Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session 2 - passing, control and movement

FAW Coach Ed

Greg Jackson

Profile Summary

Name:	Greg Jackson
City:	Haverfordwest
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

This session aims to develop the techniques of dribbling, passing, control and movement. It includes an unopposed technical practice with three progressions, and a skill practice.

Organisation (practice layout and transition)

Practice is for eight players, aged U9, but can be adapted for more or fewer players.
Area size is 15m x 15m
On arrival, players are split into two groups of four
Practice area remains the same for the technical and skill practice.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Technical practice 10-15 mins

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Technical practice 10-15 mins

One team takes up position inside the group, with each having a ball. The other players taking up a side each outside the grid.
The players play passes to players outside the grid and receive the ball back. They then look for another player to play a one-two with.

Conditions

Players can’t play a one-two with the same player twice in a row. Passes must also be made over a short distance – not from across the grid.
The teams then switch.

Adaptations

1. Players play a pass to a player on the outside of the grid, then look for a return pass from a different player.
2. Players can only use one foot to receive the ball, dribble and pass.
3. Players play a pass, run round the back of the player on the outside of the grid before receiving the ball back.
4. Players challenged to make as many one-twos as they can within one minute.

Mechanics of technique

Head up to see target for the pass.
Play pass with inside of foot.
Call name of player who is receiving the pass, and who they want to receive the pass from.
Keep head up when dribbling around grid to avoid collisions.
Have as many touches as possible to keep ball close when dribbling in the grid.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill practice - 10-15 mins

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Skill practice - 10-15 mins

Conditions

Five ‘attacking’ players are within the grid and two outside. One defender within the grid.
The attacking players attempt to keep the ball from the two defenders, who try and gain possession. The attacking players on the outside of the grid can receive the ball at any time and can’t be tackled.
Ensure the defenders and players on the outside of the grid and switched regularly.

Adaptations

1. Convert an attacker into a defender to make it 4 v 2 within the grid to make it more difficult to keep the ball.
2. Challenge the players to make a given number of passes before they’re tackled.
3. Move one player from outside the grid to inside (as either a defender or attacker). The remining player on the outside can move along any side of the grid.
4. Introduce a scoring system to increase competition and fun element – defenders get a point of they deny the attackers five passes.

Learning outcomes

Players learn to pass and receive the ball under pressure.
Players learn to move the ball quickly to relieve pressure.
Encourages ‘heads up’ play to find team mates in space.

Review and reflection

The techical and skill practice worked well in terms of drilling players on the basics of receiving the ball and laying it off.

However, both practices were too similar so next time I would look to develop a skill practice that was closer to a match situation. This might involve scoring into a goal after a certain number of one-twos or providing players with gates to dribbles through to add variety.