Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Positive First Touch - Lesson 2/2

Technical Development - Unopposed (15 mins)

Organization:

1. 10 x 10 yard area with a 2 x 2 yard square centrally, set up as shown

2. 4 player, set up as shown

3. 2 balls

Instructions:

1. Two players on the outside each have a ball

2. One player works as the receiving player in the central square

3. The outside players must pass the ball into the receiver who must take one touch and then pass the ball off to the player without the ball

4. The receiving player can only operate inside the central square

5. Rotate the receiving player after a set time interval

Coaching Points:

1. Use all the space you have

2. Positive first touch in the direction you wish to play to next

3. As ball is arriving check shoulder to see target

4. Receive with back foot

Progressions:

1. P – See (A). Players on the outside can move to any open side after they pass, must decide immediately after passing whether to move or not.

2. P - Receiver's second touch must be with outside of foot.

2. P – Servers now throw the ball into the receiver

3. R – Make the central area bigger – 5 x 5 yards

Conditioned Game (15 mins)

Organization:

1. 30 x 20 yard area set up as shown

2. 6 players (2 Attackers, 2 Defenders, 2 Targets) set up as shown

3. 1 ball (Additional on the outside)

Instructions:

1. Teams score by getting the ball from one target player to the other without being dispossessed

2. The target players then play back to the same team

3. If the ball leaves the field of play then the targets start the game again with kick in to the other team

4. Play for 2 minutes then switch target players

Coaching Points:

1. Getting into line with the ball

2. Assess the situation as ball travels (i.e. awareness of defender)

3. Select appropriate surface (Inside, Outside)

4. Angle of support

5. Pass and move

Progressions:

1. P – Add two targets (see A), make targets specific to each team so the game becomes mult-directional.

2. P – Players are allowed only 2 touches.