| A question that many of my kid's parents ask me is | | | | Your child can shoot closer to their goal than you to |
| "What can I do to work with my child on their own?" | | | | yours so that they can experience about thesame |
| Parents don't always have time to take their kids | | | | success rate (3 out of 4 in the net). Take turns |
| down to the soccer field and are often looking for | | | | alternating "penalty shots" with no goalies. Take a |
| things they can do in the backyard with their players. | | | | total of 5 each. Whoever has more wins! |
| My boys and I came up with a game one afternoon | | | | If you are tied after 5 shots, go to "Sudden Death." |
| after watching the World Cup that still is a big | | | | Alternate shots until one makes it and the other |
| favorite of theirs. Kids like to shoot and score, and | | | | doesn't. If you get the shooting distance correct for |
| this game is all about shooting and scoring. | | | | both you and your child, you can create a |
| They just call it "Penalty Kicks." What we do is set | | | | competitive and exciting mini-game environment. |
| up two goals on either side of the back yard. | | | | Be sure to practice this drills with both feet. If you |
| You'll want the goals far enough apart so that you | | | | can start your kids out early taking shots with their |
| can pass the ball through the cones about 3 out of 4 | | | | right and left feet, they will thank you for it later in |
| times. You can use cones or mini-goals. Either way, | | | | life! |
| the goals should be about 4-5 feet across. | | | | |