Pleasant Hills Soccer Association
Summer Session, June 22 - 28, 2002

`Thigh Touches From the Air (Under 8's)`

Suggested summer session for week 1 of U8's. The theme of the summer session is "Its in the Air" and receiving a ball out of the air using the thigh is within this summer theme.

`Warmup: Free dribbling in space`

Each child should have a ball at their feet. Instruct the players to dribbling in space, moving in and around each other. Typically the coach will participate in this activity in order to show the players what you want them to do (paint a picture for them). Add a new command for each the following times.

While dribbling in space, have the children do a toe touch stop on the command "stop". And have the children begin dribbling again on the command "dribble".

While dribbling in space, have the playes do a long touch into space followed by a sprint/chase to regain possession on the command "go" or "break out".

While dribbling in space, have the players toss the ball up, receive it off their thigh, and drop it to the ground upon the command "toss".

`Individual Activity:`

While the players are jogging lightly in space with their ball in their hand, have them toss the ball straight up, lightly bounce it off their thigh, and catch it again with their hands. Use the U8's task orientation to keep count on the number of times they are successful during a fixed time period. Challenge them to better themselves.

`Activity in Pairs:`

Have the players pair up with one ball between and approximately three yards apart. Have the players attempt to toss the ball straight up, touch it off their thigh.

First have them attempt to directly touch it to their partner, who them picks up the ball and attempts to do the same back.

Next have them attempt to touch it straight up with their thigh and them lightly pass it out of the air to their partner with a second touch. Their partner should pick up the ball after an attempt and do the same back.

After each group has two or three successes, give them a fixed time and have them keep track of each players success with to total number of successes being the team count.

Use their task orientation and give the another timed session in which to better the result of the first attempt.

`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 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. If the ball drops to the ground, the other team has possession. A point is scored each time a player is able to receive a ball off their thigh followed by a catch without the ball dropping to the ground. 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: Multi-thigh challenge`

Have each player get a ball and stand in place. Have them toss the ball up and receive it off their theigh followed by a catch. Next have them toss the ball up and see if they can receive it off their thigh followed by another touch off the same or the other theigh. See if anybody can successfully do more than two successful touches off their thigh.