Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): u8s dribbling session (Start Time: 2021-12-16 16:30:00)

Skill Acquisition (10 mins)

Key Factors

• Introduce the session topic within the warm up.

• Pitch already set up before the session.

• Using cones, set up a square 10x10 and a rectangle 25x5. Use different colour cones for each one to help the players to visualise it.
• Each player should have 1 ball each for this drill. Place the number of footballs corresponding to the number of players you are expecting within the smaller square. For this session we are expecting 9 players.
• Split the group into 2 “teams” using bibs.
• To begin with, a skills acquisition is carried out within the Players to grab a ball each and go into a square grid.Get the players to dribble around. Stop the players and give them a silly and enjoyable movement and associate it with a number. When the coach shouts out that number, the players are to carry out the movement. This is then repeated until you have a selection of skills to choose from. Do this for 5 minutes.
• To progress and include variety, change the session after. Get the players to do the same activity but include the larger grid that was set up prior to the session beginning. This would keep movement and increase skill development. Do this for 5 minutes.
• 3 sections of warm up

1) Pulse Raiser/ Movement - Players are continuously moving and being active. Heart rate is high

3) Skill Development - Basic mechanics for the skills are introduced through the general warm up however not looked into in too much depth as that is not the aim of the warm up.

Progressions/Regressions

• Speed up the tempo of the commands to create a high intensity
• Include more instructions and a skill acquisition to make the players think more.
• Alter the area size

• Coach the mechanics of dribbling.

• Observe the players and identify any issues that may need an individual intervention.

• Get player work rate correct from the beginning.

• Make the activities within the skill acquisition fun and silly to get the players engaged.

Dribbling 1v1s (15 mins)

Key Factors

• Players to focus on the mechanics and develop in an opposed setting

Organisation

• In the same groups to the previous activity in the same grids, split the group in half and have them stand on opposite ends of the grid. 
• One end start with all the footballs. They will be the defenders. 
• The defenders play the ball in to the attackers and then play 1v1. 
• They win the 1v1 by dribbling the ball back to the defending side.
• Once all players have gone, they swap sides so the defenders become the attackers. 

Progression & Regression

• Introduce a time limit
• Alter the opposition to effect technical and psychological pillars. 

• Head up and looking for space within their smaller grids.
• Are players able to use their weak foot?
• The more repetitions for early learning

Small Sided Game (25 mins)

Key Factors

• Keeping the players in the teams at the start of the session. No need to waste time with bibs. 
• Introduce dribbling into a game situation - Realism.
• 2 pitches for more coaching and increased ball rolling time.

Organisation

• Using your cones which are the same colour as the bibs of the teams, layout 5 gates in each colour throughout the pitch. 
• Get the players to organise their positions themselves within their teams. 
• Objective of the small sided game is to get the players to dribble through 3 gates their colour as a team before shooting.

Progressions/Regressions

• Lower/increase the contition regarding gates.
• Allow freeplay for the final 10 minutes. No conditions or targets

Coaching Points

• Opposed setting
• Keep the ball close