Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Week 1 Tues U9 Dribbling

Main activity (PQ)

Organization:

• Two teams of even numbers. Each player on blue team has a ball. 
• Red team has a designated King/Queen in yellow pennie
•  25X25 Box with four minigoals making a "castle"

Instructions:

• On coach's call, Red team tries to steal the ball from the blue team, passing to the King/Queen for them to score into mini goals.
• Once player's ball is scored they are eliminated. The round goes on until the entire team is out.
• Only the King/Queen (Yellow pennie) is allowed in and out of box
• If ball is kicked out the ball carrier gets the ball back. 
  

Technical Coaching Points:

• For Blue team: 
  - Keeping the ball close and under control, ready to switch directions when pressure arrives.
  - Use the Inside-outside dribbling from the introduction to evade defenders. 
  - Pick head up to scan the field, and see what is going on in front of us.
• For Red team: 
  - Utilize poke tackle to dispossess ball carrier. 
  - Approach the attacker at an angle, aiming to block their path to the ball or force them into making a mistake.
  - Use the foot that is closest to the ball for the block tackle.
  
  

Tactical Coaching Points:

• For Red Team: 
  - Communicate on who/where to go after first. look to corner ball carriers and pressure them into a mistake.
  - Finding the target player after winning the ball, trying to score quickly.
  
  
• For Blue team
  - Find open spaces to exploit, getting away from the defenders/ high traffic areas.
  - Utilizing the inside outside dribble to get around opponents.

Progressions & Regressions:

• Progression
  - For Red team: Must make four passes before scoring. 
  - For Blue team:  All red players can enter and score in the castle
  
  
• Regression
  - For Red team: When a blue team player is eliminated, they join the red team until the round is over, joining in stealing soccer balls.
  - For Blue team: Players can hive five eliminated players back into the game.