Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): dribbling-scissors

Warm up

Organization:

1.20 x 20 yard area set up as shown

2.12 players set up as shown

3.1 ball per player

Instructions:

1.Players dribble their ball around the area and on the coach’s command, perform a certain move. The first player to complete the move gets a point and the first to 10 points wins

2.On coach’s call “toe touches”, the players stop the ball moving and perform 4 toe touches, before starting to dribble again

3.On coach’s call “scissors”, the players stop the ball moving and perform 2 scissor moves on each foot, before starting to dribble again

4.On coach’s call “step over”, the players stop the ball moving and perform 2 step-over moves on each foot, before starting to dribble again

Coaching Points:

1.Body shape – low centre of gravity

2.Change of speed and direction

3.Head up accelerate away

Progressions:

P – Any combination of the above moves can be used to complicate the movement

P – Players must “switch” balls before performing moves

R – Players can do all moves from a standing start

Main Theme

Organization:

1.20 x 30 yard area set up as shown

2.10 players, set up as shown

3.1 ball per player

Instructions:

1.The group is split into two and then divided again into each corner

2.The cone at the center of the area represents a passive defender

3.Two players from the same group must run out into the middle, execute a move and finish in the opposite corner

4.As soon as the players are past the cone the next group sets off

Coaching Points:

1.Positive first touch to engage defender

2.Timing of execution

3.Sell the move by using the upper body

4.Movement of technique being taught

5.Cut into the space behind the defender ‘Close the door’

Progressions:

P – Remove the cone, players from one corner now pass the ball across to the opposite corner and jogs out to act as a passive defender

R – Go back to a static defender or cone

Conditioned Game

Organization:

1.40 x 30 yard area, with a 5 yard end zone at each end set up as shown

2.12 players (2 teams of 6) set up as shown

3.6 balls (Additional around the outside)

Instructions:

1.Players are divided into 2 teams, and assigned a partner. Players can only challenge their assigned partner

2.Teams compete to score goals by dribbling and stopping ball in opposing end zone. Play restarts, with defender passing or dribbling from own end zone. Attackers only allowed in opposing end zone if they have a ball

3.First team to 10 points win

Coaching Points:

1.When your team has possession, try to lose partner

2.When your team loses possession, try to get ‘touch tight’ to partner

3.Observe unopposed teammates and pass to them

4.Observe open space and dribble to score

5.If the route to goal is blocked, switch the point of attack

6.Improvisation/Creativity

Progressions:

1.P – Open play

2.P – Place goals at either end, and introduce goal keepers

3.R – Introduce neutral players, who play with the attacking team

4.R – Opponents can only challenge after player has had two touches