Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Grassroots Practices/Fundamental Movements

End-Zone Tag Game

Practice Organization:

-An area 25x25yds is organized with a 2yd end zone at each end.

-12 players are split into 3 teams of four. Each team has their own color vest.

-one team is the tagging team (blacks) and their challenge is to try and tag as many players as they can in 60 seconds. After 60 seconds another team becomes the tagging team.

-The end zone areas are safe areas which the tagging players cannot enter. The players who are avoiding the tagging players can stay in the safe area for no longer than 5 seconds.

Instructions:

The players are all given different ways. For example, the blue team are side stepping, the red team are moving backwards, and the black team- the taggers- move freely. Ask the players to come up with other ways of moving that are appropriate to the game of football.

When a player has been tagged they must balance on one leg until they are released by one of the non-taggers. Players are released by being tapped by a non-tagger.

Coaching Points:

-Twisting, turning, and dodging to avoid opponents (low center of gravity)

-When being chased, can you ‘feint’ and ‘trick’ your opponent into thinking you’re going to move one way before accelerating away in the opposite direction.

-When defending react quickly to the movement of the players you are chasing,

-Work as a team to deceive and evade taggers.

Progressions:

-Players have to perform one point, two points or three-point balance when tagged (e.g. one body part touching the ground, two body parts touching the ground etc.)

- If tagged the player must move into the safe zone and perform a series of movements (hopping, skipping, jumping, running backwards, sidestepping) for ten seconds before re-entering the practice. The coach can decide the movement to be performed or let the players decide.

- Soccer balls are placed in the end zones for the tagged players to use before the re enter the practice. For example, if a player has been tagged they must go into the safe area to do five ‘keep ups’ before returning to the central area. The balls are left in the safe zone for the next player to use.

- The tagging players all have a ball to dribble.

- Increase the challenge for certain individuals on both teams buy giving them a ball to dribble/a ball to carry/ball to bounce.

- All players have a ball to dribble.