Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): First touch

Ball mastery

Purpose: improve use of first touch to set up for a ball mastery drill 

Set up:

2 lines 3 - 5 metres apart

Action:

Players complete a ball mastery move and then pass to their partner who does the same move

Partner uses first touch as the first part of the ball mastery move

Moves: 

Take stop - one each foot, then pass https://vimeo.com/268924590/7b19453c2e

Dribble cut - one each foot, then pass https://vimeo.com/268924590/7b19453c2e

Take step over - one each foot, then pass https://vimeo.com/268926112/faafa10421

Attacking V pull push - one each foot, then pass https://vimeo.com/268927418/928862050e

Challenge: 

pass more firmly

decrease increase distance

how quickly can you do it?

Target:

First pair to complete x number of moves

Coaching points:

Accuracy of pass - which foot?

Decide early which surface of the foot and what body position to take in order to move directly into BM move

Duels

Purpose: improve use of first touch to play away from pressure 

Set up:

8 - 10 yards square

2 teams of 4 - 6 players

Red team: 1 player in the middle, 4 - 5 on the outside with a ball each

Blue team: 1 player in the middle defending, 4 - 5 resting / collecting balls

Action:

Outside player passes to team mate in the middle who scores in any goal

Middle player then goes looking for a pass from another outside player with a ball

Play continues until all balls are gone

Change teams: blues becoming attacking players, reds rest, collect balls and prepare for next drill

Challenge: can you score first time

Target:

How many goals can you score  

Coaching points:

Read middle players movement and body language to find out when and where he wants a pass

Middle player to use fake movements, checks etc. to deceive defender

Pass to middle players foot that helps him score, pass in front not behind

Progress:

Must score once in each of four goals

Limit to one touch finish

Reduce number of goals 

Regress:

Make area bigger

Add a second middle player

Defender in the middle only allowed to walk

Small sided game

Purpose: improve combination play, vision, creativity and first touch finishing

Set up:

Area: 30 x 30 yards

3 goals at each end

Scoring zones 3 - 5 metres marked at each end

2 teams of 4 - 6 players (adjust area size as needed)

Action:

Teams play possession football in the middle zone

After 3 or passes teams can pass the ball into either scoring zone for a team mate to score

Conditions:

Minimum 3 passes in the central zone before you can pass into an end zone

Must score with a maxiumum of 2 touches in the end zone, else have to play / dribble the ball back into middle zone to start again 

Target:

Max goals scored

Coaching points:

Seek opportunities for a killer pass into scoring zone

Progress:

Teams play 2 touch in the middle zone

First time finish to score

Reduce the number of goals to 2 at each end, 1 at each end

Regress:

Make area bigger

Add a neutral player who can only play in the middle zone