Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Ball Control and First Touch

Warm Up - Day1 (10 mins)

Organization:

2 groups of players, 1 group outside (tagets with balls), 1 inside of the grid

Instructions:

Players in center job around the center of the field, asking for a pass, receving it, and finding an open target. Players rotate after certain periods

Coaching Points/Questions:

Before coaching ball control, make sure to quick re-visit passing technique if needed.

* Eye contact - Establish a conection with the open player first

* Verbal communication - Loud demand of ball

* Phisical communication - Use of hands of body posture

(Which foot/side do I want to receive the ball?)

* Perception and awareness

Developmental Reps (20 mins)

Organization:

Small goals

5 cones

balls

Instructions:

3 stations, A, B, C

A plays to B (A follows pass)

B receives and plays to C (B follows pass)

C receives and pass into target (pugg) (C recovers ball and goes puggs heading to opposite line)

* B Checks off from cone (Defender) to receive a pass from A (A follows their pass)

* B Dribbles and sets a through pass to C (B takes the empty cone left by C.)

* C checks in --Driving defender in-- and makes a bend run to meet the through pass from B.

* C takes a shot on goal, gets ball and joins oppside line.

Coaching Points:

* Stations B and C shows movement off defender (cones)

* Open shoulders to improve vision and ball control

* Receive with back foot (No pressure)

* Adjust body position in line with path of ball

* Variations of foot surface.

Progressions:

Change Patters.

1) B and C give and go

2) What if Player B is unavailable?. A plays to C, - C lays off to B - B plays to opposite C

* Add 1 or 2 defenders if not challenged enough.

Conditioned Play (20 mins)

Organization:

5v5 game

Several marked triangles

Soccer balls

goals

Instructions:

Conditioned game.

Players

Coaching Points:

* Open body shape (Open shoulders/hips)

* Back foot vs front foot (no pressure vs pressure)

* Direction of first touch (Away from pressure)

* Foot surface

Progressions/Regressions

* Player on triangle has 3 seconds of no pressure (Regression)

* If player receives with the correct foot (back vs front foot) and assist, goal counts as 2.