Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Term 1 / Week 6 - First Touch

Skill introduction (10 mins)

Frame

A fun but competitive technical game designed to improve first touch when passes are struck firmly. Players are challenged to redirect the ball with their first touch into space and set up an opportunity to play back with their second touch.

Explanation

10x6 playing area with a central dividing line. 4 players; 2 players per team in each half.

Pong with rotation | players pass to the opposite team to try and encourage them to make mistakes, passes are hit firmly and along the floor. Players rotate with their team mate after each pass. Each player has a maximum 2 touches (1 to control; 1 to play back across) - the player who receives the pass, IS the player who passes it back. If a team makes a mistake, 1 point is awarded to the opposition. A mistake is made if your first touch knocks the ball out of your own half / if a pass is wayward and off the ground. All passes must be below the knee (on the floor for beginners) and hit directly to one of the opposing players. The passes must be extremely firm to each other, with a lot of pace, but not erratic.

Progression

1. Set, Spike | As above, except with this caveat - both teams have a maximum of one touch per player per side (so a total of 2 touches for both teams in total). This means the receiver must lay off the pass to his partner (with one touch) at a good angle and distance for him to play the ball back to the opponents (in one touch). Receiver sets it, team mate spikes it.

2. Create challenges and competition e.g. first team to 6 points wins / teams must win by 2 clear points.

Coaching points

> quality of control; first touch should allow you to step into your pass / lay-off in front of team mate.

> we have to learn how to deal with bad passes; adaptability, variability in touches & passes.

> areas of the foot to receive and strike.

> use the whole area to create more space and time.

> complimentary movement; if one moves here, does one move there to support.

ST progression: 3v2(+GK) (15 mins)

Frame

Particular attention is paid to the idea of shifting the ball forward as a unit and, as often as possible making clever first touch decisions to creat goal-scoring opportunities.

Explanation

3v2 | 10x20 playing area with an 10x8 shooting zone at one end. A supply of 3 balls is placed at one end of the playing area. 3 attackers vs 2 defenders. No offside rule. Attacking team have 3 attempts to score 3 goals. Attackers must score off their first or second touch in the "shooting zone". Defenders can earn points by regaining possession and scoring in the small goals. A ball is dead when a goal is scored; dribble-ins / kick-ins if the ball leaves the playing area. When a ball is dead, play is restarted by the attacking team getting a new ball and starting a new attack. Rotate roles of players after all 3 balls are dead.

Coaching Points

> we're looking for the attacking team to provide good what? width and depth, good receiving angles, good first touch and various types of passes that suit the situation you're in.

> Let's say the orange have stolen the ball, and the blues win the ball back off them; let's walk through that. Ok, and already you're about to spread out - good. So, if the ball goes out to a team mate on the edge of the area, what are we looking for? Yeah, another little movement and rotation, just to clear space.

> so great, you've spread out wide, but as that ball travels you might just have to clear space to keep the passing options fresh.

> because the oranges might come out and press, the more we can move as the ball travels, the harder it will be for them to defend and get the ball back.

> speed up, slow down and show for the ball. If you don't get it spin out, move again, offer a different angle. Just moving isn't the same as showing for the ball and asking to receive.

> be patient in possession; pivot player controls the attack - give it, get it back, start again, change your angle, rotate if it's on.

> check shoulders for awareness of defenders, team mate and space.