Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing and Possession

Warm Up I (10 mins)

Organization:

1.30 x 30 yard area set up as shown

2.10 players (5 groups of 2) set up as shown

3.5 balls (1 per group)

Instructions:

1.Players move, dribble freely around the area always passing to an opposite color - pass & move

2.When coach calls out “1” players must find a partner of opposite color & play 10 two touch passes as quickly as possible!

3.When coach calls out “2” players must find a partner, then move to a gate & play 10 one touch passes as quickly as possible - one group will always miss out!

4.When coach calls out “3” players without the ball sprint to the outside of area, while players with the ball look to find them with a longer pass.

5.Every time is a race between all the groups to see who can start passing and moving again the quickest

6.Any group where the quality is not good enough have to start again

Coaching Points:

1. Position of none kicking foot and pivot

2. Contact on the ball

3. On toes ready to pass - soft feet

4. Get low to create a platform to accelerate from

5. Take the ball away with nearest part of the foot to get away quickly

Progressions:

P - Increase the passing distance

P - Instead of calling numbers, coach now holds up color cones/pinnies instead to trigger passes!

Main Theme I (20 mins)

Organization:

1. 40 x 30 area setup as shown

2. Halfway mark splitting area into two

3. 10 players (5 attackers & 2 defenders x 2)

4. 1 ball (additional around outside)

Instructions:

1. Game starts with defending team playing a pass across the halfway line to attackers

2. After passing 2 defenders follow and aim to win the ball back & pass ball back to their zone/team mates

3. Attacking teams aim to keep possession & ball away from 2 defenders

4. ZONE A: attackers score by passing ball through triangle to team mate

5. ZONE B: attackers score by passing ball through any gate to team mate

6. Game always restarts with a pass across the halfway by defending team

7. After set time teams swap zones

Coaching Points:

1. Supporting foot is next to the ball, pointed at target

2. Ankle locked, toe up

3. Follow through towards target with striking foot remaining open throughout

4. Body weight over the ball

5. Awareness of space & surroundings - find passing lines to team mates

Progressions:

P - Play for points. 1 point each time pass is made through triangle/gates. First to 8 wins!

P - Make the triangle/gates smaller

P - Limt attackers touches in possession

R - Send one defender at start. After 3 passes second defender can join

Conditioned Game I (25 mins)

Organization:

1. 40 x 30 area setup as shown

2. 8 x 8 center zone

3. 10 players (5 attackers & 5 defenders)

4. 4 target gates in corner (flags)

5. 2 mini goals

6. 1 ball (additional around outside)

Instructions:

1. Team play possession game inside the area. Each team has 1 support player inside center zone.

2. Support players in center zone have a maximum of two touches

3. Attacking team must pass into support players before scoring

4. Teams can score in either mini goals or by passing through corner gates (flags)

5. After set period of time rotate support players

Coaching Points:

1. Supporting foot is next to the ball, pointed at target

2. Ankle locked, toe up

3. Follow through towards target with striking foot remaining open throughout

4. Body weight over the ball

5. Awareness of space & surroundings - find passing lines to team mates

Progressions:

P - Attacking team must make 4 passes minimum before using support player in center zone

P - Attacking team must make pass into a team mate who makes run into corner gate - cannot stand & wait