Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Observation & Reaction U12 session 1

Setup

Area:

create 3 gates (yellow, red, blue) 1 yard wide and approx 2 yards apart on a curve with a disc or cone 5 yards away from the centre gate as shown. scater other gates in the space between. Ideally a different colour as it will be easier to remove these for the next practice leaving the red, blue and yellow ones.

Equipment:

Cones,discs, balls

Objective:

Players dribble around the space performing skills and avioiding other players.

Progression:

1)Coach has light cube or coloured discs. When the coach lights up the cube a certain colour or holds a coloured disc/cone above thier head then the players have to dribble through that coloured gate. The coach will then select a different colour and the players will repeat.

2) Instead of dribbling though the same coloured gate the coach can asign a skill to a colour. For example if the cube is yellow the players perform a step over, dribble and repeat whilst the colour is illuminated. The coach changes the colur again and a diffrent skill is performed. see key of colours. blue = fast dribble, yellow = step over, red = feint, blue, change direction, green = L drag back, white = Free style/player choice.

key points:

Ensure players are head up and aware of their surroundings when dribbling. Perform the warm up with purpose and intensity.

Progression 1

Progression:

1) Have players perform the same practice but they pass the ball from the coloured gate (as shown in bottom 2 corners).

Reaction scoring zones/match

Area:

use 5 or 6 aside size pitch.Create 4 corner zones of different colours approx 5mx5m.

Equipment:

Cones,discs, balls, bibbs

Objective:

Split players into 2 teams.Players play a possesion based game. When the coach signals the same colour as the corner with light cube or coloured disc above their head then the teams can score a point by passing the ball to a team mate into the same coloured corner. They have to have control of the ball to score the point. They can retain possesion and pass out to a team mate.They do not have to give up possesion because they have scored. The coahc will constantly change the colour to ensure the players are constantly scanning thier surroundings.

Progression:

1) to encourage movement put a restriction that a player can only score by being on the move and moving into the space to recieve and not be stood static in the scoring zone to receive.

2) If no coloured light is illuminated then the game changes to a normal game of football involving the goals. Reds would defend left goal, blues defend right goal. No static goal keepers. Player closest would drop in a rush goalie.

Keypoints:

Ensure players are constantly scanning to observe the changes. Players who react quickest to the changes will have an edge. Especially when the change is from regular match to scoring zones.