Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): U11/12 Week 7

Juggling (5 mins)

Start off with the soccer balls in the players hands. Have players juggle with their thigh and catch, on their left and right thigh. Slowly we will work in diferent parts of each foot, head, chest and combine these. Always finish with a minute or two where each player can set a record, tell them to remember their record and try to beat it at home or at the next practice.

Diamond defending (20 mins)

Create several 4×4 Diamonds. 4 to 5 players per Diamond. Coach should position him/herself in a manner to observe the players movement.

The Exercise: The first player in line moves quickly out to the first disc (the discs represent the ball). The movement should be made:

Quickly to “close the space”

The angle of approach should be “side on” to steer the attack wide

Defenders weight should be balanced and slightly favoring the back foot.

The defender should recover back to the initial starting position while facing the ball. Once there he/she should quickly move out to “close the space” on the middle disc. Once again, recover facing the ball to the starting disc and quickly move out to the final disc. The Defender must now shift their hips and change their lead foot to steer the ball wide.

1v1 Numbers Game (20 mins)

Split your players into two teams, each player is designated a number. The coach calls out the numbers of the players. These players then run out from the centre line, around the corner cone and play a 1v1 game. The coach serves balls from the sideline if the ball goes out of bounds the coach calls a new number/s and a new game begins. The number of players playing at one time depends on the coach’s objectives, beating a man or passing. This game is great played 2 v. 2 or 3 v. 3.

Variation:

Try calling a delayed number so the players on the outside stay alert and we have a support player joining the game.

Coaching Points:

Combination play

Seeking and taking shots

Attacking and defending principles of play