Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): u14 Training Session

FIFA 11+ (5 mins)

Set Up: 

2 Lines of 5 cones, with players lined up behind the first cone

Instructions: 

Follow the FIFA 11+ warmup, using dynamic movements. Players should call out loud the action as they start their run

Finish with hopping on left and right feet as ACL injury prevention

Variation/Progression: 

The Coach may hold up different cones or give signals that the players should be aware of and call out loud the correct answers to show they are aware of their surroundings

Key Coaching Points:

Quality is better than speed

Switch on your 'football brain'

Focus on each movement

Player Coaching Points:

How can you do your best in everything?

The coaches are going to ask the football questions, and if you are paying attention, even give you the answers ;)

Are you going to make this your best session ever?

Did you come with the mindset of improving?

4v2 "Don't get Split" (15 mins)

Set Up:

10yd squares

6 Players per square (4v2)

One ball per square

Goals with keepers in place

Instructions:

The ball must stay in the area.

4 players (BP) try to keep the ball, and "Split" the 2 BPO players.

2 players in BPO try to win the ball, while not getting "split".

If a "split" pass is made, the BP team can try and score in the nearest goal.

If the 2 (BPO) win the ball, they can shoot at the nearest goal.

If the ball goes outside the area, the 4 (BP) players must touch a corner before they can touch the ball again.

The game goes for 60 seconds

2 new (BPO) players start a new game in the middle

Players keep score how many goals their team can score.

Everyone gets 2 turns in the middle

Variation/Progression:

Harder (BP) - Smaller areas, longer game time, one touch, one player out waiting 3(+1)v2

Easier (BP) - Larger areas, Shorter game time, unlimited touch, 5v1

Key Coaching Points:

(BP) - short sharp passes, stay on your toes, quick feet, ready to defend if there's a turnover, slide up and down the line, look for splitting passes - but don't force it!

(BPO) - Stay close together, don't get split, one press - the other covers, be ready to attack as soon as you win the ball

Coaching comments:

Where can you be to help?

What's the body position of the other person?

What's about to happen next?

Why didn't that work & how can you do it better?

Why did they score & what could you do?

Play to Receive (10 mins)

- Two poles acting as defenders, with feeders in front as a starting position.

- Two goalkeepers if possible, rotating every one, two, or three shots.

- The player to shoot becomes the feeder on the same side, who then joins the other station to where they started.

- Two sets of players, two scenarios; playing inside & outside.

- Scenario 1; The ball is played wide of the defender to receive, played back into the player's path behind the defender, the feeder then meets the ball & shoots.

- Scenario 2; The ball is played inside of the defender to receive, played back into the player's path wide of the defender, the feeder then meets the ball & shoots.

Focus

- Direction of run

- Reaction to meet the ball

- Shooting technique

- Decision making