Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 2 man screen (Start Time: 2015-03-23 18:20:00)

Warm Up (15 mins)

Weekly warm ups (Keeps familiarity for coaches and players)

This allows effecient transition from warm up into session, players can get straight into session on arrival not wait for coaching points.

This can then be used - with slight adjustments - on match day.

Pitch area - (x2) 30by30yards

End Zones - 5 yards

Total Pitch area (x2) 30by40yards

6 footballs minimum, 18 players (9 per pitch), 8 blue bibs, 8 red bibs, 2 of another colour, mini/pop-up goals, cones

Progressions:

First 5mins;

1)Players begin by moving freely around their pitch - pace = light jog

2)Encourage variations of backwards, side to side and hip rotation movements, heel flicks and knee lifts as body temperature begins to increase.

3)Add dynamic stretches - `open the gates` - groins `over the gates` - hips `kick outs` - hamstring lunges `quadriceps` etc

4)Increase tempo slightly by asking players to start finding space within `pitch` and opening up strides

2mins

5)Players begin to pass footballs around (ratio balls:players = 1:3) - this keeps the main focus on the preparation of the body but now beginning to ask the players to improve concentration and communication skills as we build into session. (If wanting to ensure players have hit high enough tempo then encourage them to pass and the sprint out into space.

6) Allow 2mins of static stretches as senior players have their `comfort` stretches and some may not trust a dynamic warm up so gives them peace of mind to statically stretch the muscles in a way they are used to and comfortable with.

7) Water break - 1min

8) Finish with 4mins high tempo multi-directional game. 4v4+1 who always plays for team in possession. Score by stopping ball in either end zone from a pass or dribbling in or into either mini goal. Maintain Focus on tempo not necessarily the quality of the game although 1 should coincide with the other.

This is an effective warm up that ensures the following key points are met:

- Increase body temperature.

- Increase mobility/range of movement of players joints and muscle groups.

- Make game related movements.

- Mental preparation will be progressive throughout warm up, as it progresses from autonomous movements into the muti-directional game where concentration is key and this vital for the success of players retaining the sessions information.

SSG (20 mins)

Here we can see if the DMs can transfer the knowledge gained in the function into the SSG

8v8

Targets/Conditions

Both teams try to score - blue team have 5 passes to score (in order to maintain focus on the defensive principles of the session)

Set a scenario for last 2 mins = `blue team are winning by 1 goal in cup final, can they hold out to claim victory`????

Remember the Coaching Process to provide coaching points, wherever highlighted in positive or negative play;

Observe, Diagnose, Feedback, Demo, Rehearse, Play Live.