Mission 1 complete!

Tonight, our Discovery Academy players kicked off Skills Academy with Master the Ball!

Players spent the session getting lots of touches, building confidence with the ball at their feet, and learning one of the most important early soccer concepts:

Crowded space = little touches
Open space = bigger touches

Now, let’s keep the Mission going at home and on game day!

🏠 HOME MISSION — MY BALL ADVENTURE

Grab a soccer ball and spend 5 minutes practicing at home.

Little touches → Stop the ball → Turn → Find new space → Go again!

⭐ Challenge: How many different ways can you move with your ball?

Keep it fun! The goal is simply to spend more time with the ball and build confidence.

⚽ WEEKEND GAME MISSION — FIND THE SPACE

This weekend, we want our Discovery players looking for open grass!

When you see space, be brave and dribble your ball into it.

Remember:

Crowded space → Little touches
Open space → Bigger touches & GO!

Parents, there’s no need to remind them throughout the entire game. Share their Mission before kickoff, then let them play, experiment, and make decisions.

❤️ PARENT TIP — CELEBRATE THE TRY

At U6–U7, confidence and enjoyment are just as important as skill development.

Your player may try something they learned at Skills Academy and lose the ball — that’s okay! Trying is part of learning. Instead of focusing only on goals or whether a move worked, celebrate the attempt.

Try saying:

“I love that you tried it!”

That simple encouragement helps players become more confident, creative, and willing to try again.

⭐ DON'T FORGET YOUR MISSION STICKER!

Players who participated tonight received their Mission 1: Master the Ball sticker.

Take it home, add it to your Skills Academy Mission Card, and keep your card somewhere safe until next week's sticker arrives!

1 Mission Down. 6 To Go!

Meet players where they are and help them take their next step.