Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pass, control and turn

Technical

Number of players: 8-14

Setup:

• Area 35x25 6x6 grey area
• Cones/discs: 4/4
• Bibs: 4-8
• Balls: 4-8

Instructions:

• Split players into 2 groups with bibs, one team start on the outside of the area and the other team start within the 6x6 box marked out with red discs

• The practice starts with the players in the middle zone running out and receiving a pass from any outside player- once they

  receive the ball they play it back to the player they received the pass from then run back into the central zone before then moving

  out to receive a pass from a different outside player.

1. On toes 

2. Eye on the ball 

3. Get in line with ball 

4. Decide and present surface towards ball 

5. Relax on impact

Mechanics of turning: 

1. Eye on the ball

2. Decision,

Change of direction

3. Contact with surface (if required)

or feint.

4. Head up

5. Low centre of gravity (balance)

6. Change of direction

7. Acceleration

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

+ Coach can provide some examples of how the players may receive the ball (Inside, Outside, Sole) and how they may control the ball into the space to help them to turn.

+ Players receive the pass and then turn with the ball and pass it to a different outside player before going back to the central zone

+ Players now move into their own groups of 4 , 2 on the outside and 2 within the middle of the area (red central zone removed), a player in the middle will receive a pass from their outside team mate and must combine with their team mate in the middle before passing out to the other outside player. The play continues for 60 seconds before rotating the players. Once an outside player has passed the ball in they must move to a different part of the outside zone.

SSG

Number of players: 8-16

Setup:

• Area size stays the same 35x25 (remove centre lines)
• Bibs: 4-8 (3 different colours)
• Balls: 2

The practice will be 4v4 +4 using the full 35 x 25yds area

1. On the outside of the grid one team of 4 will be positioned as highlighted on the image and they will play for the team in

possession- the outside players must be encouraged to move side to side to offer a different angle to receive a pass. It also allows the coach to reinforce the mechanic of getting in line with the ball

2. To score a goal the team in possession must transfer the ball

from an outside target player to a central player, then to another

outside target player. The coach can add x number of passes to score a goal

3. Outside players cannot play direct to another outside player directly opposite them but can play to an outside player to the side of

them

Technical Information - Look to continue to reinforce the mechanics into the practice

Progressions

1. Rotate teams after two minutes

2. Competition, 2 minute games each, Who can score the most points: (x amount of passes equals a goal )

3. Condition both teams in the central zone that they must have at least 1 player in the opposite half at all times (this will create more

space and also allow for a varied type of longer pass to support using different body parts to control the ball)