Pleasant Hills Soccer Association
Summer Session, July 1 - July 6, 2002

`Thigh and Chest Touches From the Air (Under 9's and up)`

Suggested summer session for week 1 of U9's and up. The theme of the summer session is "Its in the Air" and receiving a ball out of the air using the chest and thigh is within this summer theme.

`Warm-up and Skills: Andy's Window`

Half or two thirds of the players stand in a large circle without balls. These players will act as servers to the remaining players. Each of the remaining players has a ball at their feet. These player dribble the ball around in the free space within the circle. Instruct the outside circle players to serve the ball up in the air to the receiving players in the circle. For the player within the circle, they must dribble around in free space and them approach an server player with a pass. The server player picks up the ball and serves it to the player.

Have them receive the ball off their thigh to the ground with a change in direction and then dribble away.

DEMONSTRATION: The coach should demonstrate how to receive the air ball with the chest. Demonstrate the slightly arched back, preparation of the flat portion of the chest just below the chin, and a soft deadening touch to the ball with direction to the ground.

Have them receive the ball off their chest to the ground, trap it, and dribble away.

DEMONSTRATION: The coach should demonstrate how to pop an air ball off the chest to touch again with the thigh to change directions.

Have them receive the ball off their chest as demonstrated and attempt a second touch with their thigh with a direction touch to the ground as in the first exercise.

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`Game Related: Serve, Receive, and Catch`

Divide the players into two or more teams with two teams playing at a time with one ball between the two teams. This game is a game of hand ball, the players use their hands to pass the ball between them. Each player is allowed five steps to move in order to pass the ball for a member of his team. The team in possession may attempt to score by receiving a service either off the thigh to the ground followed by an immediate second touch with the foot, off the chest to the ground followed by an immediate second touch with the foot, or off the chest to an immediate second touch with the thigh and a catch. The coach must pay close attention to the balls landing on the ground can call possession. If the team scores from the ground, the coach calls the score and the player immediately picks up the ball again to start passing and catching in order to get some space and time to score.

The team that is not in possession may use any regular soccer means to attempt to cause the other team to drop the ball to the ground from an attempt to catch the ball, or get the first touch on the ground after the possession team attempted a chest or thigh touch. If the ball drops to the ground, the other team has possession. This game is played in free space. Let them play for a while before swapping a new team in if there are more than two teams.

`Game: Regular two goal game of soccer`

`Warm down: Thigh - Catch`

Have the players line up in a circle around the ball. The coach stands with a ball in the middle of the players. At any given time, the coach moves to a player at random. The coach lightly serve the ball up to the player and says either "Catch" or "Thigh". Upon the command "Catch" the player must receive the ball with a ball touch off their thigh. Upon the command "Thigh" the player must catch the ball with their hands. If the player fails, they must sit down. The last player standing must be able to do the challenge three times in a row without a mistake to be called the winner.