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Check Behind, Turn Ahead

U8 · 60-minute practice

Explore and notice

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10:00

Rest and transitions are included in each activity. Pause for additional breaks.

Next: Check, return the eyes, receive

Check while the ball is still with your partner.

Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. Turn the head toward each shoulder, name the open side and return the eyes to the server before a soft pass. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.

s32-arrival20 × 25 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 2 numbered stations, 6 numbered player slots, 2 balls and 8 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Use a shoulder check before receiving to choose the open turning exit. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show receive turn using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. Check the next space: Look away from the ball before it arrives. 2. Receive across the body: Guide the first touch toward the open side. 3. Turn and connect: Look up before the next ground pass.Station 1Station 213524620 × 25 m · 2 m perimeter bufferNumbered circle: player · small dot: ball · triangle: cone · dashed arrow: route1. Check the next spacecornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: To #3: ground pass after the checkStation 2: To #4: ground pass after the check135246Ball 1Ball 2Look away from the ball beforeit arrives.2. Receive across the bodycornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #3: first touch toward the open sideStation 1: #3: keep the ball closeStation 2: #4: first touch toward the open sideStation 2: #4: keep the ball close135246Ball 1Ball 2Guide the first touch towardthe open side.3. Turn and connectcornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #1: offer the next angleStation 1: To #1: connect after the turnStation 2: #2: offer the next angleStation 2: To #2: connect after the turn135246Ball 1Ball 2Look up before the next groundpass.Solid gold: ball · dashed pale: player · dotted blue: shadow / defender

Player arrivals and departures

Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.

    Record an observation and choose the next practice