Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U11 - Playing in mid-final third

Ball Mastery and Turns Warm up

Organisation:

- Each player with a ball

- 3 players per side of grid

Instructions:

- Each side of the area is called a player name

- One side Messi (outside-inside), one side Pogba (toe-taps), one side Bale (rollovers), one side Ronaldo (creative - anything you like)

- Players move with their ball doing their particular skill (e.g. Messi) to the opposite side and back to the side they started on. Players all go at once

- 2/3mins then rotate sides, moving the players around clockwise

Progressions:

- Add a turn for players to do when they get to the other side (e.g. Messi - outside-inside and outside cut, Pogba - toe-taps and stepover turn, Bale - rollovers and cruyff turn)

- Introduce more advanced ball manipulations i.e. roll-stops, outside-inside both feet, backwards toe-taps, drag-push etc.

Coaching Points:

- Head up

- Look out for other players around you

- Focus on doing the skills correctly (quickly and accurately, but under control)

- Light on feet

- Low body when turning

6v6 Phase Play (mid-final 3rd)

Organisation

-Create a pitch using full width less 10 yards and 10 yards shorter than the half way line. Place two mini goals onm the end line.

-Offside rule applies

- Split players into two teams - 6 white and 7 Red (including GK).

Instructions

- White team play in a 2-3-1 formation - Red team play in a 4-2 formation.

- White team seek to score as usual.

- If Red team gain possession, they have 6 passes in which to score in either of the mini goals.

- Game restarts with coach playing the ball to White No.6 each time.

Coaching points

- Attackers who can pick the ball up in the space between the back 4 and Midfield, will be able to penetrate the Defence by passing, shooting and even dribbling. Players that play in between the lines of opponents cause them many marking and team shape problems.

Progressions

- 2/3 touch

- If high numbers of players, neutrals on sidelines