Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Nike Soccer Camp: Day 2 (Start Time: 2024-03-12 09:30:00)

Warm Up 2 - Cone Strike (Engage 10 mins) (10 mins)

OVERVIEW: 

• Setup a 20 x 20 playing area. 
• This is an unopposed (no tackling) skill intro game/warm-up. 
• This is simple passing exercise that combine the elements of competition and fun. 
• As per the diagram, place a cone with a ball resting on top (target cone) for each pair. Have players stand 5-7 yards away from the target cone. Players have one ball between two and have to simply strike/pass the ball to hit the ball off in the middle (target cone). Players get 1 point for every time they hit the ball off the cone. 
• Once the ball has been knocked off the Target Cone, the ball must be immediately placed back on the Target Cone and the game continues.    
• Play 2-3 min rounds. The player with the highest score wins the round. Rotate players after each round. 
• The player who wins the most rounds gets to choose a funny dance for the coach to perform e.g., dance around like a monkey or ballerina etc. Make it fun!  
• Have parents/volunteers retrieve loose passes. This will increase game time.  

COACHING DETAILS: 

Body Shape when Passing/Striking the Ball:

• Players are to approach the ball on a slight angle, never straight on. This helps kids eliminate "toe-bashing".  
• Players are to place their standing foot (none striking foot) approx. 6 inches next to the ball. Their standing foot is to point at their target – in this case the Target Cone. 
• Players are to bend their standing leg to maintain good balance when passing/striking the ball. 
• Players are to keep their chest over the ball with their eyes fixed on the ball throughout the passing movement. 
• For beginners, players are to learn to pass/strike the ball using the inside of their foot. This increases pass accuracy. 
• As coaches it's very important to repeat these coaching details over and over without becoming impatient. Make sure to encourage all players no matter their skill level. 

• Have players use their weaker/less dominant foot. This is especially important for players who are more skilled at using their stronger/more dominant foot.  
• Have players use different parts of their foot – inside, outside, laces/instep. 
• Have players stand further from the Target Cone. 

• Have less skilled players stand closer to the Target Cone. 

Bingo Pt 1 (Dribbling) (10 mins)

OVERVIEW: 

• Setup a 35 x 25 approx. pitch with two goals and an area in the middle (approx. 15 x 15). You can play with or without goalkeepers. 
• Have all players with a ball each and each player is given a number (see diagram). 
• Have players dribble the ball inside the middle area using different skills, dribbling at different speeds and changing direction often. 
• After 15-20 seconds, the coach calls out two different number and these players dribble as fast as they can outside the middle area to attempt to score in one of the goals. Once they have taken their shot, they retrieve their ball and dribble back into the middle area. This cycle repeats for approx. 5-7 mins. 
• Make sure all players get plenty of repetition. 
• To add competition, set up the game to be based around the first player to score with their inside, outside and laces/instep on both feet to win! 
• Use a whiteboard with each type of shot listed. For example: Right-foot: inside, outside, laces/instep, and Left-foot: inside, outside, laces/instep. Get players to tick off each one after they have scored that particular goal. If no player manages to score all the different goals, the player who manages to mark off the most win! 

COACHING DETAILS: 

Body Shape when Striking the Ball:

• Reiterate the same coaching points as before (Cone Strike) with the additional coaching details: when striking a moving ball, it's important to place your standing foot slightly in-front of the ball (still approx. 6 inches to the side of the ball). When players place their standing foot right next to a ball that's moving away from them, by the time they actually strike the ball the ball is out in-front of their striking foot (instead of next to their striking foot). This often results with players stretching/leaning back to compensate, thereby reducing the power & accuracy of the shot. 
• Encourage players when 

Scanning: 

• Scanning is when players become aware of their surroundings by keeping their eyes up and by checking over each shoulder. By scanning players become aware of... space to run into or exploit, teammate(s) in space, defenders to avoid, goal-scoring opportunities etc. Scanning is super important but often neglected, so encourage players to scan constantly whilst dribbling in the middle area. 

PROGRESSIONS: 

• Add defenders in-front of each goal who can prevent the attacker from being able to score.

REGRESSIONS: 

• Add more goals and don't have goalkeepers to make it easier for players to practice their ball striking technique. You might run the first round without goalkeepers and then the following round(s) with goalkeepers. 

3v3 + Target to 4 Goals (20 mins)

Organization:
• 3v3 Game to 4 Goals (Directional Game towards two goals per team) with a Target player inside both end zones
• The attacking team must combine with their Target player before scoring. In order to enter the space beyond the cones, they must link up with the target player too. This reinforces the defending team to track runs after lines are broken.

Coach/Facilitator Feedback:
• “Balance space & opponents"
• “Compact Unit”
• How can you maintain a compact shape when defending at all times?

Progressions:
• Allow the target to show beyond the end zone/coned area, which forces the defending team to scan behind them and screen passing lanes
• Add a 2nd Target player to reinforce compactness and closing gaps

4v4 + 4 Quick shooting game (15 mins)

4v4 + 4 Quick shooting game - have side players if you want to include all the team 

Diamond shape so it encourage and produces more shooting opportunities .

Can we get shots off quickly - may want to limit touches to make more realistic.

Working on movement, creating angles and ability to strike quickly under pressure

If we cant shoot can we play quickly to team mate so they can shoot

Rebounds and reactions of team mates when shot is struck.

Conditions

Outside players on touch limit 

1st time goal counts as 2 goals

Weaker foot finish counts as 2 goals 

4v4+4 to Goal (15 mins)

GK 4v4+4 game

*** Variation to bring two netrals into the centre area for overloads. 

2 teams on playing in a directional 4v4 game, one team acting as neutral players on 1/2 touch. Play 3 minute games or first team to score 2 goals wins

Players looking to play forwards whenever possible.

Assist from own half is worth 2 goals, including a pass to an advanced neutral player.

Neutral Players beside the goal encourage forward/vertical play. Like the other exercise, encourage and progress to immediate support by limiting to one touch. Progress to a 3rd man lay off only or value that for more goals.