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Practice games

Turn Master

Clean turns in 60 seconds: count them, write down the best of three goes, then try to beat it.

At home 10 min 1 to 2 players Garden Park On your own With a grown-up 2016 to 2019

Me and My Ball Brave 1v1 Work hard

At a glance

  • A marker about 6 giant steps from where your child starts, and a 60-second timer. You keep time and count.
  • Your child dribbles to the marker, turns, bursts back to the start, and goes again.
  • Count each clean, controlled turn. Heavy touches don't count.
  • Three goes. Write down the best count, then they try to beat it.
  • Progress 1: Change the turn every time: drag-back, then Cruyff, then outside chop, round and round. Count only clean turns.
  • Progress 2: The same, and you call the turn just before they reach the marker.

If it's not working: Put the marker just 3 giant steps away, so each turn comes round quickly.

Full details: set up, how to play, tips

Set up

  • One marker about 6 giant steps from where your child starts, and a 60-second timer.

Garden, park.

How to play

  • Your child dribbles to the marker, turns, bursts back to the start, and goes again.
  • Count each clean, controlled turn. Heavy touches don't count.
  • Three goes. Write down the best count. Then they try to beat it.

Make it easier

  • Put the marker just 3 giant steps away, so each turn comes round quickly.
  • Count every turn where they keep the ball, however slow.

Make it harder, step by step

  1. Change the turn every time: drag-back, then Cruyff, then outside chop, round and round. Count only clean turns.
  2. The same, and you call the turn just before they reach the marker.
  3. Turn chain: 3 different turns in a row, for example drag-back, Cruyff, outside chop, bursting 3 giant steps between each. Time their fastest clean chain. One heavy touch and the clock starts again.
  4. Call the chain: before each go you name the three turns in a new order, and they must remember it. One heavy touch and they start again.

Three things to say

  • Slow into the turn, fast out of it.

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, with the date. Only ever compared with their own earlier go, never with anyone else's. Saved on this device only.