Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Passing and Receiving

Ball Mastery Grid

SETUP

Bibs, cones, footballs

20x20 area

PRACTICE

Players are paired up on the side of the box, every player with a ball. Players are to dribble the ball across to the opposite side of the square.

1. Dribble the ball across 

2. Toe Taps

3. Tic Tacs

4. Right foot role over

5. Left foot role over

6. Inside / outside foot

COACHING POINTS

Scanning To See Your Teammates - Players to check their shoulders whilst travelling across the square to help them
see where their team mate is. Players should slow down/speed up based on them scanning and trying to stay in line
with their team mates as they’re travelling across the grid whilst performing their ball mastery.

Keeping Eyes Up - As players are travelling across the square, they must keep their eyes in order to be able to see
what’s in front of them. This will help them to identify space and where traffic is, to support this.

Use Both Feet - Ensure players practise ball mastery on both feet.

Speed Of Touches - Players are to speed up or slow down their touches based on their teammates. As players can
control the ball at different speeds, this will help them to manipulate the ball out of tight areas. Players should use
different parts of their feet to help them adjust the speed that they’re travelling at whilst travelling across the grid.

PROGRESSION

- Add variations to ball mastery to challenge the players appropriately

- Create more traffic by having players moving across the grid in different ways.
- Adding passes at the end, once players get to the opposite side, they must pass to the next player who then travels across the grid performing ball mastery.

SSG - Retreat or Press

SETUP

Bibs, cones, balls and mini goals

20x40 pitches

PRACTICE

40 x 20 area with two mini goals 3v3 with no GK. Coaches play the ball out from the back and each time the team
in possession has a goal kick in their half, the opposition must retreat into their own half. Failure to do so, will result in a free kick to the team in possession of the ball. Once the team in possession of the ball has played their first pass, the defending team
can decide whether they wish to stay in their half or go and press and win the ball back.

COACHING POINTS

- Team Spacing – The team in possession, from goal kicks, are encouraged to create width and depth across the pitch.
To support this, try and create a diamond as big as possible. this will provide player support at the base of the diamond. The width created by the players on either side will help to create space, as well as give you options to switch play if the team is unable to play forwards.
- Body Shape – An open body shape will help players to be able to see the whole pitch to identify where their team mates are but also where the best space is. Encourage players to receive with an open body shape..
- Scanning – Players should look to scan throughout the game to help them to see where their teammates are but also see the opposition as well as the best space. Scanning will also help players to adjust their body shape based on what they see which will let them to be able to make the right decision when in possession of the ball.
- Passing Order (Breaking Lines, recognise when and where to play forward) – Encourage players to select the appropriate passing order throughout the game especially from goal kicks.

PROGRESSION

- Instead of a retreat line, the defending team can move wherever they wish from goal kicks throughout the game.
- The attacking team must make a certain number of passes in their half before they can progress into the attacking half.