Soccer Skills:

 

Me and My Shadow

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Soccer Skill: Agility

Ages: U6, U8

Me and My Shadow is a fun warm-up and agility activity for younger soccer players. It can raise body temperatures and increases body control.

  • Number of Players: All; pair up players
  • Equipment: None; balls in progression
  • Time: 2 Minutes per Player Shadow
  • Field: Open Space, activity does not require defined field space
  • Players should pair up
  • All players participate in this activity
  • Players are paired up where one player is the runner and one is the shadow
  • Runners role: utilize the entire space to "lose" their shadow.
  • Shadow's role is to follow behind remaining 1-2 yards behind
  • Demonstrate the drill yourself and display (so the kids can identify) that change of pace and change of direction are the keys to losing the shadow.
  • Pay special attention not to run into the runner or other teammates who will be in the same space
  • Add balls - adds complexity to the game
  • After each player has gone and energy is still high, have them select a new partner and go again.

Tell The Team: (Remember - stay focused)

  1. Runner should be creative using pace and change of direction to lose their shadow
  2. Shadow must have head up and pay attention to not run into teammate
  3. Have fun with it

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Jerry Macnamara is "The Coach" and founder at Soccer Classroom. For more than thirty years, Coach has been a player, coach, trainer and administrator. He shares your passion for the game and helping players grow through age appropriate soccer skills and drills. Feel free to contact Coach with questions

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2 Comments of “Me and My Shadow”

Comment by andrea
September 22, 2011

Can you explain this dril a bit more?? Do both players have a ball or does just the runner have a ball??

[Reply]

Comment by The Coach
September 23, 2011

Hi Andrea –

The start of the exercise does not have balls. Simply one player trying to “lose” the other player. This is teaching change of pace and change of direction as well as positional awareness. Once they have the hang of understanding how to “shuck and jive” out there, you can progress the game.

The progression would have both players with balls dribbling. Again, awareness, heads-up, ball control all take this to the next level. Try it out and let us know how it goes.

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