Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Pre-Schools Week of 11/5/26

Welcome & Engagement

Phase Outcome:

• Build rapport, establish focus, and create excitement for the session

Function:

1. SillyName Game: Coach introduces themselves with a fun, silly name (e.g.,"Coach Bananas"), then repeats with real name using a hand-fist motion.

2. PlayerName Game: Coach humorously guesses player names (e.g., "Peanut,Butter, Jelly"), then players reveal their real names.

3. Listening Challenge:

• Players sit. Coach says, “When I count to 3,jump up and be a statue.”

• Fake-out with words like "pizza" to test listening.

• Repeat for "Silly Statue" (jump and make a funny pose

Ball Mastery (10 mins)

Function:

• Dribbling around the area getting used to the ball prior to the next phase
• Work on different ways to dribble and perform different skills
• Work for 90s at a time and then coach, repeat or progress

Progressions:

1. Work both R and L foot

2. Insides of feet only (ball boxing, can be static first and then moving if think they can)

3. Introduce using inside/outside of feet (one foot first (R then L) and then could try both together)

4. Introduce skill moves (drop shoulder, scissors, sole drag)

Coaching Points:

1) Tight touches (Keep the ball close to the foot or when we might take bigger touches) 

2) Different areas of the foot (inside, outside, sole, turns)

3) Speed (When might we speed up & when might we be slower)

4) Awareness (What/who is around us & where is the space)

Progression 3

Function:

• Two teams split across from each other
• Even balls in a square opposite the cone they start at (Try and keep refilling these as a coach as you go so that you do not run out. If not possible then you can change this to whoever scores most until balls run out wins)
• Give each player a number (try and match abilities here when doing so)
• When number is shouted, players must sprint to their box, retrieve a ball, dribble out of the box and strike the ball with their laces into the goal
• First team to 5 points wins 

Progressions:

1. Can force R or L ball striking 

2. Can put a zone in place that they must strike the ball before

3. Progress to a 1v1 after (See next slide. This is there if you think you can do it with them. Do not feel that you have to do this but could be something fun to try towards the end.)

Coaching Points:

Cool Down & Reflection (5 mins)

Rock the Ball to Sleep:

• Older Kids (4-6 yrs): Rock side to side 3 times and say “Good night!”

• Younger Kids (2-3 yrs): Sing TwinkleTwinkle Little Star while rocking,then place ball on the ground. 

Stamp Celebration: 

• Players receive a CSF Footprints logo stamp as a reward for effort.

Team Cheer: Hands in the middle and shout:

• "FOOTPRINTS!" (Preschool sessions)

• "SOCCER FACTORY!" (CSF transition sessions)