Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Ball Control, Attacking, & Defending Defensive Half

Technique: Ball Control and Shooting (10 mins)

THE SESSION:

• With a ball, players quickly accelerate to the first cone, dribble through the two cones, and then shoot before they reach the PK box (adjust green line distance from goal as needed). No more than 4 players per line.

PROGRESSIONS:

• Perform a technical move on the second cone instead of dribbling through the two cones.
  
  
• Add players (in black) to feed the ball from the outside to add a passing/receiving element.
  

• Take away cones and have the player (in black) defend. The attacker becomes the defender after the play is over, and the player (in black) retrieves the ball and goes back to the line.

KEY MESSAGES/POINTS:

• Acceleration with the ball; simple, quick dribbling around the cones. Move quickly, but remain in control of the ball so you can make in-the-moment decisions as you encounter defenders.

Role model: Salah

Street Soccer: Possession in Defensive Half (20 mins)

THE SESSION:

• Posession in defensive half, 3v1, feeding the ball to the defense to start.

• Defense tries to get the ball by the blue team over the half line.

PROGRESSIONS:

• Defense tries to get the ball through the cones, which guides them away from the middle (where it can be dangerous).
  
  
• Add goals and even out teams to make this into a street soccer session.

KEY MESSAGES/POINTS:

• Defending team should communicate well and make simple passes to get the ball over the half line or through the cones.