Traffic Lights
Your child dribbles round and reacts to your calls: red stops the ball dead, green is fast, yellow is toe-taps.
At a glance
- A ball and a clear space. Your child dribbles round it while you stand at the side and call the colours.
- Red means stop the ball dead with the sole, green means dribble fast, yellow means toe-taps on the spot.
- Keep the calls coming, then swap so they call and you dribble.
- Progress 1: Call the colours quickly with no gap between them, so they have to react at once.
- Progress 2: Add a fourth colour: blue means a turn, then dribble the other way.
If it's not working: Start with only red and green, then add yellow when they're ready.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips
Set up
- You stand at the side and call the colours to start with.
Garden, park, indoors.
How to play
- Your child dribbles around the space.
- Red: stop the ball dead with the sole. Green: dribble fast. Yellow: toe-taps on the spot.
- Keep the calls coming, then swap so they call and you dribble.
Make it easier
- Start with only red and green, then add yellow when they're ready.
- Leave a slow count of five between colours.
Make it harder, step by step
- Call the colours quickly with no gap between them.
- Add a fourth colour: blue means a turn, then dribble the other way.
Three things to say
- React to the call, then small touches.
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.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- Under 5s
- Just red and green, called slowly, with no yellow. Carry the ball in their arms first, then try it at their feet.
Safety: Pick a clear, flat space, look out for traffic and hazards, and stop if anything hurts. Soft ball indoors.
Keeping score: Not counted. Play it for fun.