Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U9 Passing (1.5h)

The Great Wall (20 mins)

Organization:

30x20. 3 teams. 2 teams vs 1 team at a time. Yellow cones in the middle form the Great Wall (5x20)

Instructions:

The team protecting the Great Wall can send one player (or more depending on numbers) into the bigger zones where the other team tries to keep possession. After the team in possession completes a certain amount of passes, they can send the ball over or through the Great Wall into the other zone, where that team tries to keep possession. Teams earn one piont when they successfully get the ball to the other side of the Great Wall.

When the defending team plays the ball outside the zone (doesn't matter who touches the ball last), the team who lost possession become defenders. The ball starts at the opposite side of where the ball was lost (e.g. if the red team loses possession, the ball starts with the green team and the red team has to move over to the other side to defend.

The players who are in the Great Wall while the other player(s) is defending can intercept passes as long as they stay within the yellow coned are.

Coaching Points:

- move the ball quick

- recognize open areas to pass/dribble the ball

- recognize when to play the ball over/through the Great Wall

Progressions/Regressions:

R- reduce amount of touches

R- send more defenders into the zones

P- send less defenders into the zone

P players that are in the Great Wall cannot intercept any passes

Free Play (25 mins)

Organization:

Set up in a 4 v 4 or a 5 v 5 make sure your field is an appropriat size 25 yards x 20

Let the kids play at least 20 minutes. Be sure to reasure the players of our coaching points.

Try not to freeze the players as this is their time to try it out. Coach in the flow and during natural stoppages.

1. Use the inside middle of your foot.

2. Lock your foot like a ROCK - strong

3. Non-kicking foot is pointing at your target.

4. Follow through the ball

and

1. Look for a player who is open - Check for understanding

2. Play the ball away from the defender - Use guided Discovery

3. Weight of pass... Soft or Hard.

4. Introduce the work Accuracy