Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): HFC Academy Training Session Guide

Set Up

Pre-Session Checklist:

• Know the session plan, topics of the week, and desired outcome for each session.
• Meet with staff to go over session plan. 
• Ensure that all fields & materials are set up & organized prior to session.
  • Multiple fields are generally required. 
  • Build the session backwards (starting with the larger SSG field)
  • 5v5 is the maximum SSG, 4v4 is most ideal. 
• As players arrive, have them start playing small sided games right away until training starts.

In-Session Checklist

• Put the players in their teams (bibs) right away, this way you will not have to slow down training later to divide teams. 
  
• Control your environment including your staff, the players, & the players throughout the duration of the session.
  
• Coach: You are entrusted with teaching the game and life skills to the players. 100% focus on the players are required throughout the duration of each session. 
• Questions to ask yourself:
  

- Am I creating a fun & safe environment? Am I correcting poor behavior as to not make it a habit? 

- Are the players engaged? How can I collectively or individually refocus players?

- How can I help the players throughout this activity?
- Are my coaching points sharp and on topic or am I confusing players with wrong or too much information? 

- Am I asking the right guided questions to achieve my desired player actions?

- Is my transition from one activity to another taking a long time? If so, how can I get them going faster?

• Always end the session with a recap, allow players to engage & answer questions (on topic). Players should have a clear understanding of what they learned and why it is important after each session.
• Ensure that each player leaves with a trusted adult. 
• Ensure that the field is left as you found it with no trace or equipment left behind. 

Core Skill Technical Session (20 mins)

Session Organization:

• Red light-green light free dribble 
  • Red - Stop (foot on top of ball)
  • Yellow - Light jog
  • Green - Run with the ball
• Randomize instruction, skills, etc

Coaching Points:

• Core Skills
  • Foundation touches
  • Toe Taps
  • Sole Roll
  • Inside-Outside touches
  • Head Up
  • Identify 
• Skill Moves
  • Inside Chop
  • Outside Chop
  • Pull Back
  • L-Turn
  • 1 Footed V Turn
  • 2 Footed V Turn
  • Fake & Take
  • Scissor
  • Step Over
  • Croqueta
  • Cruyff Turn
  • Elastico
  • Maradona
  • Rainbow

Progression:

• Progress to one ball between 2 players with passing & moving in addition to core skills & skill moves.
• Within the variation, passing gates can be added as an additional challenge for points. 

• On the coaches cue, players toss the ball in the air as try to control it without the ball bouncing using the part of the body identified of the day. 

• When coach shouts a number, players turn using identified skill and create a group of the number shouted by coach. 
• The last player(s) to create a group of the identified number is on a forfeit (silly dance).

• Add dribbling gates of different colors. When coach shouts a color, players quickly dribble through the identified gates, counting how many they get in the time allowed by coaches (30 seconds is plenty). 
  

Running with the Ball

• When the whistle is blown, reds & blues switch halves. 
• The first team to get their whole team across earns a point.
  

Defending

• Create a small group of defenders to enter the game without a ball.
  
• On the whistle, defenders enter the game and attempt to steal the ball and score on either goal.
  
• If a ball is stollen, the dribbling team can steal their ball back, stopping the defenders from scoring a goal.
  

Shooting

• Give each player a number or create multiple color groups.
  
• Coach shouts number/color and those players are allowed to shoot on either goal. (throughout the dribbling/core skill activity)
  

The Small Sided Game (15 mins)

Session Organization:

• Normal game rules.
• Kick in or dribble in for all restarts (including fouls).
• PK is from the half way line with no player in the attacking half.

Coaching Points:

• Core Skills
• Technical Mechanics
• Tactical Principals 

Team Tactical Principles

Attacking Principles

1. Spread out.
2. Triangulate.
3. Pass or dribble forwards, or hold the ball.
4. Support the attack.
5. Switch the Point of attack.
6. Create 2v1 & 1v1.

Defensive Principles

1. Protect the goal.
2. Steal the ball.
3. Get compact.
4. Staycompact.
5. Pressure, Cover, Balance.
6. Outnumber the opponent.

Progression:

Consider the Conditions, Targets, & Challenges that can be added in order to influence more repetition of the session topic.

• Teams must complete 3 passes before scoring a goal.
• Extra points for goals after connecting 3 passes or more. 

• Throw-ins for all restarts.
• Extra points for a goal if the scorer receives an aerial pass before shooting.

• Teams must switch from one side of the field to the other to score a goal (place a line in the middle of the pitch).
• Extra Points for switching from one side of the field to the other before scoring a goal. 

• Teams must dribble through the central area before scoring a goal (add a box in the middle of the pitch for them to dribble through)
• Extra points for teams that score after dribbling through the central zone. 

Running with the Ball

• Teams must dribble into the wide zones before scoring a goal (Split field into 3 zones, 2 wide & 1 central).
  
• Extra points for goals scored from a cross from the wide zones. 
  
• (Wide space is generally where the most space is to RWB).
  

Defending

• Extra points if a goal is scored within 1 pass after winning possession in the other teams half. 
• Extra points for goal scored after regaining possession within 5 second of losing possession. 

Shooting

• Extra points for goals scored from own half.
• Extra points for goals scored with identified part of foot/body.