Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Skill Acquisition - Running with the Ball

Screen 1

Skill Introduction - Part 01 - Running with the ball 

Set Up: 

Two squares 20x20m; 08 players in each square; 08 players with a ball each, 06 goals (only one square is shown)

Instructions:

Players run the ball in the square.

Coach yells out different skills such as 'accelerate/decelerate', 'drive forward with only right/left foot', 'change direction', 'hook turn', 'drag ball backwards', 'toss the ball upwards, control on its way down & keep moving', 'show me skills', score!!

Coaching Behaviours to Introduce:

* Can you keep the ball close to your feet as you run?

* Can you look for spaces to get into while you run with the ball (awareness of spaces)?

* Can you look up while you run with the ball?

Screen 3

Skill Training - Running with the ball

Set Up:

4v4 in each square 20x20m; 02 goals 

Instructions:

Play can start from any end; offside and thrown-in applies, no corners; let players choose formation (2-2 or 1-3)

Variation/Progression:

* Can you play the wall-pass to create a scoring opportunity (depending on level of players)?

Player Tasks:

a) Can you drive forward with the ball when you see space in front of you?

b) Can you give the ball-carrier 03 passing options?

c) Can you support the ball-carrier if he/she is in a wide area?

Cues:

a) If you see space in front of you, can you drive forward and commit a defender so that it creates space for a team-mate to exploit?

b) When your team-mate has the ball, can you scan to look for the good areas to get into and always give him/her a left, right and a back passing option?

c) As the ball is travelling to a team-mate in a wide area, can one of you make an overlapping/underlapping run to receive in the space behind opposition defenders?