Shielding 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! #

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.

CHEERING

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

CHEERING

Today, on my team we have...

Number one - Emily.

Oh, that's brilliant!

Number two - Sonny.

Oh, I love that!

Number three - Beth.

Excellent, well done!

Number four - Jack.

Fantastic skills!

Number five - Millie.

Super dribbling!

Number six - Max.

Great stuff!

And also joining us are Geraldine and Rex.

LAUGHTER

So that's today's team.

OK, guys, gather round, it's team talk time!

CHEERING

Today, we're going to be looking at shielding the ball.

If you're shielding the ball,

you're trying to get yourselves between the ball and the player.

When on the football pitch do you think

we might need to shield the ball?

-Jack?

-If you're struggling trying to keep the ball away from the player.

Brilliant, well done. Anyone else?

-Millie?

-Everywhere!

-Everywhere. Brilliant answers!

There are three main things to remember

if we're trying to shield the ball.

We need to keep our feet wide,

spread ourselves out and move to keep the ball hidden.

-Can you do it with me?

-ALL:

-Yes!

OK, take a step back,

keep your feet wide,

spread yourself out and move to keep that ball hidden.

OK, guys, let's go and have a practice.

I've split you into pairs.

One at a time, you need to dribble the ball up to the cone.

Once you get the cone, you need to keep it as close as possible.

But remember, because we're shielding,

you need to try your best to keep your back to the cone

-as you go around it. Off you go.

-Brilliant control from the team.

Well done. Shield it all the way round.

Oh, that's fantastic, Jack!

Well done. Keep that back to the cone.

Oh, perfect shielding.

Keep your arms out to shield that ball.

Fantastic, Emily.

Well done. Remember to keep those arms out really wide, Millie.

Hide that ball from the cone.

Nice, well done.

Beth's concentrating here. Nicely done.

Good, Max. Keep those arms out, keep those feet wide.

Excellent, Max. Fantastic shielding.

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

WHISTLE BLOWS

Remember to...keep your feet wide, spread yourself out,

and move to keep the ball hidden.

Woof! Woof!

I've challenged my team.

They're working in pairs to shield the ball from each other.

One player is controlling the ball with little touches,

trying to keep the ball at their feet,

whilst their teammate tries to win the ball from them.

Shield it, Max! Shield it, shield it, shield it!

Bring those arms up to protect that ball.

You're trying to hide it.

Always keep your body in between the ball and Emily.

Well done, Beth. Turn, turn, turn! Get your back to him.

Super shielding.

That's it, keep your arms up. Fantastic, Beth. Well done.

Well done. Try and get round. Try and get around, Lily.

Try and get that ball.

Make sure you keep yourself between the ball and Beth, Jack.

You're so good at shielding the ball, Rex.

Ha-ha, thanks, Geraldine but I haven't always been.

Do you remember the time we played Shellfield Wednesday?

Oh, yes.

Woof! Woof!

Welcome to Pupton Park, where today's match is set to start...

any minute now. SIGHING

Sorry, Pups. Shellfield Wednesday are running a wee bit late,

because they were slow leaving. Typical team of Tortoises.

SIGHING

Yippee!

That gives the Great Geraldini time to show you all a magic trick.

Can I help?! I love magic tricks.

Yes, Rex. You can help me with my biggest and bestest trick.

CHEERING

Now, if my assistant could bring me a football...

-Ahem!

-Huh?

Oh, that's me!

Prepare to be amazed, for when Rex passes me the ball,

I will make it disappear before your very eyes!

(Now, Rex!)

I call this trick the amazing vanishing football!

Alee... Oh!

Erm, Great Geraldini... (We could still see the ball.)

-Thanks, Rex.

-Just doing my job.

Looks like the Great Geraldini's trick needs a bit more work.

But there's no time now because Shellfield Wednesday are here...

finally.

Hello, Tortoises, and welcome to Pupton...

-Park.

-Sorry, we're a bit shy.

Well, I never!

Out on the pitch, Shellfield Wednesday are kicking off.

That ball is mine!

-Oh, I can't get to the ball.

-Their shells are in the way!

Allez... Oh!

Now I can't get to the ball either.

I've never seen anyone make a ball disappear like that before.

You must be a magician, too.

Where did he go?!

Those Tortoises aren't as fast as me.

Whoo!

Oh!

Oh! Ah! Hey, where did the ball go?

Time to turn, Tortoises.

What a howler. If I can't see the ball, I can't save the ball.

Goal! Magnificent play by the young Tortoises.

-Thank you.

-It's 1-0 to Shellfield Wednesday.

I tell you, this is the first time I've seen the ball all match.

WHISTLE BLOWS

We'll stop the Tortoises getting it this time.

Got it, Rex!

Allez left, allez right!

Oh, dear. Let's hope Geraldine can win that ball back.

Whoa! This is impossible!

We'll never keep the ball!

Agggh!

Huh, he can't block me from every side.

Whoa! Huh?

Come back!

This is a disaster! Those turbo Tortoises are going to score again.

WHISTLE BLOWS Saved by the whistle.

It's half-time and the Pups are still 1-0 down.

They just can't seem to keep hold of the ball.

Oh, those tricky Tortoises are making it really hard

to get the ball, and even harder to keep it.

