Coach: Mark
We had a great group of players from different teams today, focused on individual footwork and game awareness in small-sided play.
Skill Work:
The first move Coach Mark introduced was the Brazilian Touch. This is something every player should be practicing at home. It’s a foundational move that teaches rhythm and ball control using both feet.
👉 Watch this 60-second video to review and practice the Brazilian Touch:
After that, we worked on:
– A push out, then pullback to the opposite foot – a move designed to shake defenders and change direction quickly.
– An alternating scissor, performed in place. The key here is staying light on your feet and keeping your balance while selling the move with your body.
Small-Sided Games:
We finished practice with a lot of 1v1 and 2v2 play. Here’s what we noticed:
When playing 2v2, we need to keep improving on what we do without the ball. That means:
– Knowing where your teammate is.
– Scanning the field before the ball gets to you.
– Looking up, especially when the other team is about to kick off or right before you challenge for the ball.
If you’re not checking your surroundings, you’ll play with your head down—and that makes it easy to lose the ball or miss a pass.
Box Drills/Practice:
While kids waited for their turn in games, they rotated through two box drills:
- Two players passing in a box – focusing on control, spacing, and keeping the ball moving.
- Bounce juggling off the wall – usually done with 2–3 players per box. This works on quick touches, reactions, and adjusting your body to awkward bounces.