Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): FUNdamentals - Session 4

Relay Races (15 mins)

Organization:

• Create two or three relay stations for your group.
• Need one ball per player

Description:

Field A

• Have player 1 and 2 start in with a ball at the positions outlined on the second and third cones.
  • from here the player at the second cone passes to the player number 3 at the first cone and player 2 turns to receive a ball from player 1. Player 2 then dribbles to the third cone at the top while player 1 performs the running pattern outlined. This should be a continuous passing and receiving exercise with two soccer balls.

Field B & C 

• Each player will start at the bottom of the cones and have a ball each. Players will dribble to the third cone and then come back weaving as shown on field b or c. After the player weaves through the three cones on the way back, they will take a shot at the net.

• soft vs hard touches
• part of the foot when dribbling

Make it a race! How fast can you finish the race?

Through the Gate (20 mins)

Set up:

Create multiple gates using three different colored cones

Instruction:

1. Players will now have a ball and look for an open gate to dribble through. 

- give them 60 seconds to go through as many gates as possible

2. In partners, one player will stand between the gate while the other player dribbles to them and then dribbles past them to either side.  Players will switch after dribbling towards the gate twice. Try some of the following moves:

- body faint

- step-over

-Mathews move ( touch the ball with inside part of foot across your body and before putting the foot down, take a touch with the  outside part of the foot to skip away from the defender.  

3. Designate 4-6 players to block the different gates and deter players from dribbling through them. The blocking players cannot steal the ball, only block a gate and allowed to move around.

Coaching Points:

- Explosiveness to the gate

- Soft touches

- Head up to find spaces to attack

- Unpredictable