):  link: demo video

  • If you can do front outside V-pulls and step-over turns, you're ready for this one. If not, practice V-pulls and step-over turns by themselves before you try this "combo" activity.

  • Do a front outside V pull with your right foot, finishing to the right.

  • Do a step-over fake with your left foot. Land on your left foot, then take a quick hop back to turn your body back to the starting position.

  • Tap the ball back to the starting position with the inside of your right foot. (You won't use the outside of our step-over foot.)

  • Do 10-15 reps, then switch feet and do another 10-15 reps.

  • Reminder: One foot takes all the touches, the other foot does the step-over fake.

Combos: outside / wind-up / inside:

• tap the ball outside with the outside of one foot

• make a fake kick forward with the same foot (this is the "wind-up" part)

• pull the ball across your body with the bottom of the same foot

• repeat these steps with your other foot

Combos: happy feet / inside roll / step-over:

• do three happy feet

• use the bottom of your foot to roll the ball across your body (toward your other foot)

• step over the ball with your other foot (this is a fake in the opposite direction)

• turn back to the ball (if you step over with your left foot, turn to the left; if you step over with the right foot, turn to the right) and repeat the pattern starting with the other foot

"Glue foot" (also called "magnet foot"):  links: group demo video / coach demo video

• start with the ball touching the inside of your right foot

• hop to the left while keeping your right foot in contact with the ball the whole time; the ball will now be touching the outside of your right foot

• hop back to the right while keeping your right foot in contact with the ball; the ball will now be back on the inside of your right foot

• "flick" the ball over to the inside of your left foot

• repeat the pattern with your left foot (hop right, hop left, then flick the ball to your right foot)

• Goal: 10-15 magnet feet in 20 seconds