Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Core Skills Breakdown - APIA Senior x GSAP (Start Time: 2025-07-15 18:00:00)

Premier Users' Club

Bradley Attard (B1)

Profile Summary

Name:	Bradley Attard (B1)
City:	Sydney
Country:	Australia
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

Interface Language

Share this Session

Link Session

Build 3D sessions in seconds

Access to 1000’s of sessions

Professionalise and modernise your coaching

Used by the world’s best coaches

US$

per year

Join today

Description

Session Overview: Core Skills Breakdown

Age Group: U9–12 Girls
Theme: Developing the Four Core Skills
Session Type: Skill Breakdown Stations
Duration: ~60 mins total (10-15 mins per station)
Support: Led by Senior coaching staff and assisted by senior players

Session Purpose

This session is designed as a technical “skill breakdown” of the four core skills of football:

First Touch
Striking the Ball
Running with the Ball
1v1

Each station isolates one of the core skills, giving players focused time to develop technique, confidence, and decision-making with support from senior players.

Station Breakdown

First Touch & Movement Drill

Focus: Receiving, passing, and movement off the ball
Key Skills: Opening body, directional first touch, passing under control

Running with the Ball

Focus: Ball control at speed and head-up dribbling
Key Skills: Accelerating into space, close control, scanning for traffic

1v1 Skill Challenge

Focus: Beating a player with skill and change of pace
Key Skills: Step-over, outside touch, body feint, explosive drive
Senior Player Role: Demonstrate skill moves and offer feedback

Striking the Ball – 2v1 to Goal

Focus: Passing, timing, and finishing under pressure
Key Skills: Striking with laces/instep, weight of pass, decision-making
Senior Player Role: Defend 1v2 to create realistic pressure

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1st Touch

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

1st Touch (10 mins)

Setup:

Four cones set up in a square (Players on outside: 3, 4, 7, 11).
Two cones in the middle (acting as reference points or passive defenders – 6 and 8).
Players are positioned at each cone; multiple players can queue at the starting cone
One ball starts at the 3 (labeled as "1" to show the first pass).

▶️ How It Works:

The 3 makes the first pass (labeled "1") into the 8.
After passing, the player follows their pass to the next station (as shown by the red arrows).
Each receiving player takes a positive first touch (ideally furthest foot), then plays the next pass to the following station.
The pattern continues around the square in a clockwise direction:
3 ➝ 8 ➝ 11 ➝ 7 ➝ 6 ➝ 4 (and so on).

Coaching Points:

First Touch: Open up the body and take the ball into space or toward the next target.
Body Position: Shoulders and hips open to the field when receiving.
Movement: Sharp, purposeful runs after passing.
Passing: Accurate, firm, and well-timed.
Awareness: Check shoulders before receiving, especially near the central cones.

Progressions:

Opposite way
Bounce to the 3 or 7
Add a passive defender near central cones to force better body shape and awareness.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Running with the Ball

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Running with the Ball (10 mins)

Setup:

Four groups of players (red dots), each starting at a corner of the square.
Every group has a ball.
Use 4 central cones to mark a neutral “middle zone” that players must avoid or go around.
All players dribble diagonally across the square to the opposite corner at the same time.
The grey squiggly arrows represent dribbling paths with the ball.

How It Works:

On your command, the first player in each line dribbles diagonally across the square to the opposite corner. (after going into the middle cone across their starting cone).
Players focus on tight control at the start, then accelerate into space.
As they near the Middle and end, players slow down and prepare to turn their ball or pass it to the next player.
As soon as one player finishes, the next group goes.
After a few rounds, swap diagonals or use all four corners continuously (if you cant start with this).

Coaching Points:

Ball Mastery: Use laces to drive, inside to control when tight.
Head Up: Check for traffic – avoid collisions!
Change of Speed: Accelerate into space, decelerate into control.
Decision Making: Go wide or tight based on others’ positions.
Soft touches in tight traffic, bigger touches into space.

Progressions:

Opposite way, turn directly back, run directly through the middle!
Add passive defenders or obstacles (e.g., mannequins in the middle/ players).
Dribble into a turning move (e.g., cut or drag-back) at the halfway point in the middle.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1v1

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

1v1 (10 mins)

Setup:

Players work in threes, opposite each other in individual lanes marked by poles and cones.
Each lane has a dribble zone leading up to a 1v1 moment near the pole.
The attacker starts with the ball and dribbles toward the pole.

How It Works:

Player with the ball dribbles forward, builds up pace, and executes a skill move at the pole to beat the defender.
The senior player can offer light or passive resistance at first — just enough to force decision-making instead of the pole
After the skill move, the attacker pushes into space and accelerates past the defender.
Player switch roles and come back the other way
Senior players can demonstrate skill moves before each round to model technique.

Coaching Points:

Approach with speed, but under control — create momentum before the move.
Commit the defender: wait until they’re off-balance or reaching.
Explode after the move – change of pace and direction is key!
Keep head up when dribbling and before engaging the defender.
Reinforce confidence in using their own style of beat-the-player moves.
Dropping shoulders to sell way and then protect the ball with the body

Skill Move Suggestions:

Outside of the foot touch
Single step-over
Double step-over
Scissors
Body feint
Encourage players to invent or share their own too!

Progressions:

Passive to active defending — increase defender resistance.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Striking the Ball

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Striking the Ball (10 mins)

Setup:

Two lines of red attackers with balls on one side of the grid.
One blue defender (senior player) starts in the middle of the grid.
Two mini goals positioned at the far end of each grid.
Players attack 2v1, aiming to score in either mini goal.
Dotted black line represents the first pass.
Squiggly line shows dribbling.
Yellow dotted line shows the shot on goal.

How It Works:

First player from each red line steps in and initiates a pass to their partner.
They must combine with at least one pass before taking a shot.
The blue defender applies pressure, trying to block or delay the attack.
The attacking pair chooses when and where to shoot, aiming for either mini goal.
Rotate attackers after every attack and defenders every few minutes .

Coaching Points:

Firm, accurate passes under pressure.
Use first touch to move into space or draw the defender.
Communicate clearly: “One more!”, “Switch it!”, “Shoot!”
Encourage disguised passes and quick decision-making.
Shot technique: inside of the foot, laces for power.

Progressions:

Add a touch limit before the shot (e.g., 3-touch max).
Require a wall pass or overlap before shooting.
Have the defender recover from behind instead of starting centrally.

Build 3D sessions in seconds

Access to 1000’s of sessions

Professionalise and modernise your coaching

Used by the world’s best coaches

US$

per year

Join today