Spy Socks
Also called Heads Up Colours
While the pass travels, a grown-up lifts a sock and the child shouts its colour before controlling the ball.
At a glance
- Hold a different coloured sock in each hand and stand a few big steps from your child.
- Pass the ball to them. While it travels, lift one sock.
- Your child shouts the colour, then controls the ball and passes it back.
- Count the colours called right out of ten.
- Progress 1: Lift the sock later, when the ball is nearly there.
- Progress 2: Pass a bit firmer, so there is less time to look.
If it's not working: Lift the sock before you pass and keep it up until the ball arrives.
- your child
- Ggrown-up
- pass
- 1in this order
You hold a different coloured sock in each hand, a few steps from your child. You pass to them and, while the ball travels, lift one sock (the blue one here). Your child shouts its colour, then controls the ball and passes it back.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips
Set up
- Hold one sock in each hand and stand a few steps from your child.
Garden or park.
How to play
- Pass to your child.
- As the ball travels, lift one sock.
- Your child shouts the colour, then controls the ball.
- They pass back and you go again.
Make it easier
- Lift the sock before you pass and keep it up until the ball arrives.
- Pass gently so the ball rolls slowly, giving more time to look up.
Make it harder, step by step
- Lift the sock later, when the ball is nearly there.
- Pass a bit firmer, so there is less time to look.
Three things to say
- Look up while the ball travels, then soft touch to control.
Colts habit
Work hard: ten in a row.
Both feet
Control with the practice foot every other go.
Heads up
The colour call while the ball travels.
Safety: Stand on a flat, clear surface with room to move.
My best
Colours called out of 10. Last time and this time. Only ever compared with their own earlier go, never with anyone else's. Saved on this device only.