Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Middletown SC - Spring 2014 - Roll/Roll Push

Ball mastery/Warm-up

Organization:

1. Open area.

2. Every player with a ball.

Instructions:

1. Players dribble in area and follow a variety of commands.

2. Introduce Messi/Ronaldo dribbling concepts.

3. Toe taps, boxes, and other soccer-specific movements.

4. On command, players leave own ball, go touch 5 other balls and continue dribbling.

Coaching Points:

1. Close ball control - pinky toe touches (Messi).

2. Attack space - touch ball out of feet with instep (Ronaldo).

3. Messi - one touch/one step; Ronaldo - one touch/2-3 steps.

4. Head up to observe space and other players.

5. Pick head up every time ball is out of feet.

Progressions:

1. As players go looking for other balls, gradually remove balls from area.

2. Player(s) without ball become defenders in knockout-style game.

Technical Semi-Opposed 2

Organization:

1. 30x20 area.

2. Players set up evenly as shown.

3. 5x5 box in center of area.

4. Every player with a ball.

Instructions:

1. Players set up evenly at four corners.

2. First player in each of the white lines goes first upon making eye contact.

3. When they finish the first player in each of the blue lines goes.

4. Process repeats with turns alternating between teams.

5. Objective: dribble towards cone, perform roll, and run through central box to get to other side.

OPTION 2:

1. One white player and one blue player go at the same time.

Coaching Points:

1. Head up to observe space.

2. Visual cue/connection - eye contact.

3. Play ball out of feet with instep - Ronaldo touches.

4. Slow down on approach (arriving towards player/ball/cone) - Messi touches.

5. Acceleration once obstacles cleared.

6. Timing and execution of roll.

Progressions:

1. Increase/decrease size of central box as needed.

2. Place ball on top of cones to emphasize control (knocking down a ball results in loss of a point).

3. Competition - which team can get all players across first? (Blue and white player start together).

Free Play

Organization:

1. 40x30 area.

Instructions:

1. Teams play 3v3 or 4v4.

2. In case of 3v3 - two fields with simultaneous games running.

3. In case of 4v4 - two teams on, one team resting. Golden goal or two minutes.

4. No corners. Can restart with kick-in or dribble in.

Coaching Points:

1. Three lines of attack.

2. Creation of width and depth.

3. Recognition of space.

4. Recognition of 1v1 and/or numbers overload.

5. Movement to create space/support.

Progressions:

1. Play 4v4 if possible/necessary.