Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): WYSL - Red Bulls Select Program - 5/30

Messi/Xavi/Ronaldo (5 mins) (5 mins)

Organization:

Every player with a ball.

Instructions:

Players are asked to dribble ball inside of area avoiding other players (and cones) using correct dribbling technique showed by coach:

-Use pinky toe to push ball

-On toes/lift heels/knee over ball

-Head up tp observe other players/space

-When space is tight, take a touch with every step like Messi

-When see space to drive into, take bigger touches and accelerate into the space like Ronaldo

-If area crowed with players can you turn into a new space like Xavi

Once players grasping technical aspects shown by coach a competition is introduced:

-players must compete to see who can reach 'X' amount of dribble touches (pinky toe pushs) first, however if they leave the area or hit another player/ball they lose 'X' amount of counts i.e.if have taken 30 dribble touches then hit another player they are back down to a 20 count and may be racing to a 50 count.

-Make sure to at least play twice ensuring 1 game is left foot only and the 2nd is right foot only to train both feet equally.

Semi-opposed (10 mins) (10 mins)

Organization:

Players pair up and join another pair

1 pair competes

1 pair act as referees

Instructions:

-1 player is attacker, his partner the defender

-The attacker must look to use ball mastery techniques to stop the ball on either of his cones before defender puts his foot (or ball) on the coresponding cone to score a point.

-If a defender has his foot (or ball) on a cone the attacker cannot score on the corresponding cone and must change direction toward the opposite cone.

-The defender is not allowed to touch either the attacker or the attacker's ball

-The game ends once either a point is scored by the attacker, or the attacker dribbles past the end cones or over to the defenders side, or the attacker places the ball on his cone after the defender places his foot on the corresponding cone.

-The referees are there to judge who made it to the cone first and when the game is over they become the competing pair. After each rotation the attackers become defenders and vice versa.

Coaching Points:

Use the ball mastery techniques to change direction quickly.

'Sell' the skills to fake out the defenders into going into the wrong direction

Try to look at the defenders body position/weight and change direction at correct moments (when defenders hips turned fully commited to 1 direction/cone).

Change of speed

Use a variety of skills

Take the space/use speed if get ahead of defender

Regressions/Progressions:

R - Both players play with a ball to make it more difficult for the defender and easier for the attacker to score

P (Time Permitting) - Defender begins with ball and rolls it to attacking player to begin

Once attacking player has the ball, defender can defend and try to win the ball off of the attacker

Attacking player must now protect the ball, and looks to score by dribbling in between the gate on either end made by the yellow and red cone

If defender wins the ball, they can attempts to score

Tournament 4v4 (45 mins) (45 mins)

Organization:

2 fields, 4v4 or 3v3

Instructions:

8 min games then teams switch and play another team.

Coaching Points:

3 lines of attack, Def - Mid - For.

Look to create space for player in posession

Try to create a triangle giving good angles of support.

Attack space using Messi/Ronaldo touches.

Turn away from the pressure using turns developed earlier in session

Progressions: