Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): First Touch Training Plan 1 SAP - FT Into Space

First Touch Skill Introduction (15 mins)

Area Size: 5m x 15m. Diamond shape with a gate at the end of each diamond

Players: 10-16. divide players equally at top of each gate

Explanation: Set up with one ball and the first person on each gate ready. The player on the ball must move the ball into the centre diamond, before passing to any player. They then follow the ball to the back of that line. The receiving player takes there first touch through the gate before repeating the process

Progression: After passing the ball, accelerate your run to apply pressure to the receiver. Receiving player to focus their first touch away from the oncoming player.

Step Up: introduce a second/third ball,

Coach Cue receiving players adjusting their position according to the pass, open stance to play in direction of the gate; encourage players to alternate their feet, not always using their preferred foot to receive and pass, recieve ball with outside foot (foot furthest from player passing).

FT Skill Game (30 mins)

Explanation: Game play, to move forward teams must pass the ball must from one zone to the other, or players can use their first touch to take the ball over each line. Aim is not to dribble across the line

- Goals can only be scored from inside the final third.

Step Up: Limit touches

Step Down: Divide the teams in three two teams working together in attack one team defending