Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 40 minute dribbling session using half pitch~(5-9 year olds)

Warm Up (5 mins)

Organizational / Instructions

Warm up: 5 minutes

Put all the players in there teams of three by assigning bibs.

Keep bibs on for duration of session unless coach decides he has to even up a game.

Spread out 8 cones for players to avoid when dribbling.

Every player gets a ball and starts dribbling within the marked area.

 The cones are to be treated as defenders.

 1 minute on each technique.

1) Inside of the foot

2) Outside of the foot

3)  Outside/Inside

4) Foot rolls

Coaching Points 

Coach demonstrates each technique after the minute is up. 

 Soft touches for close control, scan to see where other players and cones are and to look for space to dribble into. Weight balanced over the ball, best if can get body down low so player is quicker to change direction. Stress importance of body movement and feints so that the player understands he/she will have a much better chance of a successful dribble.

Progressions / Adaptations

If comfortable enough with the basics demonstrate a skill or technique for e.g. Zidane turn.

Add defender.

Fun Game (10 mins)

Stuck in the mud( Fun dribbling game)

Use same area as warm up (Quarter pitch)

Five times 1 minute games

5 Minutes overall.

Set Up: Quarter of pitch

9 dribblers, 3 Chasers(defenders).

Each team will take a turn to be a chaser(defender)

Equipment Needed: Players use assigned bibs(teams of three)

9 balls (One ball each dribbler)

Each team will take a turn to be a chaser(defender) 

Game Rules - Chasers looking to tackle the dribblers, if they manage to get the ball off of the dribbler they must freeze and yell HELP I'M STUCK IN THE MUD with her hands in the air and legs open.

Other players must dribble the ball through the players legs who are stuck in the mud to free them.

 Play for 1 minute or until all players are stuck, whichever comes first.

 If chasers tackle all players before the one minute is up, they win. If runners are unstuck at the end of the game, they win a point.

 Rotate chasers after each game.  

If coach sees a good piece of skill and/or technique, he/she will award a point as a reward, giving the players extra motivation to be positive and try the new skills and techniques.

Whoever has the most points at the end of the last game is the winner.

Coaching Points:

Encourage Players must be aware of what and who is around about them by trying to keep their head up and by scanning quickly over each shoulder.

Players must communicate with their team-mates to try and avoid clashing with each other, give team-mates a 'man on' shout if they are being sneaked up on and to call for help getting 'out the mud'.

Players should take smaller touches to keep the ball under control.

Encourage burst of pace into space, especially after change of direction and/or after performing a skill.

Emphasize the importance of body positioning for shielding the ball.

Adaptations- Add another defender if too easy for dribblers.

Small sided games (15 mins)

Organisation- Same pitch as conditioned games.

No gates

Good old fashioned football, try and score and try and not concede.

Coaching Points- Encourage soft touches, close control and positive forward movement

. Head up when dribbling, always scan to see where team mates and opponents are.

 Close control is essential, make sure body and knee is over the ball. 

Encourage use of technique/skill to get away from the defender.

 Stress importance of communication. 

Constantly praise any positive forward movement.

Progressions / Adaptations Switch teams if too one sided.