They can make the ball disappear better than me.

Yeah, their ball trick is just like your magic trick, Geraldine.

They get the ball, turn their backs on us, and it disappears.

And reappears in my goal!

It's not a trick, Pups, it's a special football skill

called shielding. It's a fantastic way to hold on to the ball.

You just need to keep your body between the ball

and the other player.

And then we can keep the ball away from those Tortoises.

Ha-ha! Now that would be magic!

Sounds like a Puppy plan!

-ALL:

-Go Pups!

Woof! Woof!

I smell trouble. Hooray!

Rozzie might not have a shell,

but she's doing a great job of shielding the ball with her body.

Nice shielding, Rozzie!

Whoop! Ha!

Allez, woops!

-Blocked again!

-Remember your magic trick, Geraldine.

Of course!

The Great Geraldini will now make the ball disappear.

Now you see it...

now you don't!

-Whoo!

-Huh?

Who-ho! Nice shielding, Geraldine.

You might not have a shell, but you're doing swell.

To me, Geraldine!

Ruff!

Goal to the Pups, making it 1-1.

But now Shellfield have the ball.

Come on, Rozzie, charge!

Remarkable move from the Tortoises.

No Pup can get past that.

And for her next trick, the Great Geraldini will fly through the air.

Ready, Rex?!

You got it! Whoo!

Ruff!

-ALL:

-Oh, that was magic!

To me, Geraldine!

Whoo-hoo!

Goal! And with Geraldine's super shielding,

the Pups have won the match 2-1.

Abracadabra alacazoo, we've got a magic trick for you!

To keep the ball when you're under attack,

shield with your body and turn your back.

Go, go, go, Puppy fans! Yeah!

Huddle up, Pups, after that magical match

the Great Geraldini has one final trick up her sleeve.

CHEERING

Thanks, Freddie, but I'll need the help

of some very special assistance.

Ready, Tortoises?

-ALL:

-Whoo-hoo!

Ta-da!

Look, she's made the whole team disappear!

Oh, wow!

Geraldine, you were great at shielding against those Tortoises

-from Shellfield Wednesday.

-Thanks, Rex.

LAUGHTER

-BOTH:

-Hi, Rachel.

-Hi, guys.

-LAUGHTER

What's so funny?

Rachel, why are you wearing that?

I thought we were practising shielding.

You'll never get the ball past me now.

Oh, I just can't move fast enough in all of this.

Yeah, we'll be here all night.

Thanks, Rex. Do you guys remember how to shield the ball?

WHISTLE BLOWS

Keep your feet wild,

spread yourself out,

and move to keep the ball hidden.

-OK, guys, who fancies a game?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

So I've split you up into two teams.

We've got the Blue Knights.

-Blues give me a cheer!

-CHEERING

And we've got the Red Knights. Reds, let me hear you cheer.

CHEERING

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

To play this game you need to shield.

A ball will be rolled in and a player from each team runs forward.

One player must shield the ball from the other for as long as they can.

When the second whistle blows,

the player who's shielding the ball can score a goal,

run back to their teammates and it's the next player's turn.

The winners of this game will be the team who shields the ball

and scores the most goals.

Three, two, one...

They're off. The Reds are shielding from the Blues.

Beth is putting Max under pressure.

Fantastic shielding, Max.

Keep looking where she is.

-Hide that ball from her.

-BOTH:

-Come on, Max!

Great support from the Red Knights.

Can he score a goal? It's in!

Are you ready. Off you go.

Young Knight Emily defends.

But can Sir Sonny pile on the pressure?

Well done, Emily.

-BOTH:

-Emily! Emily!

Superb shielding.

Well done, Emily, that's it!

-BOTH:

-Simon! Simon!

-Great support here.

She goes for goal. Sonny tries to block.

Oh, it's an own goal!

The Reds are pleased with that.

-Let's go!

-Jack's the last knight to shield.

-He needs to think fast here.

-Well done, Jack.

-BOTH:

-Come on, Jack!

WHISTLE BLOWS It's in.

Let's have a replay.

The Red Knights were sensational at shielding,

keeping the Blues at bay and scoring three goals.

Three, two, one...

So now the Blues are shielding from the Reds.

Beth keeps the ball under control.

Cracking start here.

-Try and hide that ball, Beth.

-Max is piling on the pressure.

Can he get round?

Well done, Beth. Shield that ball.

She's blocking him at every turn. Can she score a goal?

-Yes!

-Off you go.

So Sonny is moving fast. He's determined to shield.

Get yourself between the ball and the player.

-Perfect, Sonny.

-This could be anyone's game.

-He shoots, he scores!

-Well done!

It's the final ball.

Can Knight Millie shield against the mighty Jack?

Shield that ball, Lily.

Hide that ball from him.

And it's another goal.

Let's have a replay.

The Blue Knights fought off the Reds and were super shielders,

keeping themselves between the ball and the player.

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

Both the Red Knights and the Blue Knights scored three goals,

making today's score a shielding draw.

My team today have been sensational at shielding.

We've shielded against cones,

we've shielded against each other and we've shielded as a team.

But most importantly we've remembered to keep our feet wide,

spread ourselves out, and move to keep the ball hidden.

That's it for today, guys.

Well done, everyone.

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