Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Next Level Coaching. Week 1
Session Collective
Peter Sturgess
Description
This first week starts with a great game (10-10 is the score) to send out a very strong message to the players that helping them to understand how "the game" actually works is going to be a key feature.
This is followed by some intense individual work (Half Each?) to improve individual ability on the ball and finally this individual aspect is situated into a game with constraints (No going Back) that focusses upon individual skill when under pressure.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Organisation: For this activity start with a 6x6m area (remember, this can be made larger or smaller depending upon age and ability. There will be two players and one ball for each area. The areas can be side by side to accommodate all your players.
How to play:
- one player decides when to go in for the ball (Red in the video)
- the other player must react (Blue in the video)
- The player that gets to the ball first takes it into "their" half and tries to keep it there
- If the other player gets possession they take the ball into the other half
- If the ball goes out the game is restarted and the player who DIDN"T put the ball out can go in for the ball first
- Coach patient defending ready to "pounce" and gain possession rather than just kick it out
- Swap opponents to provide different challenges
- Play in areas of different shapes and sizes.
Option 2: Make the area bigger to give the players more time and space but remember the distances into each half will increase.
Option 3: Use balls of different shapes and weights (Futsal ball, tennis ball, sizes 2,3 and 4)
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Organisation: My approach recognises the benefit of including more games or game like activities in your sessions. This is a great one to introduce: Hiding, manoeuvring and revealing the ball.
How to play:
There are two equal teams and two GK’s. The game can be played on a small-sided pitch, across a full sized pitch or in a sports hall and it works best with formats of 4v4, 5v5 or 6v6. For this 5v5 game the pitch is 35x20m and the end zones are 10m.
There are three areas on the pitch:
- A defending and attacking zone for both teams at each end and a central area.
In the zones at each end the ball can be played back (to replicate using your GK or setting the ball back to a teammate for a shot) but in the central area the ball CANNOT be passed backwards.
The game starts with a score of 10-10. Goals can be scored in the usual way to add to your score but if the ball is passed backwards in the central area a goal is deducted from that team’s total.
The game aims to increase individual time on the ball and encourage the players to stay on the ball whilst looking for more forward passing opportunities. To do this their teammates must also look to take up more offensive positions and support in advance of the ball.
The game also encourages twisting, turning and shielding the ball under pressure which can lead to more dribbles and runs forward with the ball. This is great for young players and their individual skill development.
The video shows the Blue team keeping possession, moving the ball forwards and then using the end zone to pass back to a teammate who is in a better position to score.
Option 1: Reduce the size of the pitch to encourage more contact and more pressure.
Option 2: Increase the pitch size.
Option 3: Play the game with Man to Man marking to really challenge your players.
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
This is a great warm-up game that will hopefully fully engage and entertain your young players whilst helping them develop some really positive attitudes to having possession.
Organisation: The game is also very flexible so it can be played in any format from 3v3 to 11v 11 and can be played with or without goalkeepers.
The game shown is 3v3 +GKs and the size of this pitch is 20x15m but remember, this can be adjusted for your player's age and ability.
How to play:
The score when the game starts is 10-10 (ten goals for each side) BUT if your team is responsible for the ball going out of play your team loses a goal eg:
Ball goes out on the sideline off one of your players - lose a goal.
Ball goes out on your opponents goal line (either through a bad pass or a shot that is off target - lose a goal.
Ball goes out on YOUR goal line off one of YOUR players - lose a goal as there are NO CORNERS
If you are clever and play the ball out off your opponents legs they lose a goal so be cunning near the edges of the pitch.
In the video you will see a miss-placed pass from the RED team that costs them a goal and now the Blue team is winning 10-9.
REMEMBER: your team can always add to its goals by scoring in the normal way so make sure your possession takes you forwards with creativity to entertain and score lots of goals. Good Luck.
Option 1: Make the pitch smaller, this will challenge the players to keep the ball under control.
Option 2. Make the pitch bigger. This allows more time and space for the players so the ball may not go out as often. Try to arrive at a pitch size that is "just right".