The notion that soccer's for kids, and only boys, has been booted off the pitch. The movie-star looks of David Beckham probably got everyone's attention, then there was teen chick flick, Bend it Like Beckham, and closer to home the underdog successes of our own Matildas.

Now a fully professional national women's league is on its way. 'It's been the fastest growing sport for girls and women over the past decade, at the rate of eight per cent per year,' Football Federation of Australia spokeswoman Bonita Mersiades says.

Ex-Matilda Amy Taylor's love of the game began with her school team and it's taken her around the world. Now she's the co-host on Foxtel's talent quest Football Superstar.

'It's a great game for girls because there are no head-high tackles and smashing each other into the ground, like other football codes,' Amy says.

Bending it

Most parents are guilty of not getting outside enough to play with the kids. Amy and
I have put our heads together and come up with this fun family mini-program. All you'll need is some space, a soccer ball and cones.

Tip: Cones are about 40c each at sports stores, or use bricks, bottles or weighted ice-cream containers.

Dribbling:

Set five markers in a line about a metre apart. Move the ball through the cones, in a zigzag pattern (trying not to hit them), alternating between feet. Use the inside and outside of each foot. As you improve, go faster.

Tip: This becomes great fun with two or more players as you can introduce races and relays.

Passing

The most accurate pass is the inside foot pass. The middle, or inside, of the foot is the contact point and the foot must be locked in a firm L-position for a solid pass. Strike the ball keeping your standing leg beside it. Practise
in twos or against a wall, at two, five and 10m apart. Pass it 20 times on each foot.
tip Decrease your target area by aiming for a couple of bricks on the wall, or draw a chalk target on the wall.

Juggling

• Keep the ball in the air as long as possible, using your laces or the top of your foot.
• 20 touches, bouncing the ball on your right foot, then 20 touches on your left.
• 20 touches, bouncing the ball between feet.
• 20 touches, alternating bouncing the ball from the top of one thigh to the other. 
• 20 touches, bouncing it on your head only.
• 20 touches, bouncing the ball from any body part (except the arms, of course).
• Keep the ball up as you walk.
• Keep it up between two or more players.