Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): S3A - Passing & Receiving (U9-U12) (Start Time: 2023-12-12 18:00:00)

Possession Box (Unopposed Warmup) (15 mins)

OVERVIEW:   

• Setup a 20 x 20 playing area
• This is an unopposed (no tackling) skill practice/warm up.   
• Place 4 players on the outside of the area with a ball each and 4 players inside the area without balls. [If you have 10 or 12 players total, then make sure you have an even number of players both outside and inside the playing area. If you end up with an odd number of players, make sure you have fewer players on the inside of the area] 
• Players inside the area must move to receive the ball from one of the outside players. Once they have done this they then look to pass the ball to a different outside player. 
• This patten of receiving and passing continues for 90 secs. After each 90 sec round the players swap with each other - the inside players become the outside players and the outside players become the inside players.   

COACHING DETAILS:

BODY SHAPE WHEN RECEIVING  

• It is important that inside players understand to receive with an open body position (or on the half-turn). This is to encourage them to move the ball forward with fewer touches. 
• If you are working with older or more skilled players, coach them the importance of approaching the ball on diagonal receiving angle. 
• Players must repeatedly "scan" (checking over each shoulder) as they perform the exercise.   

• Can players practice using different parts of each foot when taking their first touch? e.g., inside of the foot, sole of the foot, outside of the foot.

• Scanning is the art of constantly checking over your shoulders to become aware of space to exploit, defenders to avoid, teammates in space and goal scoring opportunities. Scanning is super important!
• Therefore, encourage players to constantly be scanning.

• Regardless of player age or skill level, encourage players to train at a good tempo and high intensity. 

PASSING  

• Encourage players to pass with (i) precision/accuracy (ii) correct power/weight - not too hard, not too soft (iii) different parts of each foot (iv) disguise. 

PROGRESSIONS:  

• Have insider players to only use their weaker foot when passing to outside players. 
• Ask inside players to play a one-two with the outside player before moving to pass to a different outside player. 

Playing Through The Thirds (30 mins)

OVERVIEW:  

• Setup a 45 x 30 pitch (or whatever size works best for the number of players you have) with either two half-sized goal or 4 mini goals, 2 at each end. Place goalkeepers at each end. 
• You will also need to split the pitch into three even thirds. 
• You will need two teams of even size 4v4 or 5v5 or 6v6. If you have an odd number, have one player who functions as 'the joker' i.e., who always plays for the team in possession of the ball.  
• Players from each team are to spend out evenly between the three thirds e.g., 1 or 2 players in the defensive third, 1 or 2 players in the middle-third and 1 or 2 players in the attacking/final third. 

• The game starts with one of the goalkeepers (see video). 
• Each team must either pass or dribble from one third into the next. 
• All players are locked into their third UNLESS they manage to dribble or pass into the next third, thereby creating an overload in the next third. 
• If a goal is scored, play resumes with that teams goalkeeper (see video). Once a goal has been scored, all players must return to original playing third. 

• Offer the same coaching points from the opening two practices. This time, try to coach on-the-run without stopping play. 
• In this final conditioned game, you as the coach is looking to see if players are starting to implement what you have been working on in the session (e.g., during the Possession Box Warm-up & Multidirectional Possession Game). Can you see a change in players' behaviour? 

• Players can move anywhere on the pitch, however, they must pass or dribble from one third into the next to be able to progress towards goal.