Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Improve teams ability to build up through midfield

Warm up - Numerical Pass and Move (15 mins)

This warm up will help your team pass and move. While also helping them "FIND THE NEXT PASS" as they are challenged to move the ball throughout their specific team.

- Create 2 teams and number each player between #1 - #5.

- #1 will start with the ball and must pass to the next number on their team (#2).

- As each player receives the ball, they must dribble 3-5 times before passing to their next teammate.

**Encourage all players to be moving in "game like fashion" when they are not on the ball**

Coaching Points:

1) Mobility off the ball is key to make it easy for the player infront of you to make a successful pass.

2) All passes should be driven and hit with the proper weight

3) Communication by the entire team will improve speed of play

Passing Combinations Progression #2 - Building (20 mins)

This progression will continue to improve your teams ability to combine in the midfield. Adding overlaps and bounce passes in order to switch the point of attack.

Who?: #5, #6, #7, #9 (X2)

Size?: 15 yards between cones and poles, 5 yds between poles

- Ball will start with #5, who plays the ball into #6

- #6 will BOUNCE it back to the #5, #6 will tell them to HOLD, then overlap the #5

- #5 will play the ball wide to the #7, who will bounce it into open space

- #6 will follow the ball into space and switch the point of attack to the #9.

** Both balls can be played simultaneously**

** Same rotations as previous exercise (#5 to the pole, #6 goes wide, #7 goes far)

Coaching Points:

1) Early communication will improve speed of play and teammates ability to FIND THE NEXT PASS

2) Weight of each pass should be appropriate (firm ball in, soft lay off, firm ball to switch point of play)

3) Find the appropriate foot during passing combinations to increase speed of play, and encourage receiving player to turn hips quickly to find next pass.