Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): 1-1 SHOOTING SESSION (1)

FREE KICK TARGET SHOOTING (20 mins)

FREE KICK TARGET SHOOTING

1-1 session ¦ 10 mins - discussion - 5 mins ¦ 1 set

Session Aims

Mental and physical activation for a shooting heavy session. Unopposed but with challenging target zones to introduce success and failure early without pressure to be perfect. Allows time for welcoming and discussion whilst the session in ongoing and gives the player an activity to enjoy immediately upon arrival

Set up

• Large goal with two target areas marked. Discs, nets or poles are ideal
• Age appropriate balls to be used
• Four cones in a diamond shape set an age-appropriate distance away from the goal to replicate the edge of the penalty area. Set the cones to favour the players strongest foot. This is the shooting area

• Take shots on goal in the time allowed from within the shooting area
• Aim for the target areas
• Experiment with different shooting styles using different surfaces of the foot and vary the angle and speed of their run up to see how that affects the trajectory of the ball

• How can we make the ball move/spin the way we want it to? 
• What is the shortest run up we can do and still generate enough movement and power?
• What does a shallower and greater run up angle do to the ball?

• To simplify: remove or extend the target area or start as penalties
• To challenge: restrict the target area to top corners and position the diamond at more challenging angles

DRIBBLE, PASS, SHOOT (20 mins)

DRIBBLE PASS SHOOT

1-1 session ¦ 5 mins - discussion - 10 mins ¦ 1 set

Session Aims

Provide a varied scenario of dribbling with the ball at different speeds, linking with a moving team mate whilst then directing them where to pass before finishing at speed. Varying speeds and angles of arrival create different options for receiving and shooting.

Set up

• Large goal with two target areas marked. Discs, nets or poles are ideal
• Age appropriate balls to be used
• Activity set so that player attacks from their regular match position (in this case the left side of the pitch)
• Four red cones to simulate a dribble down the wing, four blue cones to simulate a dribble cutting infield and four yellow cones in a square between these two for a hard stop and skill move
• Four black cones around the edge of the box that the coach will be moving within
• Two poles or similar to mark the starting gate

Activity

• The player collects a ball and runs through the starting gate.
• As they approach the gate, the coach will call out a colour - red, blue or yellow and then start moving around in their zone to challenge the player to find them with a pass
• The player then attacks that area, completes the dribbling activity before passing to the coach
• The player is to indicate where and how they want the ball returned to them - eg pointing and calling for a "one-two" etc
• The player then shoots first time or uses a sharp change of direction followed by an immediate shot into the target area 

• How can you tell where your teammates are to pass to them? When is a good time to look up and scan?
• When would the right time be to use the cutback? Avoid a defender, to find a better angle, to use your strong foot?

• To simplify: remove or extend the target area and have the coach be static 
• To challenge: restrict the target area to top corners and increase the coaches zone to make finding the pass more challenging for the player