Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Turns & Match Variations

Technical Turns (Unopposed) (10 mins)

Organization:

- 4 cones in the middle of the area, 4 groups

- Each player has a ball

Instructions:

- On Coaches command, players dribble out to the cone, perform turn and return to their starting point.

- When they reach starting point the next person in line goes.

- Perform inside cut turn

- Perform outside cut turn.

Coaching Points:

• Close Control
• Head Up (check over shoulder to assess space and pressure)
• Accelerate after the turn
• Lower your body to give a better platform to accelerate
• Distance of touch (helps next action)
• Protecting the ball while dribbling

Progressions:

1.Player gets to marker and plays the pass to the waiting player 

2. Make into race allowing players to leverage turn of choice (Inside or Outside cut, Stepover, Pullback)

• Perform the correct technique for the Outside or Inside Cut turn:
• Attacking the space forward on the field (looking to penetrate)
• Identification of the space and whether to use little kicks or big kicks (messi and ronaldo kicks)
• Decision whether to keep going forward or turn based on pressure and space
• Use of body, arms etc to fake
• Direction of touch (based on next action)
• Protecting the ball while dribbling

Messy Football (5 mins)

• Setup the pitch as per the diagram.
• Two matches ongoing at the same time.
• Encourage to look up.
• Larger goals if 3v3
• Smaller goals if 2v2

• Team plays against team in the opposing goal whilst another game is being played on the same pitch. If the ball goes out, it’s a kick in to the other team.

  Players focus on finding space, moving into space with the ball via a dribble or running W/ the ball. Must also be comfortable on the ball under pressure.

  No goalkeepers.

• 4 minute games with 1 minute rest