Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1v1 Pressure in Front - Scissors

Warm Up (10 mins)

Organization:

-20 x 20 yard area set up as shown

-12 players set up as shown

-1 ball per player

Instructions:

-Players dribble around area

-On coach’s call “stop”, players stop their ball from moving. Continue on coach's call "go".

-On coach's call "switch", players stop their ball from moving and start dribbling with a new ball.

-When coach says "1", 20 tick tocks.

-When coach says "2", 20 stationary scissors.

-When coach says "3", 20 toe taps.

-Play for set time period

Coaching Points:

-Change of speed and direction

-Head up, accelerate away

Progressions:

-Coach can restrict the surfaces players may use to control the ball, e.g. inside only, outside only, soles only

-Remove one ball every 30 seconds, leaving one more player without a ball each time. Players without a ball must try to steal one from another player. If a ball is stolen, that player must steal one from a different person

-Players can eliminate others by kicking their ball out while maintaining possession of their own. Winner is last one remaining in possession of a ball.

Technical Non/Semi-opposed (20 mins)

Organization:

1. 20x20 area.

2. Markers at halfway.

3. Every player with a ball.

Instructions:

See (A)

1. First player on each line attacks middle marker (on eye contact with opposite player), performs move, and continues to other side.

2. Next two players repeat process.

3. Moves to use: Feint, inside/outside, scissors.

Coaching Points:

1. Attack space with speed.

2. Smaller touches as you approach defender, bigger touches after you beat defender.

3. Technical execution of specific moves.

4. Use of body to "sell the move."

5. Timing of the move.

Progressions:

See (B)

Remove center cone. Balls on one side only. Player passes across then walks forward slowly in a straight line to passively defend. Receiving player attacks then performs move on passive defender.

Conditioned Game (30 mins)

Organization:

-40 x 20 yard area, with a 5 yard end zone at each end set up as shown

-Even teams, 3v3 max (set up multiple games if needed)

Instructions:

-The game is called "Ball Hog". Players can only advance forward by dribbling, all passes must be either lateral or backwards.

-Teams compete to score goals by dribbling and stopping ball in opposing end zone. Play restarts, with defender dribbling from own end zone.

-1 point for stopping the ball in the endzone; bonus point (2 pts total) for stopping ball in the yellow box

Coaching Points:

-Head up to observe open space and dribble to score

-Attack the spaces between defenders

-Use fakes or quick changes of direction

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

-Attack the space quickly if you receive a pass

-Improvisation/Creativity

Progressions:

-Open play

-Place goals at either end, introduce goal keepers