Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U8s Shooting Session

U8s Technical - Shooting (5 mins)

• Key Factors
• Focus on shooting technique in a fun 'football shy' game. Explain focus and learning from the session as a follow-up to the previous shooting session (3 week topic) and progression from the session. 
• Observe technique and feedback  - Layer technique based on observations and whether should progress /  regress.

Shooting Technique 

- 1). GET BODY INTO POSITION - 2).ANGLED APPROACH - 3). NON KICKING FOOT BESIDE THE BALL - 4). HEAD OVER THE BALL - 5). SELECT SURFACE & STRIKE - 6). FOLLOW THROUGH - 7). AIM LOW AND ACROSS GOAL -8. DECISION.

• Select a confident pair of the players to help a quick recap /  demonstrate to the group (already know how to play).  Based on previous sessions just run through 6, 7 and 8 briefly, move straight into session.

1). Players take it in turns to shoot at the ball on the cone focusing on technique and surface used to strike the ball. Use different surface to strike through the ball.

• Challenge between pairs, first to 5 points wins. Start again once to 5.

Interventions

• coaches to observe from front and / or side of the players shooting so can walk around pairs and give 1-1 interventions or add challenges (as progressions / regressions)
• General group interventions and pausing the session can be done viewing the players and to reset to show the group. 

PROGRESSION / REGRESSIONS

+ Alternate feet to shoot

- reduce shooting distance move closer towards the target ball

+increase shooting distance move further away from the target ball.

+ / - increase  / reduce time to take the shot.

+ shoot with a rolling ball (one touch to the side - shoot).

Organisation

• Layout as per plan: 2 zones, each zone 15m across x 20m (standard 30 x 20m pitch). Marked out natural pitch lines as per plan and yellow cone 2m from each left hand side goal post.
• 2 standard size goals one in each end of the pitch. 
• Two Small pop-up cones per half (4 No. in total) placed initially 6m from the centre on either side of the pitch to mark out the shooting zone in each half
• 5x red cones spread out even intervals across the centre line, each with a football placed on top.
• 5x Footballs placed along line of the pop-up cones in one half.
• Pile of spare balls behind each of the two lines of players / and at the centre by the coaches.
• One coach per zone.
• 10x players subject to availability possibly 12.

15%  8 minutes. Divided into 4m intervals.

SSG Shooting (15 mins)

Key Factors

• Small sided game which aims to allow more opportunities, shots / 1 v 1s in the opposition half to to test in a game / opposed situation. Aim is to take opportunity when presented first time and shoot when the player first has a chance before closed down or create space in a 1v1 to get a shot on goal.
• 2 goals if scored on first touch. 
• Last 5 minutes normal play no conditions / challenges.
• Interventions - allow 3 minutes without coaching to observe.  Each coach works from the side focusing on the scoring zone to observe shooting technique. 1 - 1 and group breaks.

• PROGRESSION / REGRESSION
• +Shooting from further distance scoring zone with red cones left in position.
• +If the player scores with a right foot the next goal must be scored with a left foot shot (vice versa or the players weaker foot).
• - 2 defenders allowed in scoring zone. Pop-up cones moved.
• - Wingers can be unopposed if receive ball outside the bylines.  Gives opportunity to cross and move ball further upfield into the scoring zone to create chances to shoot. 

Organisation

• Standard pitch set up as per technical / skill  organisation. Remove cones from the centre. 30 x 20m pitch for U8s.
• Pop-up cones moved level with edge of area to create a 1v1 area - removed last 5 minutes.
• Time 25% of session - 15 minutes. Broken down with natural break to allow group / player interventions and refresh.