Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Levittown SC-Travel: Running with the ball U-9B & U-9G 1st Session

Moves without the ball

Organization:

20 x 20 area split into 3 zones (2 defending zones and 1 safety zone).

Instructions:

Players look to move through the zones without their pinnies being pulled out by the defenders. If they reach the end zone they score a point, if their pinnie is pulled out then they go back to the start and continue to play.

1st player goes, the next player doesn't go until the 1st player either has their pinnie pulled out or they cross through the 1st zone.

Coaching Points:

Recognizing one of 2 scanario's

1. Space

2. Defender

If space, they take it quickly (accelleration and running techniques)

If defender then discuss 3 key principles:

Fake - (dropping shoulder, bending knee)

Accelleration - (pushing off bent knee, using momentum to sping in opposite direction)

Protection - Making sure that you are always protecting pinnie (positioning body between defender and pinnie)

Progressions:

Addition of ball to work on dribbling/moves techniques

Main Theme (20 mins)

Organization:

40x30 yard area

Divide area into 4 x 10 yard channels

Cone or pugg goal in middle of each channel - representing defender

Each player has a ball

Instructions:

- One player from each group dribbles out to perform a move (Fake) past the cone or pugg

- Player sets the next player who repeats process in opposite direction

- Repeat for set period

Coaching Points:

- Messi touches on approach

- Head up between touches to judge distance from 'defender'

- Timing of move

- Acceleration after passing 'defender'

- What kind of touches to create bigger separation?

- Who do we dribble like after passing the defender?

Progressions:

- Players perform inside-outside

- Players perform inside-scissor

Conditioned Game (20 mins)

Organization:

1.- 30 x 20 yard area set up as shown

2.- 6 players (3 Attackers, 3 Defenders) set up as shown

3.- 1 ball (Additional around the outside)

Instructions:

1.- Players score by dribbling or passing the ball through one of their two designated goals situated in the corners of the area

2.- One team attempts to score in goals labeled (A) and the other in goals labeled (B), these goals can be different colors so that players can easily visualize where they’re trying to score

3.- If the ball leaves the area the game is restarted with a kick-in

4.- Play for a set time limit

Coaching Points:

1.- Controlled approach

2.- Appropriate turn to protect or change direction

3.- Bend the knees to create a platform to accelerate

4.- Turn into space

5.- Take away with the nearest foot and surface

6.- Head up after turning for next action

Progressions:

P – Reduce the size of the area

R – Reduce numbers of players to 1 vs. 1 or 2 vs. 2