Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): formation and first touch give and go

first touch and turn (20 mins)

Get the kids into groups of 3 or 2 with the coach serving if not enough players. One player serves initially by doing a ground pass, receiving player looking to receive the ball under pressure from a defender and then travel with the ball through the gate. The receiving player can return the ball once to the server who gives it back at the request of the receiver. The receiver must indicate when they want it through gestures, body language or vocal communication e.g "yes!" If the defender wins the ball they return the ball to the server. Alternate the 3 every minute, who can score the most points?

Progression:

- throw ins and under arm serves

Coaching points:

- Hide; Split stance before receiving, look to receive on back foot or if defender is behind, keep on front foot, knees bent, slight forward lean, rear arm up to shield ball.

- Receive with instep, sole of foot, outside of foot or manipulate with foot.

- Maneouvre: maintain body shape on the move, look to turn into space or feints to create space by going one way (unbalance defender) then changing direction/ turning another.

- Reveal: When do we risk losing the ball and attempt to score by showing it to the defender, if we cannot maneouvre into space while hiding the ball?