Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session no 1 STFC U14

Warm up with balls 1 (10 mins)

Method:

Grid size 18 yards x 18 yards,

15-20 cones in the centre arranged randomly with enough space to move a ball between them. 

Separate the players in groups on a coloured cone in each corner , each with a ball. The coach should also have another cone of each colour in his hand.

Tell them to remember the colour they started on.

Give each player in each corner a number form 1- 4 ( or greater )

Players start the warm up jogging around the grid with the ball at their feet, changing direction, inside, outside of each foot. Plenty of little touches 

When the coach calls number 1, each player with number 1 dribbles through the centre cones, avoiding the cones and the other players, after the last player with number 1 leaves the centre he/she calls no 2 and so on until back to no 1 .

While the coach moves around the edge and the players are leading themselves into the centre cones the coach holds up a coloured cone and the players that were on that colour move to jog around that cone only. The coach should not call the colour just hold up a cone.

Continue this for 5-8 minutes depending a age and size of group.

Coaching Points:

Simple instructions for each group and individual instruction.

Encourage the players to have their head up looking to see where other players are and where the coach is.

Players should glance over their shoulders when leaving the centre cones and last man calls the next number, all players are encouraged to look at the coach and the team call them colour cone that’s held up.

All the above encourages individual and team communication, awareness of the space and players around them.

Football Actions 

• Communication.
• Decision Making.
• Execution.

Attacking Centrally no1 (20 mins)

Method: Set up as follows.

Cones set up diagonally from the corner of 6 yard box and end line through the outside corner of 18 yard line either end. Movable goal is set up approximately 40 yards from main goal and continue the cones on this side of the new pitch to create a diamond pitch.

Player set up is 7v7.

Red Team : Gk . RB (2) LB (3) 2xGB ( 4&) 2x Mid ( 6&8)

Blue team : GK. 3x Mid ( 6,8 & 10) 3 x For (7,9 & 11) . if blue team don't have a Gk remove the goal place 2 no small goals or gates to score and use the "extra blue player as a feeder behind the line.

Game Starts with blue team playing out, creating chances to shoot and score while the diamond shape will encourage direction to goal, Blue restart if they score, if red win it back they can score in goals or the gates and the game restarts on blue end. If reds win it back and don't score from attack and its won back by blue or is put out over side line blues restart the game. No throw ins. 

Football Actions:

• Communication.
• Decision Making.
• Execution.

Cool down (5 mins)

Method:

Cool Down 

Coaching Points:

Light job , with static stretching 

Approx 8 mins.