Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Technical (Pac Man)

Technical Session (25 mins)

Organization:

1. 30 x 30 yard area set up as shown (scale to class size, not to large that "Pacman" will have difficulty tagging someone)

2. 12 players set up as shown.

3. 1 ball per player

4. 3 or 4 zones

Instructions:

1. Pac Man is one designated player who starts WITH the ball and everyone else starts WITHOUT a ball. Pac Man is essentially the "tagger" who use dribbling to chase the kids around with the ball.

2. If a player is tagged he must go to the coach to the collect a ball and join the Pac Man tagging other players.

3. Players are only tagged if they are hit with the ball from the knee cap or below.

4. When all players are tagged the game ends. Last player tagged also becomes the fist Pac Man for the next round.

5. If players do not stay in the marked area they automatically become a Pac Man.

Coaching Points/Key Focus:

TRY TO USE GUIDED QUESTIONING TO MAKE COACHING POINTS.

EXAMPLE:

"How can you keep the ball closer when you are dribbling? By taking big touches or little touches? "

1. Can you keep the ball close to the foot when you are dribbling.

2. Can you follow around your target player

3. Can you change directions

4. Can you take little touches to keep the ball closer

5. Can you get really close to your target and then "big kick" or"shoot" the ball

6.  Can you be aware of of the playing space and stay inside.

Progressions:

Kids will most likely love this game so you may end up playing it multiple times and in multiple classes. You can build technical skill each week by concentrating on the different surfaces of the foot to dribble/control the ball with.

Week 1: Inside and Outside of the foot

Week 2: Sole of the foot

Week 3: Body and Shot Fakes

Week 4: Introducing shooting (Inside of the foot and laces of the foot)

Once your kids seem to have more control over the ball you can start introducing moves into the game.

Week 5: Drag back/Drag back sweeps

Week 6: Etc, Etc

FINAL GAME (BIG GAME)

Always leave at least 20 min of the big game for the children.   Take away game time from the overall group if their behavior is not up to par.

4v4 - No more than 4 players at a time on the field for each team. One goalie/sweeper kicker.

Rotate goalies (everyone has to play goalie)

Try to give BONUS points or goals when the skill you worked on (drag back, cut back, etc) is done. 

Be vocal and excited about the game or skills you see players attempting or executing.