Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): WSSL Week 1: Ball Mastery & Dribbling

Warm Up: Part I

Organization:

25x25 area setup as shown

8+ players

1 ball per player (additioal on outside)

Instructions - PART A:

- All players dribble freely inside the playing area with a ball each

- On the coaches call "SWITCH" players stop their ball, find another ball & continue to dribble with new one

- Afer 2-3 mins coach steals a ball on the "SWITCH" call

- Player left without the ball acts as a defender & attempts to steal a ball back

Instructions - PART B:

- In the same area players dribble freely inside the playing area with a ball each

- 2 defenders are selected (without a ball) & aim to steal a ball and force out of playing area

- If an attacker loses their ball out the area theyare eliminated from game & wait on outside

- Last attacker left wins game & gets 1 point. Play 4 rounds, most points wins

- Rotate defenders after each round

Coaching Points:

- Controlled approach

- Body shape - low centre of gravity

- Awareness of space & surroundings

- Timing & execution of skill move

- Improvisation & creativity

Progressions PART A:

1.Coach can call other instructions for players e.g. "Up" = pickball up, serve upinair & control)

Progressions PART B:

1. Add more defenders to start

2. Attacker who is eliminated turns into a defender & helps to steal/kick balls out of area

Warm Up: Part III

Organization:

30x30 area set up as shown

10 players

1 ball per player (additional on outside)

3 different color cones

Instructions:

- All players dribble freely inside the playing area with a ball each. Encourage players to experiment & improvise

- Coach moves around aoutside of area & calls out color commands "Red, Yellow or Blue"

- On command players must dribble around that color cones & perform dribble move

- RED = Messi Dribble: Outside toe. Touch every step. Agile & low centre of gravity.

- YELLOW = Attack cone & beat with dribble/skill move

- BLUE = Ronaldo Dribble: big touches at speed over distance. Toe pointed down. Acceleration!

- Between commands players must dribble around area avoiding crashes & keeping ball inside area

Coaching Points:

- Controlled approach

- Body shape - low centre of gravity

- Awareness of space & surroundings

- Reaction to command. Change of speed & tempo

- Timing & execution of skill move

- Improvisation & creativity

Progressions:

1. Instead of calling out commands, cones now holds up color cone. Player must be looking!

2. Coach now walks around outside of area holding up color cone

3. On coaches whistle players "battle" for 5 seconds & aim to kick each others ball out of area. 1 point awarded for each ball kicked out - players return to area & continue as normal after time limit

Main Theme: Part II

Organization:

30x20 Area set up as shown

30x10 central zone marked out with cones

10 players (5 attackers & 5 defenders)

Balls with coach who acts as server

Instructions:

- Players are seperated into two teams & then number themselves 1 to 5

- Teams assemble at either end line with coach on the sideline with all soccer balls

- Coach calls out number 1 to 5 & passes ball into middle zone. Those numbers run out & battle to win ball

- Player who wins ball becomes attacker. They aim to dribble past defender & out of middle zone to score

- Player without ball becomes defender & aims to win possession back to attack

- Play until goal is scored or ball leaves playing area. Player return back to positions & activity resets

Coaching Points:

- Controlled approach

- Body shape - low centre of gravity

- Awareness of space, surroundings & approaching players position

- Timing & execution of skill move

- Next action: Accelerate away from defender

- Improvisation & creativity

Progressions:

1. Play for points. Teams get 1 point if attacker successfully dribbles out of middle zone

2. Attackers now aim to dribble out of middle zone & through one of the gates (tall cones) in corner (3points)

Conditioned Game II

Organization:

30x50 area set up as shown

30x10 end zone at either end marked with cones

1 target gate at either end zone line as shown (tall cones)

10 players (5 attackers & 5 defenders)

1 ball (additional around outside)

Instructions:

- Teams play standard 5v5 small sided game. Play restarts with kick ins. No offsides.

- Attacking team can score by either dribbling through center gate (2pts) or into end zone (1pts)

- Teams play directional

Coaching Points:

- Controlled approach

- Body shape - low centre of gravity

- Awareness of space, surroundings & approaching players position

- Timing & execution of dribble. Whens the best time to cross the half?

- Timing & execution of skill move

- Next action: Accelerate away from defender

- Improvisation & creativity

Progressions:

1. When teams score at one end, they turn & attack opposite end

2. Teams can scores at either end after completing 4 passes