Clean Your Backyard

 Players try to kick their balls out of their area to “clean” their yard.

Click here for instructional video

• Set Up

  • Set up a large rectangle with cones (40 ft. x 30 ft.)

  • Make a center grid or “moat” with cones that are 10 ft. wide down the middle of the field.

  • Split the group into two teams, with each team starting in one of the larger rectangles (their “backyards”)

  • Every player starts with a ball at their feet.

• Equipment

  • Balls

  • Disc cones

• Objective

  Objective is for the team to kick as many balls out of their backyard as possible- they want to keep their backyard clean.

• Directions

  1. If a ball lands in the moat, it must stay there until the end of the game.

  2. Players will have plenty of practice trapping the ball during this activity.

  3. The winning team has the least balls in their area when time is called.

• Variations

  • Players can allow the ball to bounce before receiving and playing a pass back to the server.

• Coaching Points

  • To easily make teams, take one side of players from the previous activity to be team A, and the other side of players to be team B

  • Encourage players to use their laces or inside of the foot to scoop under the ball so it is in the air.

Reflection: Self-Awareness

1. What body part do you feel most comfortable using to trap the ball? Put a thumb up if you are comfortable and a thumb down if you still need to improve.

-Thigh, foot, chest? Why do you think that is?

2. What are you going to practice doing in the scrimmage to get better?