The “Smiley Face” Challenge teaches proper first-touch mechanics.

Videos: Before, Step 2, Step 3, After

Please, please, please, please! Before doing this Challenge, record a “Before” video (see instructions below). Then capture their instant improvement with an “After” video.

The young girl in these videos never played soccer before in her life. Our “Smiley Face” Challenge session lasted just 10 minutes!

Try it Yourself

Step 1

Pass a ball to your mentee. Ask them to, “stop the ball with one foot, and pass it back with the opposite foot.” This is called a 2-touch drill. Don’t given them any other instructions. Make sure they get an equal number stops with both their dominant and weak foot (see Before video).

Step 2

Add a smiley face to the inside-of-the-foot of their dominant foot. Give them the following instruction, “Make sure that when you stop the ball, it hits the smiley face.” Let them figure out the mechanics on their own. It does not matter how they pass it back (see Step 2 video.)

Step 3

Add a smiley face to the tip of their plant foot (the foot not stopping the ball). Give them the following instruction, “Make sure the new smiley is pointing to me (the passer) when you stop the ball.” Again, let them figure things out on their own (see Step 3 video).

Step 4

This step will be identical to Step 2, except now the new smiley face will be placed on the inside-of-the-foot of their weaker foot. Provide the same instruction. Let them figure things out on their own.

Step 5

This step will be identical to Step 3, except the new smiley face will be placed on the toe of their dominant foot. Keep the instruction simple and let them figures things out.

Each mentee will be different. Some will catch on quicker than others. That’s OK. If you mentee caught on quickly, introduce Step 6.

Step 6

Give your mentee the following instruction, “When you pass the ball back to me, make sure the ball if being kicked with the smiley face that is placed on the inside-of-the-foot and the other smiley face (on the toe of the plant foot) is pointing to me.” Again, let them figure it out on their own.

Keep this entire Challenge short. Hopefully, by the end, your “After” video will show marked improvement.

The Dream BIG! Challenge is a timed activity that challenges every soccer fundamental, including the FIRST-TOUCH. It also asks players to Dream BIG! about their soccer careers and the careers they want once their playing days are over.

Having Heart & SOUL is the key to a good first FIRST-TOUCH. The younger a player is introduced to Heart & SOUL, the better. Click on the Heart & SOUL link and watch the video.

Try it Yourself

Now that you better understand Heart & SOUL, the “U” in SOUL is the most important technical component to a good first touch (and a good pass). To reinforce the “U” follow the steps below.

Step 1

• Have someone record you receiving several passes prior to starting the Challenge (you will want to see how much you instantly improve). Make sure to receive passes with both feet.

Step 2

• ‘Cup’ the soccer ball between the top of your dominant foot and shin.
• Point your toe up as high as possible to create a ‘pocket’ that the ball can rest in.
• Squeeze the ball with your toe against your shin to keep the ball in place.
• Lift your heel off the ground, keeping the ball in place.
• After a few seconds, remove the ball but keep your foot in the same position. ‘Feel’ the position of your foot.

Step 3

• Place a pip on the inside-of-your-foot. Specifically, place the pip on the nodule of the navicular bone.

Step 4

• Have someone pass you the ball.
• Make sure the center of the ball hits the pip.
• Your foot must be in the same position as described in Step 2.
• Make sure to video the first few Heart & SOUL passes.

Step 5

• Repeat Steps 2-4, this time using your other foot.
• Video yourself to see your improvement.

Instepper Mentors will help you improve and reinforce your Heart & SOUL.

What the heck is a PartytraP. It’s 2 things:

• A palindrome (a word that reads the same backwards as forwards).
• A Challenge that highlights an important FUNdamental skill that often gets overlooked: trapping the ball out of the air immediately after it hits the ground.

The key to this Challenge is to make sure the player is able to correctly and confidently apply back spin on the ball so that it does not roll away from them.

Try it Yourself

Videos describing PartytraP process will be posted soon. In the meantime:

Step 1

Document (video) the current skill level of the player (check out the “before” part this video for reference). Ask the player to control the ball however they feel comfortable.

Step 2

1. Have the player kneel or sit on the ground.
2. Have them throw the ball straight up in the air.
3. When the ball lands beside them, have them slide a hand/palm over the ball as soon as it hits the ground. It’s important to:
   • Slide, not slam, their hand on the ball.
   • Make contact with the ball immediately after it hits the ground. Not when the ball is still on its downward trajectory and not at the same time the ball hits the ground. The ball needs to be bouncing up when contact is made.

Step 3

1. Have the player stand up and have them again throw the ball straight up in the air.
2. This time, have them trap the ball with the bottom of their foot immediately after it hits the ground. The player is essentially using the same mechanics they used with their hand/palm.
   • Slide, don’t stomp. “Be a butterfly, not an elephant”
   • Make sure the ball hits the ground first and has started to bounce up.

Step 4

Now, have the player apply the same mechanics they did with Heart & SOUL. As soon as the ball hits the ground, have them trap the ball using the inside-of-the-foot, not the bottom of their foot.

When done properly, backspin will be placed on the ball which will keep the ball closer to the player, giving them much more control.

Step 5

It’s Party time! Create your “After” video and celebrate that you are now on your way to being able to trap a ball coming from any height without fear.

Tethering is a fantastic way to reinforce proper FIRST-TOUCH mechanics by making it easy to get in the necessary touches to make this skill more instinctual. Check out these FUN tether reels that teams, Clubs, schools, and the World can do 2gether.

“4 Eyes” is the biggest compliment you can give a player. It means that they have 2 sets of eyes–1 set in the front of their face and another set in the back of their head. These players (like the one in the mirror) sees the entire field. ALL players possess this second set of eyes. It’s just a matter of finding them.

The purpose of this shooting/scoring GO AL, GOAL Challenge is to help AL achieve his/her GOOOOOOOAL; hitting 6 goal targets. It’s easier said than done.

Tutti is Italian for ‘Everybody’. 2T is short for Two-Touch. Footie is short for Football. In any language, “Tutti 2T” results in “Good Footie”