Towel Swap
On Swap!, you and your child leave your balls, race to each other's ball and dribble it home to your own towel.
At a glance
- Lay two towels about 8 big steps apart. You and your child each stand by your own towel with a ball.
- Dribble gently by your towel until either of you shouts Swap! Then leave your ball and run to the other person's ball.
- Dribble that ball back to your own towel and stop it on the towel with your sole. Jog, so your child gets there first.
- Play 10 swaps and count how many times your child stops the ball dead on the towel.
- Progress 1: Stop jogging and race at full speed.
- Progress 2: As well, your child dribbles home with the practice foot only.
If it's not working: Lay the towels 4 big steps apart.
- your child
- Ggrown-up
- run
- dribble
- 1in this order
A towel each about 8 big steps apart, and you both start with a ball by your own towel. On Swap! you both leave your ball and run for the other one. Your child takes your ball and dribbles it home to their towel, stopping it on the towel with their sole. You take theirs the other way, at a jog.
Full details: set up, how to play, tips
Set up
- Lay two towels about 8 big steps apart. Each of you stands by your own towel with a ball.
Garden or park, with room for 8 big steps between the towels.
How to play
- Dribble gently by your own towel.
- Either of you shouts Swap! Leave your ball and run to the other person's ball.
- Dribble it to your own towel and stop it on the towel with your sole. Jog, so your child gets there first.
- Play 10 swaps and count how many times your child stops the ball dead on the towel.
Make it easier
- Lay the towels 4 big steps apart.
- Call Ready, steady, Swap! so your child knows the swap is coming.
Make it harder, step by step
- Stop jogging and race at full speed.
- As well, your child dribbles home with the practice foot only.
Three things to say
- React fast, then small touches to bring the ball home.
Colts habit
Work hard: ten swaps flat out.
Both feet
Dribble home with your other foot.
Heads up
Look up for the other ball on Swap!
Safety: Look up to avoid bumps. Play outdoors on soft ground.
My best
Balls stopped dead on the towel 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.