At a glance
- You are the defender: stand still with your arms by your sides. Your child starts about 5 giant steps away with the ball.
- Your child has 8 goes at beating you with a skill move and bursting past in control.
- Count the clean beats out of 8. Note the best and try to beat it next time.
- Progress 1: You walk at your child, slowly, without trying to take the ball.
- Progress 2: You jog in and try to win the ball. A beat only counts if your child keeps it.
If it's not working: Any move counts, even a simple drag-back or a change of pace.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips
Set up
- You are the defender: stand still with your arms by your sides, or use a marker.
- Your child starts about 5 giant steps away with the ball.
Garden, park.
How to play
- Your child has 8 goes at beating you with a skill move and bursting past in control.
- Count the clean beats out of 8. Note the best and try to beat it next time.
Make it easier
- Any move counts, even a simple drag-back or a change of pace.
- Use a marker as the defender instead of yourself.
Make it harder, step by step
- You walk at your child, slowly, without trying to take the ball.
- You jog in and try to win the ball. A beat only counts if your child keeps it.
- Three-touch beat: no more than 3 touches before they're past, or it doesn't count.
- Two-touch beat: one touch to set up the move, one to go past.
Three things to say
- Be brave. Even the pros don't beat their defender every time.
Colts habit
Work hard: little and often beats one long go.
Both feet
Do a round with the practice foot only.
Heads up
Look up between touches.
Safety: Pick a clear, flat space, look out for traffic and hazards, and stop if anything hurts. Soft ball indoors.
My best
First go and best out of 8, with the date. Only ever compared with their own earlier go, never with anyone else's. Saved on this device only.