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Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): MSA: Dribbling - Changing Speed and Direction

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Majura Football Club

Philippe Bernabo-Madrid

Profile Summary

Philippe Bernabo-Madrid
Name: Philippe Bernabo-Madrid
City: Canberra
Country: Australia
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Session Objective: To improve players' ability to change speed and direction when dribbling

Coaching Points:

  • Can you change speed and direction at speed to get away from the defender
  • Can you dribble looking up (eyes up)
  • Can you keep close control of the ball when dribbling at speed
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up
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Warm Up (5 mins)

Set Up: 

  • Players: 10-15
  • Grid Size: 20m x 20m

Explanation:

  • In the area shown in the diagram, every player will have a ball except 3 players who will be the taggers.
  • The players with a ball will dribble around the area and avoid getting tagged. If a player is tagged, they become the tagger and give the ball to the player that just tagged them
  • All players must be constantly moving

Variation:

  • For 30 seconds players can only dribble with their left foot (right foot for left footers)
  • Add more taggers (Up to half the players)

Coaching Points:

  • Can you change speed and direction at speed to get away from the defender
  • Can you dribble looking up (eyes up)
  • Can you keep close control of the ball when dribbling at speed
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up Competition

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up Competition
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Warm Up Competition (5 mins)

Set Up:

  • Players: 10-15
  • Grid size: 20m x 20m

Concluding Competition: 

  • Splitting the players into five teams as shown in the diagram with one team defending and the other 4 attacking.
  • Attacking players will attempt to run into the middle zone without getting tagged by the two defenders. They must then take a ball from the middle zone to their "headquarters" without getting tackled.
  • If the defender wins the ball, the attacker must place the ball back in the middle zone. 
  • Only one attacker can go to get a ball from each team at a time 
  • Change the defending team after 60-90 seconds 
  • Count how many balls each team has in their headquarters after every turn, the team with the most points after all 5 sets wins

Coaching Points:

  • Can you change speed and direction at speed
  • Can you dribble looking up (eyes up)
  • Can you keep close control of the ball when attacking
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Main Part - Skill Training

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Main Part - Skill Training
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Main Part - Skill Training (20 mins)

Set Up:

  • Players: 10-15
  • Grid Size: 20m x 25m

Explanation: 

  • Two teams of 5-6 players with each team standing opposite one another 
  • The blue player will dribble the ball and pass to the red player who will arrive at the same time as the pass
  • The red player must run the gate the opposite end, turn around and score in either of the goals 
  • The blue player must run around the opposite gate and attempt to stop the red player from scoring 
  • The coach can raise a coloured bib and the attacker must call out the colour to be allowed to enter the gate 
  • Switch defenders and attackers every 2-3 minutes 

Team task: To dribble the ball through the gates, turn around and score a goal

Player Actions: 

  • Can you take your first touch in the direction you want to run with the ball 
  • When you see the space, can you accelerate and attack it at speed 
  • Can you get in a position where you can receive the ball and carry it forward 

Player Cues: 

  • As the defender is applying pressure on you, can you place the ball between your body and them
  • As soon as the pass is played, can you start moving towards the ball in order to meet it and have the momentum to go forward 

Step up:  

  • Reduce grid size
  • Add a time limit (7 seconds)
  • Change the position of the goals
Step down: 
  • Increase grid size 
  • Add a neutral player 
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Game

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Game
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Skill Game (20 mins)

Set Up:

  • Players: 10-15
  • Grid Size: 22m x 25m with small goals at each end. Scoring zone is 5m

Explanation: 

  • 2 x 3v3 or 4v4 games
  • The attacking team scores by running the ball into the scoring zone (1 point). If they score a goal in the small goal after dribbling into the scoring zone that counts as 3 points.
  • Players may only pass the ball sideways or backwards, otherwise they must dribble to go forwards 
  • Play restarts from coach or from the back

Progression:

  • Every player in the attacking team must be over halfway for the goal to count 
  • Each time a player loses the ball they must run around the closest cone before defending

Key Session Observations:

  • Training game is there to give the opportunity to players to PLAY FOOTBALL while applying the learning from the first components of the session. 
  • Assess how much 'teaching and learning' has taken place

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