Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): FA Wales C Certificate Practical (Kat & Jaydn)

Technical Practice

Topic: Control (Switching Play / Breaking Lines)Technical Practice

Organisation/Set Up:

Timings: 20 Minute Practise (2 Mins | 1 Rest | 6 Sets)

12 Players (U12 Group, Mixed ability, Grassroots)

6 Players on the outside, 6 Players in the inside of thesquare

Area is 12x18

Equipment:

12Balls (Each player on the outside starts with 2 balls)

Bibs (6 Blue, 6 Red)

Cones/Markers (10 Placed around area)

Practice Objective – Develop players’ ability to control whilst movingand pass with

correct weight and safe side

Practice Explanation –

Players inside the square (Red) looking for a player witha ball outside (Blue).

The Blue player will feed the ball into the feet of theRed player, to start with. Red should call for the ball from Blue using theirhands to gesture to their feet and with their voice calling, "tofeet".

When Red control the ball, they should return the ball toBlue with a short pass along the ground. Then they go and search for anotherball from a different server in blue.

After 1 minute, Red and Blue swap roles.

Demonstration -

When demonstrating control with the different body partsI will ask Kat to throw the ball to me and I will demonstrate it. I will thenask a player nearby to demonstrate the control too with a server throwing theball. I will do the same with other parts of the practise. I demonstrate firstand ask a player to copy.

Adaptations / Progressions / Regressions

After both Red and Blue have had a turn being inside andoutside:

-Can progress to now receiving a pass to different part of the body(Thigh, Chest, Head).

-Can progress to receiving the ball from one server,controlling it and now turning and playing a pass to a different outsideplayer. Only then to recieve the ball from that server, controlling, turning and playing to someone else.

Challenges

Challenge the players to use both feet when receiving,controlling and passing the ball.

Challenge the players to check their shoulder before theyreceive the ball.

Challenge the players to use the voice to communicatewith the server, but only using physical communication, like hand gestures,saying where you want to receive the ball

Targets

Ask the players, "Can you perform 5 successfulcontrols and passes in 1 minute?"

Ask the players, "Can you control the ballsuccessfully with 5 different body parts, and turn or pass, in 1 minute? Leftfoot, Right foot, Thigh, Chest and Head

Methodical development

Technical Mechanics –

1. On Toes

2. Eye on Ball / Identify Space

3. Get in Line with the Ball

4. Decide and present Surface towards Ball

5. Relax on Impact

Psychological – Identify body language, engagement level,reactions,

receiving feedback

Social – Communication with teammates, providingfeedback, teamwork, and

confidence within the session

Physical – Monitorfatigue, manage ball rolling time, enthusiasm,

output/intensity.

Coaching position – Start on the outside of the square,making my way around and stopping to observe all the player, inside and out.When I make my interventions I step into the middle.

Individual interventions to further details control technique

Support staff – Kat would be outside the square too, both of us are making our way around the square observing, Ill ask Kat to give positive feedback over to individuals. Giving individual interventions over the session. 

Small Sided Game

Key Coaching Messages - Technical Information (The Mechanics)

Topic: Control (Switching Play / Breaking Lines) Technical Practice

Timings: 20 Minute Practice (4' | 4 reps | .5R) 

Area is 36x36. 

Practice Objective 

Designed to allow the coach to assess howmuch ‘teachingand learning’ hastaken place, related to the defined session objective - Controlling the ball 

Practice Explanation 

Directional with mini goals at each end. 

Restarts at the end the a goal is scored, or in ball goes out, the team in possession starts from own goal.

Demonstration 

Use clear and excitable tone to get players attention and focus - Blues - you are going that way (point to the direction) and Red, you are going that way.

Question and Answer with a player - "Mark, which way are you going to score?"

Explain when a ball goes out of play (out of bounds or goal is scored) - explain the restart. 

Adaptations 

Progressions 

To score, players must be over half way line (indicated by middle cone) - create tighter spaces to challenge first touch control 

Regressions

If limited success, consider creating 2 x neutral players within the practice (4v4 +2) - (have bibs ready if 'no bibs' clash with RED or BLUE

Challenge, conditions or targets

Minimum two touch to ensure players are controlling the ball

Minimum amount passes before a goal is scored 

Methodical development (Mechanics) 

1. On Toes

2. Eye on Ball / Identify Space

3. Get in Line with the Ball

4. Decide and present Surface toward

5. Relax on Impact

Other Pillars;

Psychological – identify body language, engagement level, reactions,

receiving feedback

Social – communication with teammates, providing feedback, teamwork, and

confidence within the session

Physical – monitor fatigue, manage ball rolling time, enthusiasm,

output/intensity.

Coaching position 

Outside the area at half way to see all players unobstructed

Support staff to walk along end lines to have closer proximity to the players to provide feedback

Support staff 

Instruct support staff to focus on one team (BLUE) and provide individual and collective feedback, whilst Lead Coach focus on (RED) 

Interventions 

Individual - provide feedback using name, football action and status of the behaviour - Mark, body inline with the ball, Well done. 

Diagose problem - offer solution (verbal, demonstration)

Encourage positive behaviours

Group - use game breaks to deliver message or set new challenge 

Q&A - check for understanding or address common themes. 

Considerations 

Communication (age appropriate, tone, pace)

Ball rolling time (spare balls available)