Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Knockout

Knockout allows the players to practice their dribbling while trying to win points by tackling their friends. Players can learn awareness, dribbling, but also having an opposition player trying to tackle them. You can also teach how to shield the ball.

Equipment and setup

• 20x15yds
• each player has a ball

Directions

• Players dribble around the playing area, trying to protect their ball from being kicked out - At the same time they try to poke others' balls outside the area.
• If a player's ball is kicked out, they are not out - we are coaching the kids, so need to make sure they dribble as much as possible! If the ball is kicked out, they can do 10 toe taps on the ball to re-enter play.
• Play as many rounds as they want. It can be a fun game, but ensure the players are not kicking or injuring each other! You can encourage players to keep track of their poke tackles and try to get one more in the next round
• The player must keep their own ball close when knocking out another ball - within arm's length - or at the coach's discretion.

Make it more difficult

• Have the players count the number of tackles they get or how many times they get knocked out
• Players can perform different skills to rejoin the game - 5 juggles, stepovers, etc.

Coach points

• Keep your head up when dribbling - be aware of all those players looking to steal your ball and see where all the balls you can steal are!
• Keep the ball close - Ask the players to imagine a force field the size of a hula-hoop around the body to keep the ball in

Context to the gameThere are many opportunities to take a player on, be brave, and practice skills the player would use in a game. Also to be aware of things that are happening around them