Aviva Soccer Sisters

00:00:02 Day 5 Turn and Pass

00:00:10 Áine O’Gorman, Republic of Ireland WNT

Hi everyone welcome to our fifth and final day at the Aviva Soccer Sisters Virtual Skills Hub. All this week we've been working on skills that you can do at home, in your living room or backyard wherever you have a safe space. Well done to everyone who’s participated this week and thank you to everyone who’s uploaded videos. Today's practice is a passing and receiving exercise called the turn and pass. This exercise is essential for every player on the pitch. Whether you’re a centre back receiving off the goalkeeper or centre midfielder turning to pass to the strikers. Now let's go to the McGlynns to see how this one was done.

00:00:42 Áine O’Gorman

For this skill you'll just need two reboundable surfaces to play off like two walls and a ball. To start pass the ball off a reboundable surface with enough weight on the pass that the ball will return to you at a good speed. Receive the ball using your instep while turning to play off the opposite wall. Your objective here is to play off two touches, one to control and one to pass. Remember to take it slowly first and speed it up once comfortable. Use both feet to receive and pass the ball. Once mastered, try to count how many times you can pass and receive in 60 seconds with the ball under control at all times.

00:01:20 Áine O’Gorman

Now over to Rebecca to take you through how to adapt the skill if you have additional needs. Have a sibling or parent for turning the past which makes the player turn. Also move possibly further away, this will reduce players becoming dizzy. Also have a few footballs at each end in case footballs go astray.

00:01:44 Áine O’Gorman

Record your child doing these skills and tag us in your videos at @AvivaIreland and @FAIreland. You can also use the hashtag #safetodreamteam on your posts, and we'll make sure to keep an eye on how you're all progressing this week. We love seeing your videos.

Every day we'll be picking some of the videos and reposting them. We also have Aviva Soccer Sisters backpacks to give away. So that's it for the Aviva Soccer Sisters Virtual Skills Hub. We hope you had fun and enjoy yourself this week. Thank you to everyone who shared videos and took part, there's some serious talent out there. And remember while staying apart we're saving lives. Keep up the good work and practice those skills and you'll be playing like a pro when you get back training soon.

00:02:28 Video ends

00:00:02 Day 4 Football Bowling

00:00:10 Áine O’Gorman, Republic of Ireland WNT

Hi everyone and welcome back to day four of the Aviva Soccer Sisters’ Virtual Skills Hub. All week I’ve been taking you through skills developed by the FAI to improve your technique, all from the comfort of your own home. Before we start, I just want to thank everyone who has taken part all week. You're all doing a great job. Today we are really excited to bring you a challenge that’s packed full of fun. It’s called football bowling. Fun is by far the most important thing in this challenge, but it's also great for improving your passing and shooting. Let's go to the Roches from Pearse Street and show us how it's done.

00:00:43 Áine O’Gorman

In whatever space you have free set of ten markers in the same formation as bowling pins as far away as you can or as far as you can kick. Empty water bottles will work best, but so will toys or anything that can be knocked over easily, but not your parents’ flowerpots. The aim is to pass or shoot at the objects and knock as many over as possible in one shot. Try passing or shooting all different parts of your foot like inside, outside, laces and even try some back heels. Challenge yourself by working in sets of five. Again, pass or shoot and knock over as many as possible, then restock them and go again, keeping track of how many you've knocked as you go along and count them up after five sets just like real bowling.

00:01:25 Áine O’Gorman

If it's possible, maybe get your brothers, sisters and parents or guardians involved and play against each other. You can increase the difficulty by only using your weaker foot and seeking to get close to your best score with your strongest foot.

00:01:39 Áine O’Gorman

Now over to Rebecca who will take you through how to adapt the skill if you have additional needs Use footballs or something large as pins. Space them so there's a better chance of knocking some down on each try based on the player's ability. Or possibly move them closer or roll the ball under arms as opposed to kicking the ball.

00:02:01 Áine O’Gorman

Record your child's doing these skills and tag us in your videos at @AvivaIreland and @FAIreland. You can also use the hashtag #safetodreamteam on your posts, and we'll make sure to keep an eye on how you're all progressing this. We love seeing your videos every day we'll be picking some of the videos and reposting them. We also have Aviva Soccer Sisters backpacks to give away. That's it for today everyone. Make sure to come back tomorrow for the final day of the Aviva Soccer Sisters Virtual Skills Hub. I’ll see you then.

00:02:33 Video ends

00:00:02 Day 3 Dribbling, Shooting & Fitness

00:00:09 Áine O’Gorman, Republic of Ireland WNT

Hi everyone, welcome to day three of the Aviva Soccer Sisters Virtual Skills Hub. Thank you to everyone who's been sharing the videos online. There's definitely some soccer stars in the making out there We've another great skill for you today, but first, please make sure that there's nothing valuable around that you can break. Today's practice is a shooting and fitness exercise. This can be done on your own or against another family member. So, let's check out how its done.

00:00:35 Áine O’Gorman

For this skill you’ll need eight markers setup as shown and depending on the area you have to use, try to have the cones about eight metres away from the goal. This practice is done to a timer, so once you start dribbling the timers on. Position yourself behind the furthest way cone to start.

Dribble the ball as quickly as possible through the cones or objects. Once you're through the cones, then dribble around the second set of objects. Once you come to the last object, fake to shoot then shift the ball yard and shoot the ball into the corner of the net. Once this is completed, get your ball as quickly as possible and dribble back to start as quick as you can to start again. Count how many times you can do this in 60 seconds. Try to do the exercise at maximum speed but remember to focus on quality of ball control as well. As your dribbling improves you can send then speed up. Get creative, try different types of fakes to deceive the defender.

00:01:35 Áine O’Gorman

Now over to Rebecca to take you through how to adapt the scale if you have additional needs. To adapt this skill, simply spaced the count a little further apart to limit any collisions with cones based on the ability of the player. Also move the setup closer to the goal to give the player a better opportunity to score.

00:01:52 Áine O’Gorman

Record your child's doing these skills and tag us in your videos at @AvivaIreland and @FAIreland. You can also use the hashtag #safetodreamteam on your posts and we'll make sure to keep an eye on here you're all progressing this week. We love seeing your videos. Every day we'll be picking some of the videos and reposting them. We also have an Aviva Soccer Sisters backpacks to giveaway.

00:02:12 Áine O’Gorman

So that's it for today, folks, thanks for taking part and more importantly for staying home to keep everyone safe. Remember to keep active and have as much fun as you can. We will all get through this together. Keep practising it and we'll be back again tomorrow at 10am with another skill for you to try at aviva.ie/safetodreamteam. See you tomorrow.

00:02:39 Video ends

00:00:02 Day 2 Maradona 7

00:00:08 Áine O’Gorman, Republic of Ireland WNT

Hi everyone, I'm back for day two of the Aviva Soccer Sister’s Virtual Skills Hub. Today we have a brilliant ball mastery practice called the Maradona Seven. This one is really really fun and can be done anyway home because there's very little space in it. This challenge is all about ball control and great to develop good balance and coordination and also helps you gain confidence with football.

00:00:30 Áine O’Gorman

All you need is a bit of space and a football. It's a really tough skill, which takes a lot of practice. Once you master it, there's a great sense of achievement. So, we're going to break it down into four steps. Step one, we're just going to do a left foot right foot, keep-uppy. Left foot, right foot, catch or a right foot left foot catch. Step two, we're just going to do a left knee, right knee catch. So, left knee, right knee, catch or right knee, left knee catch. Step three is going to be a shoulder, shoulder, catch. Step four, it's going to be a head and a catch. Nice and easy cushion header and catch. Now we're going to try and put it all together.

As easy as that.

00:01:19 Áine O’Gorman

If you are finding that it’s getting too easy you could do it the opposite way. If we were head, shoulders, knees to toe. Now over to Rebecca to take you through to how to adapt the skill if you have additional needs. To adapt this skill, you can break down the exercise. Right foot solo and catch. Left foot solo and catch. Right knee and catch, left knee and catch. Head and catch.

00:01:49 Áine O’Gorman

Record your child doing new skills and tag us in your videos at @AvivaIreland and @FAIreland. You can also use the hashtag #savetodreamteam on your posts and we will make sure to keep an eye on how you're all progressing this week. Every day we'll be picking some of the videos and reposting them. We also have Aviva Soccer Sisters’ backpacks to giveaway.

00:02:08 Áine O’Gorman

That's it for today. Thanks for tuning in and make sure to come back tomorrow at 10am for some more skills. It's so important to keep moving and of course keep having fun while we are all stuck at home. It's so hard not seeing your friends, but we will all be back training soon. See you tomorrow.

00:02:30 Video ends

00:00:02 Day 1 Passing Runway

00:00:09 Áine O’Gorman, Republic of Ireland WNT

Hi everyone. My name is Áine O’Gorman, Peamount United and Irish Women’s International player. I’m delighted to be joining Aviva’s Safe to Dream Team, an online hub where you can access online skills videos win prizes for your child and receive discounts on your insurance. This year, the Easter holidays are a bit different, but we still want to have fun and improve your soccer skills. So this week we’re bringing you the Aviva Soccer Sister’s Virtual Skills Hub. Every day I’ll be showing you skills developed by FAI accredited coaches and my friend Rebeeca will show you how to adapt the skills if you have additional needs. So there’s something for everyone.

Today’s exercise is the passing runway. Mastering this exercise will improve your straight line passing skills and it’s also so much fun. To show you how to do this exercise. I’ll pass you over to the McGlynn’s from Ringsend.

00:00:52 Áine O’Gorman

Use as much space you have available with this one. You want to lay out a runway about two steps wide using cones or objects you have available at home. If there are different colours, then brilliant you can make three different sections for points. What you’re trying to do is pass the ball along the runway and get to the end without it going out past the markers. To start, plant your standing foot alongside the ball and strike the ball with the inside of your passing foot to pass the ball cleanly along the runway.

Use different parts of your foot like outside, laces and your hell to practice different passing types. For even more of a challenge, if you’re able to set markers up in three sections. The first one is ten points. The second is twenty points and the third is thirty points.

The end and the most important one is worth fifty points. Why not get some of your family involved and make it a little competition for even more fun.

00:01:52 Áine O’Gorman

Now over to Rebecca to take you through to how to adapt the skill if you have additional needs.

00:01:57 Rebecca Egan, Knocklyon FC’s Football for All

My name is Rebecca and I play for Knocklyon.

00:02:03 Áine O’Gorman

To adapt this exercise place the cones further apart. More than two steps across from each other, depending on the player’s ability. His gives the players a better option to keep the ball running in a straight line.

00:02:18 Áine O’Gorman

Record your child doing new skills and tag us in your videos at @AvivaIreland and @FAIreland. You can also use the hashtag #savetodreamteam on your posts and we will make sure to keep an eye on how you're all progressing this week. Every day we'll be picking some of the videos and reposting them. We also have Aviva Soccer Sisters’ backpacks to giveaway.

00:02:37 Áine O’Gorman

That's it for today. Every day this week I’ll be taking you through a range of skills to help you improve your soccer technique at home. Be sure to visit aviva.ie/safetodreamteam tomorrow at 10am to check out our next skill.

00:02:57 Video ends