Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing training session for 5-9 year olds

Warm up (5 mins)

Organization: - Establish a 10 yard open space between the paired players. 

Equipment- 1 cone per player

- One ball between two

Instructions: - Players pass the ball to each other ensuring it does not stop in the dead zone.

-Players compete to see how many consecutive passes they can complete in a 2-minute period.

- If ball stops in end zone or is lost control of then pass count starts again.

Coaching Points:

(1). Angle of approach – centre.

(2). Plant supporting foot next to the ball pointed at target.

(3). Contact ball - middle.

(4). Contact foot - inside.

(5). Ankle locked with toe pointed up.

(6). Follow through towards target with striking foot remaining open throughout.

Progressions: (1). Use both feet. Keep the ball moving and don't let it stop in the dead zone. (2). Keep ball moving by pushing the ball across the body or to the side of the body so the ball doesn't stop. (3). Have the players use the weak foot only to increase accuracy and familiarity.

Technical progression (5 mins)

PROGRESSION- Add in a defender in between where the cones were.

The passing and receiving players are only allowed in the shaded area which is marked with discs.

- First pair to successfully pass it in the zone 5 times wins.

Coaching Points- Encourage movement

-Communication(hand gestures so as not to alert the defender)

- Proper weight of pass.

- Try not to make body language to obvious or the defender will read the play.

EQUIPMENT- 10 cones per 4 players.

One ball between two.

Game (10 mins)

Organization

- 4 v 4

Equipment needed

1 ball

2 sets of 4 bibs

2 sets of goals

Instructions

- 4 v 4 game.

- Players try to score and stop the other team scoring.

- To score, players have to pass the ball at least 3 times.

- You can pass it to whoever passed it to you, but it doesn't count towards the 3 passes needed before scoring.

- The game restarts with the team who concedes after each goal.

Whoever scores most at the end wins.

Coaching Points

- Look for/create space

- Movement when not in possession.

- Communication.

- Aware of pressure and space.

- If too easy up the amount of passes required by one goal.

- If too hard then put the amount of passes required down by one.