Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): WARM UP: SAVE YOUR PARTNER GAME (ANIMATION)

SAVE YOUR PARTNER

WARM UP: SAVE YOUR PARTNER GAME

Organization of Practice: 

Players are put into pairs with one ball per pair. One pair are chosen as taggers and do not have a ball. The taggers each attempt to tag any player who does not have a ball. If a player is tagged, both that player AND their partner with the ball are caught and must do three star jumps, etc. before they continue to play. 

Pairs try to avoid taggers by finding open space and passing to protect a player near a tagger. Rounds go for one minute and then new taggers are identified for the following round. 

Coaching Points: 

Fun to set the tone! 

Vision of open space & movement of taggers. 

Movement in one direction creates space to play in the opposite direction.

 Vision of body shape and movement of targets(partners) running for the ball. 

Patience to play the ball when and how the receiver needs it. 

Passing and immediately moving to find open space.

Progression: 

Allow the group to pick their task to complete when they get tagged (give a choice). OBSERVE the first round without giving coaching input. 

Ask questions after the first minute to draw ideas out of the players. Coach vision and awareness first. Layer in body shape, movement after the pass, weight and texture of passes as appropriate for the group. 

Don’t over-play the game – stop while it is still fun and move on to the next activity.