Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Change of Direction

Intro

Organization:

• Sets of two cones placed about 3 yards apart. 
• Players partner up and stand between a pair of cones. 
• No Ball

Instructions:

• 30 -45second rounds.The attacker must touch either cone with their foot while thedefender tries to block by touching the cone with their foot first.Only attackers get points but players switch roles after the round.Whoever has the most points at the end of the two rounds wins.Winning players find a new partner who won and losing playersfind a new partner who lost.

Techinical Coaching Points:

• Stay active by moving the ball, your body, or both to unbalance thedefender.When the ball moves use small touches to change direction quickly and get more contact with the ball.Use different parts of your foot to move the ball.

Progressions & Regressions:

• Regression - If defenders are struggling, remove the ball. They must now simply touch their foot to the cone before the attacker getstheir ball there.

Main Activity

Organization:

• 10x15 area (use two if necessary). 
• One attacker and one defender inside the red triangle.Attacker starts with the ball. 
• Two mini goals on opposite top corners of the area.

Instructions:

• Attacker starts with the ball and the play is live on their firs touch.The attacking player tries to exit the triangle through either sideand score on either mini goal.Scoring on the goal on the same side they exit gets 1 point whilescoring on the opposite side from where they exit gets 2.If the defender wins they ball they may dribble through the back ofthe triangle for 1 point.Players rotate attacker to defender to line.Compete individually to see who gets the most points.

Techinical Coaching Points:

• Head up scanning the field.Use both ball and body movement to unbalance the defender.When the ball moves use small touches to change direction quickly and get more contact with the ball.Use different parts of your foot to move the ball.Accelerate after changing direction.

Conditioned Match

Organization:

• 25x20
• 2v2
• attackers on blue, defenders on red
• 2 goals in each side

Instructions:

• Defender starts with a pass to any of the 2 attackers. As soon as the attacker makes his first touch, we play. 
• Who ever scores gets a point
• Rounds of 2 minutes and then we switch (defenders be attackers and viceversa)