Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): demo

Warm up (15 mins)

Organization:

- Two 25 x 25 yard area set up as shown

- 8 - 12 players

- 1 ball per pair of players

Instructions:

- Players work in pairs and pass the ball using two touch between them

- On the coaches command the player with their back to the area turns with the ball and dribbles through the cones in the center of the area

- After dribbling through the cones the player finds a new player to pass with and they rotate positions so that the dribbling now faces the area

Coaching Points:

- Using both feet to dribble

-Use multiple surfaces on the foot to dribble and keep control of the ball

-Close control

-Head up every few touches

Progressions:

Race - Turn, dribble through the cones and dribble to a free person on the outside and start passing again.

Coach be specific with which surface to dribble with

R- Spread the cones out.

Progressions:

4v2 Defending - Pressure & Cover (25 mins)

Learning Objectives

• Four passers arranged around the edge of an appropriately sized square.

• Two defenders working in the middle.

• The passers can move up and down their line to create passing angles.

• Passers can't be tackled on the outside

• The defenders must try to work as a team to press and offer support.

• Defender closest to the ball calls “One” while the supporting defender calls “Two”.

Technical

Tactical

Physical

Psychological/Social

Opposed Game (25 mins)

Now remove the central cones and have 2 targets areas. One of the teams can occupy the team areas at each end.

The other two teams are placed in the middle.

Target player plays the ball out to one of the teams.

The team with the ball has to retain possession and play it into a target zone at the opposite end to score a point

The opposing team has to try and steal the ball and retain posession and they too get a point by playing into a target player.

If the ball is received by a target player the target player delivers the ball to the opposing side.

Give each team equal amounts of time and ensure all the teams have a chance to be target players.

Coaching Points

BWA

Before - you get the ball what are you going to do?

Looking around for space, lose your marker

When - you have the ball what are you going to do?

Do you know you next pass or move?

After - after you passed the ball what are you going to do ?

Are you going to support your team mate?

Are you going to find space again?

Progression 1

Now the target players can pass the ball back to the same team who delivered it too them. If the team can retain possession and get it back to the other end they earn 3 points instead of 1.