Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Ball Manipulation (Start Time: 2015-01-07 17:30:00)

Dynamic Warm-Up (15 mins)

Organization:

10x40 yard area (30 yards from first cone to last cone)

Instructions:

FIFA 11 Warm-Up

- Each exercise is ran 2x

- Jog back to the start line - use as recovery

- Try to have each pair be in sync/unison

- Next pair doesn't start until pair in front reaches first cones

1) Simple Jog down.

2) "Open the Gate": Drive knee straight up, then twist rotating out; Alternate legs.

3) "Close the Gate": Knee comes up but at a right angle to the body, then twist rotating inward; Alternate legs.

4) "Circle Partner": Pair runs to first cone, then still facing forward, side shuffle towards each other, going around one another in a tight circle, then shuffle back out to their side of the channel. Run forward to second cone and repeat.

5) "Jump with Shoulder contact": Pair runs to first cone, then still facing forward, side shuffle towards each other, and jump to bump shoulders, land softly and shuffle back out to their side of the channel. Run forward to the second cone and repeat.

6) Sprint to the second cone, decelerate to then backpedal to the first cone; sprint to the third cone, decelerate to then backpedal to the second cone, etc.

7) 75% pace sprint through the channel to opposite end.

8) "Bounding": Drive the knee up as you "jump/bound" across the channel; opposite arm should come up as your knee comes up; each "step" is a new bound (think long-jump strides).

9) "Plant & Cut": Pairs run across one another to the first cone and plant/cut to then go to cone two; zig-zag across one another through the length of the channel (slight adjustment from actual activity - see video).

Coaching Points:

- Movement

- Body control

- Agility

- Coordination

- Deceleration

- Proper weight dispersion (knees)

Progressions:

Main Theme (30 mins)

Organization:

10x12 yard grid

Add more grids to make smaller groups if needed

Instructions:

- Attacker must try to lose his shadow (Defender).

- Game starts when Attacker takes first positive touch into the space.

- Attacker scores by crossing either endline first; if Defender crosses at the same time (tie) point goes to the Defender.

- Play for "x" minutes then switch Attackers & Defenders.

Coaching Points:

- Attack space at speed

- Recognition of defender's position

- Read movement of the defender (In front, next to or behind)

- On toes to pivot

- Open hips/close hips to fake defender

- Head up to see where space is available

- Accelerate into space

Progressions:

3v3 Free Play (20 mins)

Organization:

2 fields, 3v3

Instructions:

Players split up into 4 teams and play a round robin tournament where all teams play.

Coaching Points:

- 3 Lines of attack, Defender, Midfield, Striker (rotate players

-Create as much space for player in possession

-Try to create a triangle at all to give good angle of support.

-Look to gaps to attack using Messi touches

-First thought is to go forward then if nothing is on, play back to start again.