Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U12 - Composure on the Ball and patient play

Activation (10 mins)

Set Up: 

2 teams of 6 players play against the clock in a fun activation game. 

Objective is to see which team can maintain possession the longest. 

Attacking team:

Red team has 6 balls to use, only one ball at any time, they must maintain possession of the ball without allowing the Blue team to intercept or steal. 

The coach starts timer as soon as ball is in play, the game lasts until all 6 balls have been stolen. 

Defending Team:

Blue team has 2 balls, they must throw the ball to each other knowing that only the player in possession can try to win the ball. A ball can only be stolen if both balls are in the grid. 

Coaching Points:

• Receive off back foot
• Weight of pass
• Play away from pressure and look far!
• Don't pass for the sake of passing, draw out defenders

• Communication
• Man to man marking
• Defensive responsibility

Counter vs Build Possession Game (15 mins)

Set Up:

6v6 + 1, possession game where players must decide when they should penetrate or circulate the ball. GK is in box in the middle that no other player can enter. 

4 x 3mins + 45 secs break

Attacking team:

Red team must possess the ball and at the right moment play a pass into Gk who must switch the ball out to another side for a +1point. 

Defending team:

Blue team are trying to intercept passes and if they win the ball score in either of the small goals for a +1 point.

Progression:

If defending team wins possession and scores, the teams switch roles. 

Coaching Points:

• Receive off back foot
• Weight of pass
• Play away from pressure and look far!
• Don't pass for the sake of passing, draw out defenders
• Recognize when to break lines and be ruthless!
• Counter press!

• Communication
• Denying through balls
• Making the play predictable with angled pressure
• Counter attack at speed!

Wave Game (20 mins)

Set Up:

3 team wave game, earn the right to attack!

2 x 7 mins - 90 sec rest

Red Team: Build out from GK, trying to play into the waiting black team. 1 x Black player is acting as a #6

Blue Team: Blues are trying to win possession and go to Goal. 

Black Team: If the reds are successful in passing into Black team the black team immediately attacks and now the blue team defends the goal immediately. 

Restart from the GK.  

Coaching Points:

• Receive off back foot
• Weight of pass
• Play away from pressure and look far!
• Don't pass for the sake of passing, draw out defenders

• Communication
• Denying forward passes
• Making the play predictable with angled pressure
• Counter attack!