Warm Up
Time: 5 to 10 minutes Activity level: Mild, ramping up Space: General, 1 to 2 players per groupThe Game: Players in the grid are without the ball, players on outside each have a ball. Inside players move around the grid freely, receive a ball from an outside player and return it as quickly as they can. Switch positions after a while.
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Progression- Return with one touch, then two touches
- Receive with outside of the foot, inside of the foot, left foot only...
- Receive balls out of the air
- Receive, do a dribbling move then return
- Receive, turn and find a different target
- Quality of first touch: Keep it outside your "footprints" so that it can be returned quickly
- Receive "sideways-on" when shielding from an opponent
- Prepare surface as soon as possible
- Be first to the ball, get into the line of flight of the ball
- Check away, then back to the ball
- Make "eye contact" with the server
- Changes of speed and direction
- Teach turning moves when players need to get the ball back to a different server
- Do not run "across" the server, check back at an angle--This makes it easier to turn and look back over your shoulder
More: Coaching Tips: Principles of Attacking for Youth Soccer
Small Game
Time: 20 to 25 minutes Activity level: Medium progression to high Space: Smaller defined space, 3 to 5 players per groupThe Game--Corner Passing: Players with the ball are put on the outside of the grid. The other players pair up inside the grid and designate one person as the attacker and one as the defender (Attackers wear the same color). The attacking player must get free of their defender, receive a ball from any support player and play it back without losing possession.
More: Coaching Tips: Creating Space with the Soccer Ball
Coaching Points- Change of speed, change of direction
- Take defender away from the player you want to receive the ball from to create space for yourself
- Receive sideways-on, to create more time for yourself
- Make sure to rotate players
- Attacker does five push ups at the end of the session for each time defender touched the ball
- Attackers must make two or three touches before returning the ball
- Must return ball to different support player
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