Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): ADP Week 1 Festival

Week 1 Festival U8-U12

U8-U12 - 6:45pm - 7:45pm

1. Dribble Derby from MOJO

2. Small Sided Game

3. "Beat and Score" from SAP Session Design #3 - 1v1

4. Small Sided Game

Passing Gates (15 mins)

Organisation: 

Set up 'gates' and spread them out across the playing area. 

Different coloured gates can create more variety and visual cues for younger children. 

Players are to pair up and stand on either side of the space between the gates with 1 ball between the two of them. 

How to Play:

Must play with TWO touches. 

Start easy, with players making as many passes as they can within the same gate. 

Introduce moving to another gate after 5 passes. When moving to another gate, the player without the ball should dictate where the pair will go next so that the dribbler has to follow the player making the run and then make the pass through the gate. 

You can also introduce the wall pass or one-two pass and depict the cones as defenders, that they need to pass through and around. 

“Now we're going to play a pass between two defenders (Killer Pass) and then return a pass around the defenders. You'll see this will help us start moving into space for the next gate.”



Coaching Tips:

Challenge the kids with races either against each other or against time. E.g. Now let's see which team can make the most passes in 60 seconds! or Let's see which team can make 5 passes through every single gate the quickest, first team to go through every gate and return back to their original gate, wins!

Children should be using different parts of their feet to control the ball.

Make sure the kids are using the inside of their foot to pass the ball accurately. 

CHANGEIT / Progressions:

Make gates or bigger or smaller based on ability levels. 

For a harder challenge, "Control with your left foot and pass with your right foot". And vice-versa.

Introduce any other passing concepts you think of and change partners. You can even do relay races like this.

Beat and Score

Organisation:

Have 2 pop-goals on each goal line and cone out "scoring zones".

Split group into two teams and partner off.

How to Play:

Player with ball must beat partner in 1v1 duel and score in one of the opposing goals once they enter the scoring zone.

Rotate role of attacker and defender after each attempt.

Rotate opponents every 2 minutes.

Coaching Tips:

Encourage players to engage in 1v1 duels

Praise attempts to beat a defender

Encourage players to work hard to win the ball back when they lose it

CHANGEIT / Progressions:

Make the area smaller or bigger as required

Change the scoring method for better players. E.g. they have to dribble into the goal