Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): U10 - Understanding Positions

Passing Diamond (10 mins)

Organisation:

Using corner flags set a diamond up on the field (ranging from 10-15 yrds apart - depending on skill level)

A --> B --> C --> D

Switch ways in order to get both feet working

Ball passed behind the flag (getting behind the defender)

Ball passed in front of the flag (movement towards the ball)

Coaching Points

Movement toward the ball and away from the defender

Receiving with an open body (body shape is open, hips are open, ball to the back foot)

Take the ball away from pressure (the flag)

Crisp passes to your team mates

Mvment to Goal (20 mins)

Organisation:

Keep Corner flags in similar position (move them tighter if you want)

Lay down cones to create three zones on the pitch

Start player in each zone

Ball starts in the middle

Middle player plays the ball to one side - opposite side player makes movement into the middle of flags to support player

Channels represent players space on the field

- wide channel (defender, MF or FWD)

- Middle channel support players

- As U9/10's don't (all) have all the technical ability to skip channels - remind players to occupy two channels at one time (not all three in one channel)

Coaching

- movement into the middle channel

- using the flags as points of reference to cut the field in half

Scenarios

- Player A dribbles the ball into the Middle Channel (what does player C do?)

- move towards the net (on the opposite side of the flag)

- Player A passes it to player C (where does player A move to?)

- towards the net - or down the line

- Player A passes it back to player B

- player C moves into other channel, player A moves into Middle channel

Coaching Points

- using flags as defenders get the players to move around the flags

- making sure playes stay inside their zone until they are closer to goal

- angles and distance (are you in a good position to receive the ball?)

- movement off the ball (can you get some overlaps and/or players switching roles)