Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Scorpions SC : Best U4 - U9 Session Ideas

Pac-Man

Pac-Man



Grid Size 

Grid size can fluctuate pending on numbers but normally 15x15 yard grid or 20x20 yard grid max. 

Set up: 

Create square with larger cones if possible. 

Each player needs a ball at their feet

Coaches need as many small cones / pinnies as possible. 

Instructions :

Players dribble inside the box while coaches approach players and try to hit their ball with their cone / pinnie from their hand. Players use awareness of space, technical ability to shield, turn, do 1v1 move to escape the cone being thrown, and explode into space away from danger. They must also try to avoid hitting any cones that are on the ground. 

If a players ball is hit, coach can request them to do a small extra assignment such as 5 toe taps or 5 jumping jacks before continuing with the game. 

Once all cones are gone from the coaches hands, coach yells out Pac-Man. This is now the opportunity for the players to try and tag a coach on the arm while maintaining possession of the ball at their feet. If they are able to tag a moving coach with a ball at their feet and under control, they may pick up 1 cone from the ground and then continue to try and tag the coaches. Play until all the cones are up or you can go back to throwing more cones at players and fluctuate between the two. 

Bigger Picture : 

This will help them with multiple fundamentals of the game such coordination with the ball, dribbling with their heads up, and changing direction / speed to try and catch the coach. 

Coaches may use this opportunity to deliver a technical focus of the day such as different turns, change of pace, 1v1 moves, shielding, etc... But the important thing is to encourage good energy, lots of small touches/change of direction, and fun environment 

If you have different color cones, you may also add in a situation where after a player tags the coach during 'pac-man', that they are told a color cone to go explode out and grab to hold onto. This will again reinforce their ability to get their heads up and find that color cone. 

Awareness Gates

Land Mines

Grid Size

Grid size can fluctuate pending on numbers but normally 15x15 yard grid or 20x20 yard grid max.

Set up:

Create square with larger cones if possible.

Each player needs a ball at their feet and line up on one of the end lines of the grid.

Coaches need as many small cones / pinnies as possible.

Instructions :

Coaches (white), players (blue)

Great opportunity to use any game you may like (Pac-Man/Land Mines) but now with color cones / pinnies on the outside as well where players will have to get their heads up and dribble out to / pass to. As players are dribbling around the grid, coaches at any time may call out a color like Green! and players inside the grid must get their head up, find green and either dribble out to green or pass to green or before any technical skills you want them to focus on for that day. 

Bigger Picture

Trying to provide an environment where players are encouraged to keep close control of the ball while changing direction and working on their technical skills inside the box. Encouraging players to get their heads up while they dribble to become more aware. Use change of speed to get out to those color cones. 

Coaches can require certain skills (1v1 moves, turns, etc) after dribbling out to the cones that coaches call out 

You may also put a time limit on the players and ask them to dribble out to the color cone and back into the middle.  This will help increase the speed at which they dribble if things get too comfortable for them.

Finally, instead of cones, you may use pug nets and put them out in different areas of the grid. Hand a different color pinnie from the pugs so the players can find the color that the coach calls and pass / shoot into the net