Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing & Movement Off the Ball

Technique (15 mins)

Set Up

40yd x 30 yd pitch split into 4 boxes.

12 players split into 3 teams, bibbed on arrival and split into the 4 boxes

Cones and extra balls required.

Aim of Session

To encourage players to find space by moving off the ball and players in possesion to lift their heads up to look for players in space.

Conditions

Players to pass and move amongst themselves within their boxes, when their colour is called then they are to swap boxes with one of their team mates, if they are in possession of the ball they are to leave it and another player from that box is to retrieve it.

Challenges

Can players react to and find space when required too -Can the players play a variety of passes - Use various parts of foot.

Progressions

Progression 1 - Players cannot move back to the same box, if they do they must move into another box with their team mate moving into another one.

Progression 2 - If player is in possession when his colour is called then he is to take the ball with him into the next box, if there is a ball in that box then the player iwith that ball is to look for the box without the ball and pass it too them.

Mechanics of Passing

1. Look at target 2. Eye on ball 3. Angle of approach 4. Non-kicking foot alongside ball in a comfortable position 5. Strike Centre of ball with inside / outside of foot (Identified area of the ball) 6. Firm ankle 7. Follow through towards target

Mechanics of Control

1. On toes 2. Eye on the ball 3. Get in line with ball 4. Decide and present surface towards ball 5. Relax on impact.

SSG (25 mins)

Set Up

Game is a 5 vs 5, 1 player from each team stands on either touch line.

Conditions

Team scores points by passing into the end zones, once a ball is passed into the end zone it has to be passed out before it can be played into that zone again, the same player cannot receive the ball in the same end, it must be another player entering the zone to receive it.

Challenges

Can the players play a variety of passes - Use various parts of foot. - Can players play successful 1- 2's - Max. time in possession ie. 3/4/5 seconds.

Progressions

Progression 1 - 2 point Scoring Zones are to the corners at the ends of the pitch, if the ball is played to the end player in that zone then it is two points.

Progression 2 - Receiving gates are added, 1 point for receiving the ball between the gates - once a gate has been used, it can't be used again until the ball has been passed to the player at either end.

Mechanics of Passing

1. Look at target 2. Eye on ball 3. Angle of approach 4. Non-kicking foot alongside ball in a comfortable position 5. Strike Centre of ball with inside / outside of foot (Identified area of the ball) 6. Firm ankle 7. Follow through towards target.

Mechanics of Control

1. On toes 2. Eye on the ball 3. Get in line with ball 4. Decide and present surface towards ball 5. Relax on impact.