Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): RDS Developmental - 1st Touch

Ball Mastery

Organization:

1. 1 Player, 1 Ball & cone (as seen above).

Instructions:

- Players are looking to perform static ball mastery;

- Toe taps

- Side roles

- 4 toe taps / 4 side roles

- Inside/outside roles

- Heel/toe roles

Coaching Points:

- Try to lift head up as much as possible

- (Side roles) Hopping on non-kicking foot

- Balance

Progressions:

P - After performing ball mastery players move to another ball jogging in between

P - Players now dribble ball & perform ball mastery at each cone

Technical Unopposed

Organization:

- 5x5 Triangles spread out setup as shown (only 4 shown above).

- One player inside each triangle without a ball.

- Remaining players outside the triangles with a ball.

Instructions:

- Player with the ball dribble around the around & look to make pass to team mate inside triangle

- After making the pass players exchange places

- To get out of the triangle, receiving player must only use 1 touch to get out.

- Player cannot exit triangle through same side pass entered

Coaching Points:

- On toes (be prepared)

- Move in line with the ball.

- Communication & Connection (eye contact or verbal).

- Head up as ball travels.

- 1st touch offline & out of feet to allow head to immediately come up.

- Variation of 1st touches: instep, outstep, sole & laces

Progressions:

P - If ball comes in one side of the triangle then it must go out a different side.

P - After passing player now closes down & attempts to steal ball back from inside the triangle

Conditioned Game

Organization:

- 30 x 50 area set up as shown

- Field split into 3 zones as shown

- 2 Teams + 1 Neutral (5v5)

- 1 Ball (additinal on outside)

Instructions:

- Teams play 5v5 mini game with players assigned to specific zones (2-1-2 formation)

- Players cannot leave their zone. Only the Neutral player can move between zones

- Teams can only score in attacking zone, mustbe one touch finish

Coaching Points:

- On toes (be prepared)

- Move in line with the ball.

- Head up as ball travels to see the defender.

- 1st touch to exploit the space on the field.

- Immediately pick head up to choose next action.

Progressions:

- Player that passes into a zone can now follow the ball & support in that zone