Week 3 · U4
Heads-up games
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Peek up while dribbling to see the coach’s signal
- 2Shout out the number or color the coach shows without losing the ball
- 3Look up first, then dribble where they want to go
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
Follow the Leader
You lead a dribbling parade around the field — silly walks, sudden turns, dramatic freezes — and everyone copies with their ball. They can only copy what they SEE, so eyes drift up all on their own. Let kids take turns leading.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Magic Numbers
Everyone dribbles in a big space. Every few seconds, hold up fingers or a colored cone and shout "MAGIC!" — kids peek up and yell the number or color while keeping their ball. Wander around so they have to find you first. Gasp in amazement every time they get it right, which is always.
Freeze the ball with a foot on top first, THEN look up and shout the answer.
Point at a corner or a cone color and kids dribble TO it — look up, then go, without losing the ball.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
Periscope Game
Play a real 4v4 game. Celebrate any child who looks up before they dribble or kick — "great peek!" is tonight’s magic phrase. Sneak in one mid-game MAGIC number for the giggle.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·Peek up! What number am I holding?
- ·Eyes up like a periscope!
- ·Look… then go!
- ·You saw it AND kept your ball — magic!
Show signals mid-dribble and from further away, so the peek happens while the ball is moving.
Stand close, hold signals longer, and let them stop the ball before every peek.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
4v4 diamond, everyone attacks and defends — rotate everyone, and cheer every heads-up peek; the score takes care of itself.
Message to forward to your parents
This week we dribbled with our eyes up, spotting secret numbers and colors. While they dribble at home, hold up fingers and have them shout the number — it’s magic practice!
This week's two videos
Prep the night before; copy the activity on the field.
10 Most Popular Soccer Drills on MOJO | Soccer Drills From the MOJO App
Watch the night before to understand the idea
This is your game bank for the whole month — several of these games only work if players keep their heads up, which is exactly what OBSERVE looks like at U7–U8. Watch before Week 1 and pick two games you can repeat in every Play phase so kids master the game and you can coach the looking. Praise the eyes, not just the touch.
For U4: Choose the two most story-driven games — the eyes-up ones fit this week — and repeat them so kids master the rules.
Watch on YouTubeThe BEST Dribbling Drills for Young Soccer Players & Beginners
A drill you can copy on the field
Beginner-friendly dribbling patterns you can run with big groups and one ball each — maximum touches, which is the 4v4 promise. Use it in Weeks 1–2 and add the OBSERVE cue: every three touches, eyes up to find the coach's hand signal. Keep the tone playful; this band learns through games, not corrections.
For U4: One ball each, giant spaces, coach calls silly targets to dribble toward.
Watch on YouTube