Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Animal Adventure Pre Travel

Technical Warm Up (10 mins)

Organization:

25 x 25

Agility ladder on side of your choice

All Players with Ball

Instructions:

- Coach gives verbal as players freely dribble in the 'jungle' - they are the explorers and must do their very best to visit all the jungle territory

- If Player dribbles out of grid they must pick up their ball and 'cross the rickity bridge' by running the agility ladder and hopping back on board

- Once players are 'Back in the Jungle' they place the ball on the ground and start dribbling again

- Encourage Players to explore the jungle and tell the coach what animals they see in the jungle (but only after they get into space)

- If Coach Says 'Sleeping Lion' Players demonstrate toe taps so they don't wake the lion (tip toeing)

- If Coach Says 'Silly Lion' Players demonstrate ball squishes (encourage kids to dance or make silly faces as they do it)

- If Coach Says 'Hungry Lion' Players shield the soccer ball so the Lion doesnt eat it (Coach runs around and challenges all the players)

Phase II: Blue Cones are scattered inside the playing space

- The Blue Cones are Flowers! We have to pick the flowers!

- Give Players 30 - 60 seconds to dribble their soccer ball over to the 'Flowers' and pick them up

- The Player with the most flowers wins

Coaching Points:

- Use the 'Pinky Toe' to dribble quickly into space

- Big Touches when in Big Space

- Little touches with both inside and outside of the foot when in traffic (other players) or near the boundaries

- Can we keep our head up to see where the space is?

- Am I keeping control of the soccer ball? Can I stop on command?

Progressions:

Opposite Goals Game (10 mins)

Organization:

25 x 25

Pile of balls with coach on the opposite side

2 red cones to signify the team lines

Instructions:

On Coach's command players go out and battle to recieve a ball

- Players can look to score in either goal

- Keep track of the points

- Play 3x3 min arounds

Coaching Points:

- Is my head up?

- Am I turning away from my defender?

- Am I turning away into space?

- Can I take minimal touches to turn the ball in the direction I want?

Progressions:

Tournament (10 mins)

Organization:

25 x 25

4 PUGS in each corner

Coned 5 x 5 box in the center

Instructions:

- Players are encouraged to run one at a time to the center, dribble a ball (their treasure) to their own goal (their pirate ship)

- Player must make sure that their ball ends up in the back of their net before their partner takes their turn

- Player must high-five their teammate before their teammate can go.

Coaching Points:

- How quickly can I get to the ball?

- Can I dribble in a straight line to my target?

- Can I use big touches when in space?

- Is my head up to see the target?

Progressions: