Kicking Footy Pups

The crowd are going wild. CHEERING

Here come the Footy Pups.

# They play like a dream when they work as a team

# Footy pups, go, go, Footy pups

# There's Pickles and Rex and Geraldine next

# Footy Pups, go, go, Footy Pups

# Rozzie and Benny and Manager Freddie

# Footy Pups, go, go, Footy Pups

# There's Rachel too and, of course, all of you

# Footy Pups, go, go, Footy Pups

# Go, go, go, go, Footy Pups! #

CHEERING

Rachel Yankey - top international footballer

and all-round sporting superstar.

But when Rachel's not scoring goals for her team,

she's playing with the Footy Pups.

THEY CHEER

Hi, everyone. We're all warmed up, so it's time to get moving.

THEY CHEER

Today on my team we have...

-Number one, Kenny.

-CHEERING

-Number two, Robin.

-CHEERING

-Number three, Sonny.

-CHEERING

-Number four, Leah.

-CHEERING

-Number five, Issa.

-CHEERING

-Number six, Emma.

-CHEERING

Also joining us are Footy Pups Benny and Rex.

-Hooray!

-CHEERING

And that's today's team.

CHEERING

OK, guys, gather round. It's team talk time.

Today we're going to be looking at kicking.

Who knows what different parts of our football boot might

we use to kick the ball?

-Sonny?

-The laces.

Use the laces, brilliant.

-Emma?

-The outside of your boot.

-Well done.

-Kenny?

-Inside of your foot.

That's right.

There are LOTS of different ways to kick the ball.

Today we're going to kick the ball with the inside of our foot.

It's the type of kick that gives us the most control of the ball.

Remember that control's REALLY important

when we're playing football.

There are three main things to remember when kicking.

Place our foot next to the ball,

swing your other leg back and strike the ball.

Do you guys want to do it with me?

So, place your foot next to the ball...

swing your other leg back...

and strike the ball.

Come on, let's go and have a practice.

So, I've put you into pairs.

Pass the ball to your partner

by kicking it with the inside of your foot.

Remember, this type of kick is all about control.

So no big hoofin' it down the pitch.

Let's go.

Cracking start.

Put your foot next to the ball, swing your leg back and pass.

Oh, look at that, it's like a straight line.

Make an L-shape with your feet

and use the inside of your foot to pass the ball.

And...off you go.

-Perfect pass. Well done, Leah.

-I agree, Rachel.

Well done, Benny. Well done, Rex.

Remember, no hoofin'.

Ooh, nice pass.

Kenny lines it up... Nicely done.

-Remember, that foot not too close to the ball.

-Good advice.

Robin passes perfectly to Leah.

She looks pleased with that.

Whilst these guys keep practicing, here's a reminder for you at home.

To kick the ball with the inside of your foot...

Place your foot next to the ball,

swing your other leg back

and strike the ball with the inside of your foot.

Let's challenge ourselves. This is what you need to do.

-You ready, Robin?

-Yes.

'In pairs, run and kick the ball

'back and forth to each other, through the cones.

'When a pair gets to the end, run to the beginning

'and the next pair start.'

Next two. Good.

Take it to the next set of cones.

Good concentration.

Place your foot next to it, swing back and kick!

They've got the right idea. Look at this.

-Use the inside of your foot to kick that ball.

-Not your toes.

Great stuff.

Gently pass that ball to your partner.

Well done, Leah.

Smashing!

You're good at all the different types of kicks, Benny.

-HE LAUGHS

-Thanks, Rex.

Do you remember the kicking games you set up for my birthday?

Oh, yes!

It's a very early start here at Pupton Park,

which means it must be a special day for someone.

Huddle up, pups. The birthday boy will be here any minute.

We don't have much time.

Benny's going to love our special kicking games.

We'll give him the best birthday ever!

Do you think we need any more balloons? I LOVE balloons.

I think we've got quite enough.

-CHEER-FLEADERS:

-Two, four, six, eight - we see Benny by the gate.

Action stations, everyone!

THEY LAUGH

I hope I've got time to help Groundskeeper Pete

finish decorating the birthday cake.

BEEPING

It, erm, came out of the oven a bit bigger than I expected.

HE GROANS

-ALL:

-Happy Birthday, Benny.

Bow-wow! Thanks everyone.

And there's a very special birthday surprise.

We've all made up our very own football party games you can play.

-Football games?

-HE BARKS

Yes! This is going to be the best birthday ever.

Come on, Benny. It's my game first.

THEY CHATTER

GRUNTING

I don't believe it. This whisk is stuck solid.

If only you could fix this like you fix everything else.

Hey, maybe I can.

-How about this beauty?

-HE LAUGHS

Get whisking, Pete!

-Whoa...

-SPLAT!

PETE GROANS

Welcome to your first birthday kicking challenge, Benny.

Kicking challenge? Are you sure it's not an eating challenge?

You'll see. Take it away, Cheer-fleaders.

-ALL:

-The winner's going to score a goal,

just hit your ball into the bowl.

You can have as many goes as you need.

Thanks, Rozzie, but I don't need lots of goes.

I can do this in one kick.

Remember, a chip is a delicate kick,

under the ball to make it...

BENNY BARKS

CHEER-FLEADERS CHEER

Aw, I missed.

Never mind, I'm sure you'll win my birthday kicking game.

Let's hope Geraldine's right.

I wonder how Freddie and Pete are getting along with that cake.

That's the icing done, Pete. But how are we going to decorate it

with all these doggy treats?

Ah, "leaf" that to me.

It's a leaf blower, see?

LEAF BLOWER HUMS

SQUELCH

Well, that was easy, Freddie.

Freddie?

-HE GROANS

-Piece of cake(!)

Yee-hah! It's time for my game, Benny.

-FLEAS:

-Can you kick a special volley, through the hoop on this trolley?

Easy.

All I've got to do is kick the ball when it's off the ground.

I'll definitely get it right this time.

Scoring from a volley is a test for any striker.

Especially through a moving target.

Alley-oops!

Ruff!

-CHEER-FLEADERS:

-Yay... Aw.

Ey, that's looking grand, Freddie.

We just need to add one more...

Whoa!

FREDDIE YELPS

Oh...

These party games are harder than I thought.

Don't worry, Benny. You'll love this one.

It's got lots of balloons in it. See?

HE LAUGHS

-ALL:

-Toe-poke ball as hard as you can

and make the wall of balloons go bang!

All I've got to do is hit the ball with the front of my foot

really hard. I've GOT to be able to win this game.

Let's hope the birthday boy's right,

because a toe-poke is a very hard kick to aim.

Good luck, Benny.

Ruff!

-BOING!

-Aw, not again!

We did it, Groundskeeper Pete.

The birthday cake is finally ready.

SPLAT!

Run for it!

-That was close.

-Aye, maybe we should get this birthday cake to

Benny before anything else happens to it.

Sounds like a good tactic from Freddie.

Maybe some cake will cheer up the birthday pup.

Oh, I can't believe it. I didn't hit one balloon.

Oh, bones! I thought my game would be easy.

We just wanted you to enjoy your birthday.

Thanks, Rozzie but maybe I'm just no good at kicking today.

You've still got one kicking game left.

BENNY GROANS

-CHEER-FLEADERS:

-Drop-kick the ball over this mark

and you will be our birthday star!

You're right, it's my birthday. I SHOULD be having fun.

I'm going to enjoy this last game, no matter what happens.

That's the spirit, lad. And once you've enjoyed

your last kicking game, you can enjoy this, too.

-ALL:

-Bow-wow!

A football cup cupcake? That's the coolest birthday cake ever!

Aye, fit for a football superstar.

We decorated it ourselves.

And I added the balloons.

Balloons?

What a howler!

Och, it's a CAKEtastrophe.

Nope, it's my final kicking challenge.

OK, laddie, you've got to kick that ball harder

and higher than you've ever kicked before.

Sounds like a puppy plan.

The birthday pup is about to take the most difficult kick of all.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Or should I say "cakes"?

Ruff!

THEY GASP

Oh, what a fantastic drop-kick.

THEY CHEER

You did it, laddie! You saved the birthday...

SPLAT!

..cake.

Mm, takes nice, too.

THEY CHEER

Thanks, everyone. This is definitely the best birthday ever.

-FLEAS:

-Benny's drop-kick was hard to beat.

He saved the cake, now we can eat.

Go, go, go, footy dance!

Happy Birthday, Benny.

-Bow-wow!

-That was definitely the best birthday ever.

-Hi, guys.

-BOTH:

-Hi, Rachel.

Pleased you had such a great birthday, Benny.

Thanks, Rachel.

Great kicking, by the way. C-Can I join in?

Whoa...

-REX LAUGHS

-Of course you can.

But you can't play wearing those.

Silly me. I need to get my football boots.

Do you guys remember how to kick the ball?

Place your foot next to the ball,

swing your other leg back

and strike the ball with the inside of your foot.

-Right, guys, who fancies a game?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

So, I've split you up into two teams.

We've got the Giraffes.

Giraffes, give me your best giraffe impression.

-THEY MAKE CHEWING NOISES

-Oh, fantastic.

And we've got the Zebras.

Zebras, give me your best zebra noises.

-THEY CLOP

-That's brilliant.

Let's take a look with the Footy Pups to find out how to play.

To play this game, you'll need to use your best kicking skills.

Each team stands by a bucket of balls.

When the whistle blows, the first team-mate grabs a ball,

runs to the line and kicks it down the pitch,

-using the inside of their foot.

-PUPS CHEER

The further they kick the ball, the more points they score.

If it stops in the first section, you score one point.

If it stops in the second, two points.

Three points for the third

and four for the fourth.

If you manage to get it in the goal, you'll score FIVE points.

Once the player has kicked, they must run back to their team,

high-five and then the next team-mate begins.

Keep going until the final whistle.

The winners will be the team who score the most points.

OK, guys, are we ready to play?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

Three, two, one...

WHISTLE SOUNDS

And they're off. This is going to be a battle of the skills.

Issa carefully lines it up.

Oh, a bit of a wobble, but look at that ball.

Can it make the goal?

Yes, it can. What a start for the Giraffes.

Nice and still as you're trying to strike - no wobbly jellies.

Nice and steady from these two.

Ooh, a bit too hard from Sonny.

-Quickly, high-five your team-mate.

-THEY CHEER

Remember to place...

swing...

and strike!

Well done, Kenny - brilliant!

Good, make that L-shape, Emma.

Nice and gentle from Emma, there,

and a solid four points.

This really is sensational stuff.

Come on, Issa!

Great kick from Issa.

Here's Leah again,

lining it up nicely. Top strike!

Speedy action there by Robin.

Five points.

Oh, check that!

Come on, time is running out.

Who's going to win this?

The tension's mounting. Keep kicking.

-WHISTLE SOUNDS

-And time.

And it's all over. Let's have a replay.

Both teams showed impressive kicking skills

and were brilliant at sending the ball up the pitch.

Great goals, too,

but who scored the most points?

Let's go to Footy Pups Benny and Rex for the final scores.

The Zebras have 17 points...

but today's king kickers,

with 26 points, are the Giraffes.

-CHEERING

-Bow-wow!

-Yeah!

My team have been brilliant at kicking

with the inside of their feet.

We've kicked short balls, we've kicked long balls

and kicked to each other.

Most importantly, we've remembered to place our foot,

swing our leg, and strike the ball.

That's it for today, guys. Well done.

Now you've got the skill, remember to pass it on.

THEY CHEER