Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): COVID-19 U6 Week 2: Dribbling and Passing

Activity 1: Juggling (kick and catch) (15 mins)

OBJECTIVE: Improve the player’s ability to maneuver the ball with different surfaces of the foot

PLAYER ACTIONS: Dribble forward

ORGANIZATION: Within a 15W x 20L field, set up 3W x 6L grids with a minimum of 2 yards between each grid. Each player has a soccer ball and must remain in their own grid. If the ball goes out, quickly retrieve it and come back to your space. The players start with their soccer ball in their hands. Gently toss the ball into the air, touch the ball with your thigh or foot (coach’s choice) then catch it before it hits the ground. Players will count how many times they can complete the task in 1 minute. Each interval, coach either asks the players to beat their last score or introduce a new surface to hit the ball back to their hands. Surfaces can be left thigh, right thigh, left foot or right foot.

KEY WORDS: Soft toss, watch the ball back to your hands

GUIDED QUESTIONS: What happens if you throw the ball too high? After your soccer ball hits your thigh or foot,

why is it important to watch the ball all the way to your hands?

ANSWERS: If you throw it up too high, it could go further away and harder to use your foot or thigh. After you touch the ball with your foot or thigh, keep watching the ball until you have it back in your hands.

Note: It may be helpful to toss the ball first then catch it so the players get used to the height to toss it. After 1 interval of toss and catch, now introduce the thigh or foot surfaces.

Activity 3: Soccer Bowling (15 mins)

OBJECTIVE: Improve the technique of passing PLAYER ACTIONS: Pass forward

ORGANIZATION: Within a 15W x 20L field, set up 3W x 6L grids with a minimum of 2 yards between each grid. Each grid has a tall cone on the end line so after players kick the ball it will not travel to another player’s grid. Each player has a soccer ball and must remain in their own grid. If the ball goes out, quickly retrieve it and come back to your space. The players will start with their soccer ball & 1 step away from the cone. They will try to kick their ball at the cone to knock it down. If they miss, they try again from the same spot. If they knock the cone down, they move their soccer ball 2 steps away; then 3 steps, 4 steps & so on. In the time allotted, which player ends up the furthest away from their tall cone?

Variations: Players who have hit the cone multiple times from distance can try using their other foot or a different surface.

KEY WORDS: Strike the middle of the ball with the middle of your foot, aim to the cone. GUIDED

QUESTIONS: How do you aim the ball? Which is the best surface of your foot to use?

ANSWERS: Make sure the surface of your foot that hits the ball is pointed toward the tall cone. If you are close to the cone, the inside of your foot works best. Further away, try your laces.

Note: To pass with the inside of your foot, point your toe to the side, heel lower than the toes & make a fist with your toes when striking the ball. To pass with your laces, point your to down and slightly away and make a fist with your toes when striking the ball.