Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Valley Stream Travel Running with the Ball

Juggling Warm-up

Organization:

1. One ball per pair.

2. Open space.

Instructions:

1. Players work in pairs.

2. Players look to build the sequence: one touch per player, two touches per player, three, and so on.

Coaching Points:

1. Foot-eye coordination.

2. Quality and weight of touch.

3. Movement to get behind ball.

4. Communication.

Progressions:

1. Each touch must be with a different side (i.e. alternate right and left).

Conditioned Game 1

Organization:

24x40 area set up as shown

24x5 end zone at either end marked with cones

1 target gate at either end zone line as shown (tall cones)

10 players (5 attackers & 5 defenders)

1 ball (additional around outside)

Instructions:

- Teams play standard 5v5 small sided game. Play restarts with kick ins. No offsides.

- Attacking team can score by either dribbling through center gate (2pts) or into end zone (1pts)

- Teams play directional

Coaching Points:

- Controlled approach

- Body shape - low centre of gravity

- Awareness of space, surroundings & approaching players position

- Timing & execution of dribble. Whens the best time to cross the half?

- Timing & execution of skill move

- Next action: Accelerate away from defender

- Improvisation & creativity

Progressions:

1. When teams score at one end, they turn & attack opposite end

2. Teams can score at either end after completing 4 passes