Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): U5 - U8 Rec Pass & Receiving

Whole - Small Sided Game

Start session having players play street soccer - Allowing them to discover. 

Part (Tech) Delivering the mail

Setup an area and inside it set up a number of squares that act as mail boxes. Inside each of the squares is a player who has to receive the ball and leave the square in a different direction they received the ball from. The player who plays the pass into the square, then takes the place of the person receiving the ball. Players have to use different surfaces to control the pass i.e. sole, outside, inside.

CP - Eyes Up/Scanning – As the player with the ball is dribbling around the area, they should look to keep their eyes up to identify space and how they can pass into one of their team-mates. Players should continually scan to help them to be aware of their surroundings. The player receiving should look to scan and adjust their body shape before they receive the ball to help them to take their first touch into the space they want to travel into. Players should be encouraged to use different surfaces to receive the ball to move outside of their box and coaches may constrain each round to players using a different surface to receive.

Use Of Both Feet – Players should look to use both feet when using different surfaces of their feet to pass the ball and constraints can be placed in by the coach to ensure the children get equal practice on both sides. For example, it may be that once you’ve had a turn receiving on your right foot, the next time you’re in a box you must receive on your left. 

Surfaces Of The Feet – Players should use their outside, inside, sole and laces to receive as well as other body parts too such as thigh, chest etc. When controlling the ball, players should look to push the ball out of their box to help them manipulate it into the space using the different surfaces.  

Open Body – Before players receive the ball, they should be encouraged to have an open body to be able to see the person they are looking to receive from but also the space that they wish to travel into as well. This will help players to be able to use the surface that they are receiving to get out of the box. 

Progressions- After the players passes into the box, they can then apply pressure and try and win the ball before the player receiving leaves the box