Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Dribbling to Pass (Start Time: 2014-09-30 17:30:00)

4 v 4 (+3 Neutrals) (30 mins)

Suitable for 8's - 18's. Simply reduce pitch size as players get older.

This game should end with the players playing predominantly one and two touch, without the coach having to put those restrictions on the game. Very little dribbling/turning.

4 Reds v 4 Blues, + 3 Neutral Yellows. No player is restricted in where they can go. The key to success for the team in possession ( Reds at the moment ) is to maintain their disciplne and stay roughly between the two cones as indicated. This way the player with the ball will have more options. More triangles are created and the 4 defenders ( Blues at the moment ) should struggle to regain possession.

As soon as the defending team make a regain the game continues and they should make their way to the gaps between the cones as quickly as possible.

Progression / More than 11 Players

If you have more than 11 players, create extra neutrals that are positioned outside the work area with a ball each. These players must manipulate a ball continuosly (with info from coach ie. in and out of the spare balls / a specifc trick etc) until the game breaks down because the ball leaves the work area. As the game breaks down an external player drives in with a new ball. At this point an internal neutral must rotate out of the work area and collect a ball to begin working on the outside of the grid.

By having a player drive in with a new ball a high tempo is immediately created and the awareness of all players is hightened both inside and outside the grid.

Learning Objectives

Recognising where to position yourself to be available for a team mate. Learning that by having the discipline to maintain your position, by shuffling only a few yards in any direction, your team mates will always know where you are and will be able to retain possession more easily.

Technical

Body shape. Always open to see as much as possible / to be aware of as many options as possible.

Passing. Weight / Timing of release

Receiving, away from pressure, to entice pressure.

Direction changes, ball manipulation.

Tactical

Understanding where to position yourself to be available for the ball, and being aware of as many of your options as possible when in possession of the ball.

Physical

Low to medium intensity when in possession.

High intensity when out of possession.

Psychological/Social

Intelligence to expand pitch when necessary.

Desire to deny space without the ball.

Knowledge of triggers of when to press.

Dribbling to Pass (30 mins)

1. DRIBBLING TO PASS I

Set Up

•Using five cones, mark out a 10 x 12-yard field. passing and dribbling 1

•Place another cone in the center of each endline.

•Station one player at each center cone; the remaining players form two lines, one at each slalom course.

Sequence

•In this exercise, the corner cones are unoccupied.

•The following technique exercise runs simultaneously on both sides: The first player in the group dribbles her football through the slalom course and passes diagonally from the last cone back to the player on the endline. This player passes the ball to the next player in line, etc.

•All players follow their passes to their next positions.

Focus On

•Practicing dribbling

•Accurate passes over short distances

•Combining dribbling and passing as the situation requires.

2. DRIBBLING TO PASS II

Set Up

•Setup is the same as Exercise 1.

Sequence

•Players dribble through the slalom and pass diagonally back to the endline.

•The player on the endline passes diagonally forwards to the cone at the far end of the near sideline.

•All players follow their passes to their next positions.

Focus On

•Practicing dribbling

•Accurate passes over short and long distances

•Combining dribbling and passing as the situation requires

3. DRIBBLING TO PASS III

Set Up

•Setup is the same as Exercise 1.

Sequence

•Like Exercise 2, except now, after the second diagonal pass, the player at the corner cone kicks a square pass along the endline (to the other group). passing and dribbling 3

•As above, all players follow their passes to their next positions.

Focus On

•Practicing dribbling

•Accurate passes over short and long distances

•Combining dribbling and passing as the situation requires