Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Turning with the ball (Start Time: 2019-12-02 20:00:00)

Tecchnique (5 mins)

Key Factors

Key learning outcomes are to develop the confidence and ability of players to drop into space to receive and turn with the ball and to subsequently use it to continue building an attack. The session is for grassroots Under 12s.

Organisation

Pitch size will depend on number of players but set up is 40mx30m for a 12 player session. Bib players on arrival into two teams. Organise players into a team in the middle of the grid and the other with a ball each on the edge. Initial focus is for players in the middle to move into space to receive the ball before turning and passing to another player on the edge. This is a good opportunity to introduce the mechanics of control and to encourage creativity in players in how they turn and distribute. Introduce progression by receiving ball on weaker foot and changing body shape to move more quickly into space. Encourage players to be creative with their turns.

Rotate team on the inside and outside of the pitch.

Small sided game (20 mins)

Key Factors

Encourage turning and decision making in a small sided game.

Organisation

Start game with free play on pitch, with no challenges or conditions. Encourage players to use their player on the edge of the pitch by awarding a point for every time they pass to the player on the edge and two points for a goal.

Add challenge by introducing two gates (one in each corner) and award a point for team dribbling and passing through a gate. This will encourage changes of direction and facilitate turning. Add further challenge with coned area in the middle where players receiving the ball have three seconds of uncontested time.

Finish with free play. Rotate players on the edge regularly.