Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): USL Skills Training - Passing and Receiving

Warm-Up - Freeze Tag (15 mins)

Warm-Up: Freeze Tag

Setup:

Inside of your grid, players will dribble ther ball around trying to avoid taggers (1-2 players without a ball). Players who get 'tagged' are 'FROZEN' and are required to hold the ball above their head and spread their legs wide apart. A teammate can 'UNFREEZE' frozen player by passing a ball through their legs.

Play about four to five 1 minute games changing taggers each game. If the tagger(s) freeze all of the players - they win.

Coaching Points:

Encourage players to use the inside of their foot to gain accuracy

Heel down - Toe up, knee bent.

Plant foot should be placed next to the ball and pointing towards their target.

Expanded Activity - Keep Away (15 mins)

Setup:

Split your grid in 1/2 with cones. Divide your players in half and have them play 4v1 or 5v1 keep-away inside of each grid. Have one player in the 'middle' wear a scrimmage vest.

Rules:

5 Consecutive passes gets a point for the passing team. Defender gets a point by winning the ball and dribbling and stopping the ball on any of the 4 lines. First team/player to 4 points ends the game and a new defender goes in the middle.

Coaching Points:

Players should be constantly moving to create good passing lanes and angles.

Take your first touch to safety.

dribbling is encouraged only if a passing option is not available.

Play balls on the ground as much as possible.

Use two touch when possible.

Play for 15 minutes.

Fun Variation for U6-U8 Activity ATOMIC BOMB (15 mins)

ATOMIC BOMB - PASSING ACTIVITY

SETUP:

Create a sqaure using 4 cones just big enough to ensure your players can successfully make a pass across it with good pace and weight.

Teams are divided into 4 groups each standing on their own line of the square.

Let each team pick their favorite country TEAM NAME.

Every player should have a ball at their feet to start the game.

One ball is placed in the middle of the square and is designated the ATOMIC BOMB!

The Game:

When coach yells 'GO' players will use their balls to try and hit the ATOMIC BOMB ball so it moves to away from them and on or across another 'country's' line. When the ATOMIC BOMB BALL hits a line - that country who is standing on that line is eliminated. The eliminated country stays on their line - but chooses to become new teammates with an existing country who has yet been eliminated. (for example - if the atomic bomb ball touches Spain's line - Spain is eliminated and the group of players can then choose to be on USA, Germany, or Brazil (while still standing on their old line). The last country standing who has not 'BLOWN UP' is the winner!

Coaches and players can shag balls as they get passed through the square and replay them.

Coaching Points:

Use the inside of the foot and follow through to drive the ball with accuracy.