Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Turning/Change of Direction- week 6

SAQ (10 mins)

Organization:

- Players in pairs.

- 2 cones - 5 yards apart.

Instructions:

- White player is "attacker".

- Blue player is "defender (mirror)".

- White players attempts to step on either red cone without the blue player "mirroring" him.

- If the attacker scores, the two players return to the middle and slap hands to initiate the game.

- Play for 30 seconds then switch roles.

Coaching Points:

- Can you unbalance the defender?

- Can you increase the defender's momentum to give yourself an advantage?

- Mechanics to change direction.

Progressions:

- League table

Semi / Fully Opposed (35 mins)

Organization:

- Groups of 3 or 4.

- As shown.

- 10x15 yards

Instructions:

Part 1 (as shown)

- Player A plays pass to player B.

- Player A begins to close the space.

- Player B bounces a double pass off of player A.

- Player A then presses the ball as a passive defender after playing the double pass.

Part 2 (As shown)

- Player B takes his first touch sideways as Player A mirrors him.

- Player B changes direction twice on each side of the channel when Player A blocks his passing lane to Player C.

- After Player B performs both the L and the U-turn, he plays through the gap to Player C and the activitity repeats with Player B pressing Player C.

Learning Outcomes:

Attacking the space forward on the field (looking to penetrate)

Identification of the space

Identification of the defender

Decision whether to keep going forward or turn based on pressure and space

Use of body, arms etc to fake

Protect the ball or not? (risk vs reward)

Distance of touch (helps next action)

Direction of touch (based on next action)

Protecting the ball while dribbling

Use of arms to feel the defender

Toe part of the sole to drag ball back

Movement of non-kicking foot as you drag ball

Turn body opposite to foot you use

Coaching Points:

- Technique of turn.

- Angle and distance of touch.

- Recognition to protect the ball or show the ball based on defender's pressure.

- Ability to look through the gap left by defender.

- Quality of approach and pass when playing through the gap.

Progression

Game becomes Live

- Attacker (Player A) gets point if he can play through the gap to Player C.

- Defender (Player B) gets point if he can win the ball or prevent player A from playing forward.

- Attacker must take at least two touches before playing forward.

- Attacker must bounce ball back off of the defender before round starts to initiate realistic pressure.