Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Feints to beat defenders

Foundational Warm Up (20 mins)

Equipment Needed: 

• Pinnies
• Soccer Balls
• Cones
• PUGGS (can also use cones)

Set-Up:

• 30 x 20 (dependent on # of players and ability)
• Every player with a ball
• As shown on the diagram players split into 2-3 teams with pinnies
• Players are given numbers

Instructions: (5 minutes)

• Choose one of the foundations below that you think will best help your group learn feints
• Foundations Part 1 individual possession multiple surface control
  • Each player must complete a series of ball mastery multiple surface control. 
  • The coach or player will demonstrate the below list of movesand have the players copy for 1 minute.

Beginner

• Dribbling/running with the ball multiple surfaces inside outside laces & sole of the foot
• U turn (Big toe)
• V
• Pull back

Intermediate

• Scissors
• L turn
• Roll in/Push out

• Players dribble the ball around the inside of the grid imitating a characteristic of the below professional players. Painting the Picture of each one of the player's characteristics:

* SMITH: Head up looking to get into the gaps using small, quick touches with the Pinky Toe (outside of the foot).

* HORAN: Head up to recognize when there's no gaps/space, then change of direction (12 o'clock to 6 o'clock), ball comes out of your feet, and then head and eyes up getting into the new space.

* MORGAN: Head up to see when there's a lot of space in front of you, then big touch to accelerate and get your head/eyes upand attack the space.

* PUGH : Head up to recognize small tight spaces ,using the inside/outside surfaces of the foot to unbalancedefenders and make the space big enough to penetrate.

* HEATH Using multiple surfaces to manipulate the ball unbalance defenders using a move to create space for end product. 

Extension: Game Instructions

• On coach's command, a number is called out and the players with the respective number will become defender.
• They will try to steal the ball and transition to score a goal in one of the pug goals. 
  • In the example on the diagram, #2 was called so all #2's will go to defend the opposite teams.
• The players on the ball will gain points by keeping possession of the ball for the entire round (30 second rounds).

Easier:

• You can also do this by shouting out the colors of the groups so the color you call will defend.

Feint Introduction (cnt.) (20 mins)

Continuation from Feint Introduction:

Organization: (Unopposed with a shot on goal)

• Demonstrate basic body feint w/ the ball and then allow them to practice for a set amount of time
• Have players dribble to flag/cone and then execute their feint
• Once player makes their way through cones, take a shot across the grid into small goal/cones
• Make as many grids as necessary to keep small lines (no more then 3-4 at each grid)

Coaching Points:

• Change of pace to beat a defender.
• Experiment with different feint moves and combinations
• Spacing and timing

Session Organization: (Opposed with the ball)

• Player 1 looks to use their feint to get past player 2 by dribbling thru either set of red cones
• Once Player 1 gets thru the gate they look to shoot across the grid into small goal
  • Easier: Defenders stay for a set amount of time and then coach tells players to switch
  • Harder: If the defender wins the ball from the attacker, the attacker becomes the defender

Extension (Harder):

• Add another defender in grid 2