Air balls come at kids from crosses and long passes. They need to trap them. The thigh is the biggest contact surface and the easiest to control at this age.
What you need: 1 soccer ball, 2 kids, open space.
Setup: Receiver stands facing passer. Passer is 10 feet away.
How to run it:
- Passer tosses the ball underhand so it arrives at the receiver’s thigh height.
- Receiver watches the ball (See).
- Receiver lifts their knee and presents the flat part of the thigh.
- Ball touches the thigh. Knee bends to cushion the impact (Cushion).
- Ball drops to the ground (Settle).
- Receiver controls the ball at their feet (Move).
- Do 6 traps each, then switch.
What to watch: Is the thigh relaxed or rigid? Relaxed thighs absorb better. Hard thighs bounce the ball away.
If they’re struggling: Toss from closer distance. Lower the toss height.
If they’ve got it: Toss from 12 feet away. Higher arc so the ball is coming down at them.