I currently coach a group of 11- and 12-year old girls. At practice this weekend, I introduced the concept of thinking about what you plan to do with the ball before it arrives at your feet. It is difficult, in neurological terms, to make that decision once the ball has already arrived, so the idea is to think ahead.
Shortly after this, Margaret one-touched a ball into no-man's land, nowhere near any of her teammates. I said, "You weren't thinking in advance." She replied, "Yes, I was thinking. I just hadn't reached a conclusion."
