A cushioned touch means the ball doesn’t bounce away. Kids need soft feet and soft knees to absorb pass velocity. See, Cushion, Settle, Move starts here.
What you need: 1 soccer ball, 2 kids, open space.
Setup: Kids 12 feet apart. One has the ball.
How to run it:
- Passer gently tosses the ball underhand to the receiver’s chest height.
- Receiver watches it come (See).
- Receiver presents the inside of their foot with a soft knee bend.
- Ball touches the foot. Knee bends to absorb the impact (Cushion).
- Ball drops to the ground near the receiver (Settle).
- Receiver pushes it forward gently (Move).
- Do 6 receives each, then switch roles.
What to watch: Does the knee bend on contact? Soft knees mean better cushion.
If they’re struggling: Toss from closer distance. Use a softer ball.
If they’ve got it: Toss from farther away (15 feet) or with more speed.