Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Feint, scissors and double scissors

Warm up

Objective: get players warmed up, develop ball feeling relevant to side steps, introduce moves

Arrival activites (do on arrival, doesn't require the set up in this pic, players can do in any available space): 

One ball per player and teach: 

• Shuffle
• Shuffle take 
• Dribble cut single foot  
• Dribble cut both feet

Add challenges for time to complete X number of moves and/or to link moves together.   

Then introduce the moves (using layour in the pic above) and allow the players to get a few reps in under no pressure: 

Action (use the set up in the picture, 4 - 6m between cones and manequin):  

• Players start at yellow cones
• Dribble toward manequin 
• Complete a move and exit through blue / red gate

Moves: 

1) Scissors both sides 

2) Double scissors both sides

Coaching points: 

As per the mechanics on page 1 of this session plan.  

As players get more proficient, add limited pressure defender (could be coach or one of the players) 

Transition straight to speed drill which uses the same layout.  

Duels

Objective: use feint moves to beat a defender 1v1 with full defensive pressure 

Set up: 

• 12 to 15 metre square as above.   
• Around 8 - 10 metre gap between 2 goals
• Scoring zone (yellow cones), 3 metres away from goal

Action: 

• Blue enters first (unoposed) and scores in either goal.   Then immediately turns to defend.
• As soon as blue shoots, red enters with a ball.
• Red needs to beat blue to score in either goal.  
• As soon as red shoots, red turns to defend and next blue enters to play 1v1.  
• Play continues thus
• If defender wins the ball, he can score.

Targets, conditions and challenges: 

• 1 point per goal.
• 3 points if use one of the moves taught earlier in the session. 
• Must be beyond yellow cones (scoring zone shown shaded) to score
• Challenge the players: How quickly can you score, e.g. 3 second limit

Progess, regress or vary: 

• Make easier: restrict defender to walking, or only allowed to intercept (not tackle), make pitch shorter
• Make harder: move goals closer together.  make pitch longer.  

Small sided game

Objective: Use feint moves to achieve success in a game setting 

Set up and distances: 

• 15 - 18 metres wide by 20-24 metres long
• Scoring zones 3 metres from goals marked by yellow cones and shown shaded  

Action (3+1 v 3+1):

• One player from each team is positioned on goal line between opponents goal and can combine with team mates.
• Teams effectively play 4 v 3 
• Coaches serve balls in to maximise ball rolling time.

Targets, conditions and challenges:

• Target: 1 point per goal, 3 points per goal after combining with attacking player on goal line
• Must be in scoring zone to score (beyond yellow cone, shaded)
• Defending team not allowed to "guard" the goal, must defend outside scoring zone until ball or attacking player enters scoring zone
• Challenge (or add a condition) players to play with max 2-touches
• Challenge teams to score quickly, e.g. in less than 6 seconds per possession
• Challenge players on goal line to play 1 touch if they feel they can

Coaching points:

• Maintain width and depth
• Identify and play into space
• Fast ball, play 2 touch as much as possible 
• Encourage team mate not on ball to make runs to create space by making the pitch big such that player on the ball can isloate a defender 1v1 
• Encourage use of feint moves to create space for a pass to team mate on goal line and then run into space to receive again

Progress to 4 v 4 with no conditions to end.