Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Running with the Ball (Start Time: 2018-10-02 17:05:00)

Technical Practice 1 (5 mins)

Organisation

Area is 12m x 6m (2 x 3m) channels

Cones - 6 Orange, 3 red, 4 yellow (2 under each outer red)

Players - 8 or 10

Practice: Players, starting at (1) run with the ball (2) and lay off to (3) who does same but in the opposite direction.

Time: 3 minutes

Skill Practice 1 (5 mins)

Organisation: Yellow cones are retrieved from underneath outer red cones as shown on graphic.

Players run with the ball from '1' and on reaching the first yellow cone '2' make a diagonal pass THROUGH THE TWO YELLOW CONES to the receiving player '1'.

On making the pass, players join the line at '3'

Time: 6 minutes

Screen 5

Adaptations:

1) Group confirmed as U13 so practice area was increased from the area set for U10's to 3m x 3m x 15m

2) The last skill practice was adapted so that the chasing player challenged/chased the ball player for the full 15m - this was a result of having tried the session at my own session two days before. The girls found it much more of a challenge.

Reflections (John carried out Skill practice)

Transition - too slow - could have identified and sorted an untied shoelace prior to commencement.

Explanation and Performance - Players understood the practice and carried it out to good effect. Some players were dribbling rather than RWB and I spoke to players as a full group at least twice, covering all aspects of the coaching process (I think).

The players that were dribbling were of high ability so on reflection, 15 metres was insufficient - hence the dribbling. NO action was taken, the other players could have coped with the length of practice so there was an opportunity to change the layout.

I intervened, explained technique and relationship to the game itself, self demonstrated and used players to demonstrate.

When a level of competition was introduced, this was understood by the players although they remained focussed on carrying out the practice correctly.

On introduction of chasing tackler the players seemed to enjoy and worked hard. This element started to break down so after allowing 30 seconds to see if players corrected, I intervened, explained and demonstrated with use of a volunteer - then play went live. At the second time of asking, the players nailed the practice.

I found the players responsive throughout, they communicated and participated very well, answering several questions that I asked.

Overall:

More attention to dimensions of area, competition and transition required.