Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Futsal Passing Session (Start Time: 2022-01-21 18:30:00)

Dynamic Warm (10 mins)

Organization: 

The players dribble randomly and at will in the open half of the court performing fakes, faints, take on and escape moves. The coach will call out instructions as the players are dribbling and the players must react quickly. If the coach shouts out a number, the players should dribble and form a group with that number of players in one of the three shapes in the other half of the court. Once this task is accomplished the players should dribble back and continue dribbling and faking as they wait for the next coach’s instruction. As the activity progresses the coach can also specify which shape the players must go to in order to form a group - such as “4 IN THE TRIANGLES.” Often there will be too many players and so the emphasis is on moving quickly whilst maintaining possession and scanning the field for space. Players who are too slow to join a group should perform 2 jumping jacks or any other form of age appropriate physical activity.

Coaching Objectives:

Players should be creative and perform random or prescribed ball mastery skills. The coach should also encourage players to communicate as they form groups.

Coaching Tips: Once a command is given, encourage players to dribble fast while keeping the ball at their feet the players dribble back to the other half and the game restarts.

Less Challenging:

Allow beginners to perform this activity with the ball in their hands as they move and change direction.  

More Challenging:

Dribble using the sole of their feet. Instruct players to form groups with odd numbers and in different shapes.  2. The coach encourages players to be creative and always keep the ball in close proximity to the feet. 3. The coach calls out “4” and the players must form groups of 4 in the other side of the field.   

Overlapping Figure 8 Passing (10 mins)

Organization: 

To begin, the central player makes a ground pass to the first player in one of the wide groups. The passing player makes an overlapping run behind the person they passed to. The receiver, using the sole, pushes the ball forwards and dribbles the ball diagonally towards the other side of the court. Once the player reaches the center of the court, a pass is made to the player on the other flank. The passer overlaps and the sequence continues up to the other end of the court. After 3 passes the next group goes. Once a group reaches the end line the players should sprint back using the channels.

Coaching Objectives: Players should be lively and on the tips of their toes. Once a pass is made the player should make a bent run around the outside of their teammate. All runs must be behind and not across the face of the ball carrier.

Coaching Tip:

Players should pass to the feet of the receiver and not to an open space. The receiver should receive with the sole and push the ball in one movement towards the center of the court.  

Less Challenging: Start with players using their hands just like in basketball as they throw the ball and weave in a figure eight.

More Challenging: Instead of returning by the flanks, have players reset at the end zone and return in the opposite direction and into oncoming ‘traffic’. The objective would be for players to keep their heads up, making decisions, as they try to avoid the group of players coming the other way. Creating some ‘controlled’ confusion/chaos will help to enhance the players awareness and improve their decision making.

Implementation (30 mins)

Organization:

Free play 1-2-2 against 1-1-2-1. !0 minute halves with no restrictions.

Encourage movement to get open and rotational play!