A worked practice for your team
Mirror a partner’s turn without chasing
Keep an individual ball close while reading and copying a partner’s change of direction at a comfortable distance.
ZIP includes the printable coach card, all three SVG diagrams, timeline and practice data. Extract the folder before opening the card.
Check the problem
The follower races toward the leader, looks only at the other ball and loses control of their own. Matching a turn is the challenge; catching a partner is not part of this game.
Set up the space and roles
Mark three 6 × 6 m squares in a row with four cones each. Leave 4 m between squares and 2 m outside the whole arrangement: the clear footprint is 30 × 10 m. Pair players 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6, with a ball each. Partners begin on opposite sides of their square, about 3 m apart. Each uses their own half and keeps at least 2 m from the partner; no joining or tackling is allowed.
Keep the rotation clear
In each pair the lower number leads first in focused rounds one and three, the higher number in round two. Both lead half of every focused round. In the final game swap proposer after each attempted sequence, so a more confident child does not control all the choices.
See the practice in three steps
Schematic views, not to scale. Player numbers match the roles below. Dark arrows show passes, dashed green arrows show movement and solid green arrows show carries. Use the written dimensions when marking your area.
1. Starting positions
2. The decision and movement
3. Game application
Your complete 30-minute plan
Briefing, planned role changes, water and reflection are included. Add rest or stop when needed; shorten active play rather than rushing a transition.
00:00–03:00 · 3 min
Check, explain and walk the layout
Without balls, the leader makes one slow quarter-turn and the partner copies the direction. Both stay in their own half. Agree a spoken or raised-hand stop signal and let either child ask for another demonstration.
03:00–08:00 · 5 min
Prepare the movement
Add a ball per child. Leaders take two small touches, stop, turn and stop again. Followers look up between touches and copy once ready. Swap leader after 30 seconds, with a short pause to check distance. Demonstrate a simple inside-foot turn; children may choose another comfortable ground turn.
08:00–17:00 · 9 min
Focused practice and role changes
Run three rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds followed by 20 seconds of rest. In each round the first child leads for 1 minute 20 seconds, then both stop and swap for the next 1 minute 20 seconds. Leaders choose left or right slowly, allowing time to copy. A pair earns a shared point when both complete a turn with the ball still inside their own half. Reset calmly after a ball escapes; the neighbouring pairs stop if retrieval could cross their space.
17:00–19:00 · 2 min
Water and reset
Pause for water and check the area. Keep the three separated 6 × 6 m squares and their clear buffers. Extra rest takes priority; shorten the next playing block if needed.
19:00–28:00 · 9 min
Use it in a game
Keep the same separated squares. Play three rounds of 2 minutes 40 seconds plus 20 seconds of rest. Partners alternate proposing a two-turn sequence, such as left then right. Rehearse one turn at a time and count a shared point when both finish with controlled balls and the distance intact. Change the first proposer each round. There is no race and no score comparison between pairs; a shorter successful sequence is useful progress.
28:00–30:00 · 2 min
Reflect and choose the next step
Ask each child to choose a turn they could show again. If copying caused rushing, return to a single stop-and-turn and make the leader’s pause longer before extending the sequence.
Watch for a useful change
- Follower looks between their ball and the partner.
- Both balls stay inside the assigned halves.
- Leader leaves enough time and space for the partner to copy.
Make it easier
One child models without a ball while the partner copies with a ball, then swap; put the spare ball outside the buffer with the adult.
When ready
Let the follower suggest the second turn before the leader starts. Keep walking pace and the same separation.
Ask each child to choose a turn they could show again. If copying caused rushing, return to a single stop-and-turn and make the leader’s pause longer before extending the sequence.
Need a different group size or duration?
The worked example above uses the stated numbers. The related complete session has its own checked customizer, maps and rotations.
Open Turn Through GatesCoaching principles and further reading
Children can explore ball control by choosing a movement and helping a partner copy it.
Public sources reviewed 21 October 2026. Session Pitch created this worked example, timing, role instructions and diagrams; it is not a reproduction of the linked sessions. No FA or FIFA endorsement is implied. Live coaching effectiveness has not been evaluated.