Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Fireworks U9G - Passing, movement off the ball - 9/17/13

Warm up

Organization:

10x10 square. All players with ball.

Instructions:

Progression of touches:

1) 50 touches, any foot and any part of the foot.

2) 50 touches, outside right than 50 touches outside left.

3) 50 touches, inside/out right / 50 touches inside/out left

4) Every player has 3 lives, you lose a life by (a) dribbling out of the area, (b) running into somebody or somebody runs into you, and (c) walking or stopping the ball for a long period of time.

You can vary this warm up any way you want, basically getting the players to get as many touches on the ball as possible, and in a close/tight area for control.

Coaching Points:

Small touches on the ball, close control, using the proper part of the foot to dribble with, dribbling with you head up, recognizing space and players around you.

Progressions:

Make the space smaller or larger depending on the ability level of your players.

Make the touch limit more or less.

Limit the parts of the foot to dribble with (only outside, inside, etc)

Lots of ways to adapt this simple warm up to fit your players ability level.

Screen 3

Instructions:

Player A passes to the space in front of player B. Player B times his/her run to receive the ball as he/she is going forward. Than player B plays it into space in front of player C.

Coaching Points:

Makes sure the players are checking away when the ball is played to the player who is going to pass them the ball, so when the player who is going to pass the ball to them receives the ball they can make the run forward and the timing will be on. (ex. C should be checking away when the ball is being played from A to B, then when B receives the ball, C should be checking/running into the space to receive the ball from B)

Also coach the weight of the pass. Make sure the pass is into space, with the proper weight so the player is going into the direction they want to go instead of chasing the ball in the wrong direction.

Progressions:

Touch limit

Screen 5

The area above can be altered however you see fit, basically the point of the this set up is to encourage getting the ball forward as quickly as possible.

In order for you get passed the line of cones, the player must either be passed into the "scoring area" or their first touch must take them into the area. Once the player is in, only one defender from the opposing team can go into the area and defend them.

Majority of the game is played in between the cones.

Focus on a positive first touch to get up the field as quickly as possible. The two goals also encourages the player to switch the field instead of just going up one side or one way.

The field is wider than longer to encourage the ball going from side to side as well.