Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U6 & U7 Pre-Travel Rye Brook Week 1- Dribbling

Intro (10 mins)

Organization:

• 30x20 area set up as shown.
• Every player with a partner.
• One player is #1 and the other is #2

Instructions:

• Player #1 starts as the 'leader' 
• Player #1 is trying to dribble away from player #2
• Player #2 is trying to chase Player #1 and TAG their partner
• If Partner gets tagged, they just reverse rolls.

Coaching Points/Questions:

• This game is about FIELD awareness. Especially with young ones who have tunnel vision for just their ball or their partner. Encourage them to know where their partner is and where others are. For the player that is the 'leader' and is being chased encourage them to dribble away and find their own space.
• When you have space, you have room for BIG touches.
• BIG touches = going faster

Regressions/Progressions:

Place Speed Bumps (Cones): If a player hits a speed bump they have to do 5 toe taps/inside ball squishes/triangle touch/etc.

Main activity 2 (10 mins)

Organization:

• 30x20
• Every player with a ball

Instructions:

• Marble Kings/Queens (defenders) start with their marble (ball) in their hands
• Every other player is dribbling around in the area
• Marble Kings/Queens then have to run around and hit another player's marble with theirs.
• When a ball is hit, the two players then change roles
• The game lasts for 45-90 seconds

Coaching Points:

• Protect your marble by getting your body between it and the Marble King
• Dribble at speed, keeping the ball close
• Head up and observe situation
• When resuming with a positive touch, use laces to push ball away with toe down

Progression(s):

Add more time

Add more Marble Kings

Players are frozen when their ball is hit, they must stand with the ball above their head and their legs spread apart. Non-frozen players must pass the ball through a frozen player's legs and receive it on the other side without getting hit to unfreeze their teammate. When all the players have been frozen or an allotted amount of time has passed, players switch being the Marble King/Queen.

Conditioned Game (10 mins)

Organization:

• 30 x 20
• Two teams set up on either side
• 4 lines, one at each small goal

Instructions:

• Coach will play one ball out to 4 players.
• Players can score in either of the 2 opposing goals
• If Players Pass To Score 2 PT Goal
• Game plays to X PTS

Coaching Points:

• Where is space (when I have ball)?
• When Defenders close me down can I pass to teammate?

Progressions:

R- move goals closer together