Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): EEFC - United U14B - passing, possession - 4.1.13 (Start Time: 2013-04-01 19:30:00)

Warm-up (15 mins)

Organization:12 players

3 players per group of 3 cones (triangle), 2 players w/ ball on the base of triangle, 1 player w/o ball on top of the triangle.

Instructions:

Player on top of the triangle checks to one of the players with the ball.

The player with the ball passes to the checking player on the outside foot, player then takes a touch and passes back with outside foot.

Goes around the go and checks to the other player and does the same action.

Coaching Points:

Proper shape of the body (opening up to receive and pass the ball).

Proper passing technique (foot shape: toe up, heel down, ankle locked), plant foot pointed at the target, strike through the center of the ball, follow through straight at the target.

Passing/receiving with the proper foot.

Progressions:

Start with two touch, then the player at the top of the triangle can go one touch. Again passing players must pass to the proper foot.

Variation: Player at the top starts on the "inside" of the cone, receives the ball, then cuts across the cone to the outside and passes back with the opposite foot.

Makes the players move side to side, as well as developing the touch to cut across the defender if needed.

Conditioned Game (25 mins)

Organization: Half field, use cones to mark out channels (width of 18)

Two mini goals, at the end of each channel.

6v.5+GK

Instructions:

Regular game, but like the main activity, the attacking team must play from one channel to the other before going to goal.

Anybody on the attacking team can go into the channel, but the restriction is only one player per team can be in the channel.

The opposite winger does not have to be set in the channel can join in the attack like a regular game.

Depending on the level of your players, you can have "set" positions, where the wide players must stay in the channel at all times.

Only 1 defender allowed in each channel at a time.

Attacking team scores by scoring on the big goal, defending team scores by "clearing" into the mini goals.

Coaching Points:

Same as the main activity.

Focus more on space (running into space, moving to clear space, passing into space, etc) because of the bigger playing area.

Try to make the players understand, that moving the ball side to side slowly does not achieve results because it gives the defense time to shift and get set.

Moving the ball from side to side is to try and create gaps in the defense and different points of attack to exploit the defense.

Progressions:

Again simple touch restrictions can be put in place to really force the players to move the ball quickly, but more for advance players, because again this is a possession session, objective is to keep the ball/be patient.

Regression - not allow the defense to go into the channels, but make a touch max. on the wide player because no pressure is allowed.