Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U12 Academy - Pre Season Fitness Training 3

Progression 1 (20 mins)

Players passing the ball on the longer sides of the diamond can call for a one two before the movement around the diamond continues rather than the player simply passing the ball in and following it.

Score through the Triangle (20 mins)

Organisation

Create a grid 30x20 yards.

Split players into 2 teams - Red x 3 and Blue x 3; Neutral player can also be introduced later if numbers permit.

Within the Grid create a triangle- 7x7x7 yards.

Instructions

To score, players must pass the ball across the triangle, to another player who must both control the ball. Play then continues.

No players are allowed within the triangle.

Coaching Points

Movement of players to lose their marker and create space.

Good communication.

Look up when passing.

Keep possession and create an opportunity for a goal scoring pass.

Progressions

1. Two touch only to increase awareness and force players to look for options earlier - increasing their decision making.

2. Introduce a second triangle - both teams can now score in either triangle.

3. Introduce a neutral player if numbers permit.

6 v 4 Overload Game (20 mins)

Organisation

Create a grid 30x30 yards.

Within the grid, create a circle - 8 yard diameter.

Split players into two teams - 6 Blue and 4 Yellow.

Blue team are the attackers, Yellow team are the Defenders.

Instructions

No one is allowed insdie the circle except an attacking player, dribbling the ball and in possession.

Attacking team keep possession and score by a player dribbling into the circle.

Attacking team can also score by making 5 consecutive passes - preventing the defending team just guarding the circle and not trying to make any tackles and win the ball.

Defending team score by winning possession and dribbling the ball out of the square.

Coaching Points for Attackers

Create space (spreading out, using all the available space)

Individual dribbling skills

Quality quick passing;

Support;

Movement off the ball to find space to receive or create for other team mates;

Maintaining Possession.

Coaching Points for Defenders

Quick Individual player pressure

Working in pairs to force mistakes or win the ball quickly

Collective team Defending where possible (numbers around the ball) boxing players in.

Progressions

1. Have an attacking player stationed in the middle all the time and use this player as a link player, scoring a point every time a pass is made to them by the attacking team.

2. To score a player has to arrive in the circle as the ball arrives. If they don't get the ball they move out again for someone else to fill the space and receive the ball the next time.

3. Change the player in the middle for a keeper - ball has to be caught by the linking GK for a goal to be scored.

4. Make it an equal number of players on each team - perhaps using a neutral player as the link player/GK in the middle as above.

5. Condition the game to one and two touch - one touch when it is on to do so.