Jockeying is active defending. The defender moves toward the attacker while staying in control, ready to react to their move. Not diving. Not standing still. Active positioning.
What you need: 1 soccer ball, 2 kids, 3 cones marking a 15x15 grid.
Setup: Attacker and defender start inside the grid. Attacker has the ball.
How to run it:
- Using Drop, Show, Stay, Win cue: drop the back foot to a staggered stance, show one direction forcing the attacker that way, stay patient don’t dive in, win the ball at the right moment.
- Defender jockeys forward, staying on their feet, in a staggered stance.
- Attacker dribbles using Touch, Look, Push, Go.
- Defender stays close but doesn’t tackle yet.
- Play for 30 seconds. Then switch roles.
What to watch: Is the defender in a low staggered stance? Or upright and on their heels?
If they’re struggling: Make the grid bigger. Less pressure.
If they’ve got it: Shrink the grid to 12x12. Tighter space makes defending harder.