Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): First touch

Keep it on the pitch

Set Up: Divide players into two teams

Session Aims:  An area suitable for the age and ability of your players – and place a goal at each end. Larger spaces give your team extra room, making keeping the ball in play easier. Smaller areas make this task much more demanding.  

Any player who takes the ball out of the area (or accidentally knocks it out) must come off the pitch for one minute. The player can re-join the game if any of the following situations occur.  

• Their 60 seconds are up.

• Another player hits the ball out.

• Their team scores. In this instance, a player from the other side must replace them on the sideline.

Note: only one player can be off the pitch at any time.  

1 v 1 (20 mins)

Set Up: Set a grid 24 wide x 10 long.

              Set two pug nets onthe line and 2 cones on the 10-yard line.

Session Aims: Red Team Defending, Blue Team Attack then switch.

Each player on the Red team has a ball, the first player makes a pass andimmediately runs out to defend the two goals.

Blue players take a positive first touch that sets them up to dribble orrun with the ball.

Blue player choice a goal to attack

Switch once all the blue teams have gone.

Coaching Points:

-      First touch that sets you up to Dribble, Run or shoot the ball.

-      First touch out in front and to one direction.

-      Allow players to be creative when 1 v 1 with the defender.

-      Speed of play