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Head-Up Cradling

Keep your head up so you can see open teammates.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Cradle while you jog.

Core: Two. Beat your own best out of 10.

Ages
11 and up
Time
10 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Stick, ball, partner
Level · skill
Developing · Field Vision

The steps

How it works

  1. Cradle while you jog.
  2. Your partner holds up fingers behind you or in front.
  3. Call out the number without looking down.
  4. Do 5 rounds of 1 minute.

Coaching point

Eyes up. See the field.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Look-up game: a partner shows fingers behind your shoulder as you cradle, and you call the number. Swap, and count correct calls together.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (one number), Core (two), More (a number and a color). Beat your own best out of 10.

Story

You are a lookout on a ship, calling what you see.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

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