Coaching tip, ground zero.

Before they can walk, show them how to hit a ball  (small or big) around the floor with a wooden spoon and let them do it a lot.  They'll be hurling before they can stand, never mind before playing football!

But if you're past this stage, don't worry, it's never too late.  So if they're now standing here's what you can do.

Play small ball catch and throw games.  It will improve hand/eye co-ordination and fine control movement.  A football catch will be a piece of cake after this too.  Juggling sacks are brilliant for this as they fit the smaller hand better and don't bounce out.

• Start with two-handed catching if needs be; move onto one-handed when this is becoming boring.
• When doing one-handed, it's vital to work on both hands equally to begin with.
• Throw from real close at first - drop it into their waiting hand(s). (Another variety is to let them throw the ball up, for themselves to catch.  This is a bit more difficult for the absolute beginners but no problem to most).
• Then increase the distance and/or variety as confidence improves.
• Variety: throw the catch to be caught low, higher, above the head and out to the side. 
• When success starts to come (and it takes time), emphasise the catch in their weaker hand (there's a good reason for this).
• Go back in close and reduce variety if you need to get the weaker hand working.  And then work back up again.
• As confidence improves, increase the speed of the throw. Then vary the speed of throws.
• Finally introduce action on your child's part.
• Action: running towards you when catching; jumping up from a squat to catch;  running and having to jump to reach the catch;  overthrow so they need to take a step or two back to catch.
• Finally, finally when they're really good, count their consecutive successful catches without dropping and keep a record of their best score.
• Or, add a perceived challenge where you're trying to 'fool' them with your throws.  Need I say, let them win!
• Now throughout all the above, the golden rule is don't set them up to fail.  It’s important to keep them hooked and the best bait is SUCCESS.   This is a fun game and can be easily kept that way. Some tips:
• Take it on to the next step gently and without over-ambition on your part. There’s years of development in the above.  If you push it then you will turn them off.
• Ensure that the eye is kept on the ball for as much of the exercise as possible, especially when it's in your hand just before you throw.  If they're looking at you or something else then they're not looking at the ball in your hand and you can be pretty sure they won't catch it.  This must become instinct, second nature.
• So before you throw, move your hand with the ball to catch their eye or hide your hands behind your back and play the 'guess which hand' game and when they're focused again then throw.  Success is not guaranteed but failure will not be such a certainty.
• Why the catch in 'weak hand'?  In hurling, the stick work is done with the strong hand so the weak hand MUST do the catching.  Therefore once basic hand/eye co-ordination kicks in, the importance of weak hand catch is paramount. 
• Three minutes of this a day is fun, easy and hugely beneficial to overall development of mental focus and manual dexterity.  You'll be amazed at how quickly your child will develop.
• It can be played indoors, even as the exercise advances, especially with juggling sack.  A long hall is a good place, especially when action is added! 
• This not only will help with any small ball game like hurling, hockey, golf, tennis, etc. but also any big ball game requiring ball handling like rugby or gaelic football.
• What age should I start this?  As early as possible.  It's never too late but progress can be slow; impatience and pride seems to get in the way after a certain age so the younger the better.
• This is much cheaper than Playstation, is a ball game that can be played throughout Winter and is great craic. Have fun!

COMING SOON: Next ingredient to be added, one stick.