Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UFA SA (PreK) Wk6: Finding Nemo

Jacques vs. the other Fish

Organization:

30x25

with (3) 3x3 boxes spread out from one another 

3 players with a pinnie in their hand

3 balls in each 3x3 box

Maximum of 10 players per grid

Instructions:

1. Jacques (the French-speaking shrimp, found in the tank at the dentists office) loves to make sure his home is nice and clean, but the other fish have a plan to escape the tank by making it dirty. The dentist will have to clean the tank once it is filthy, and place them in plastic baggies, which is when they can make a break for it.

2. The players with the red pinnies will represent Jacques, whose job it is to make sure the tank stays clean by placing all the loose balls in their treasure chest (3x3 box).

3. The other fish will attempt to steal the balls from the treasure chest and make the tank (grid) messy.

4. Jacques must run out to get the balls and bring them back by doing a pullback, inside cut or outside cut.

5. After 2-3 minutes players will switch roles.

Coaching Points:

1. Must do a pullback, inside cut or outside cut to bring the ball back.

2. Small touches while dribbling.

3. Keep your head up and try to avoid bumping into anyone.

4. Control the ball once you put it back in the treasure chest. Make sure it is not just kicked into it.

Where's Nemo? (15 mins)

Organization:

30x25

2 teams of 3-4 players. Each team in a different color

2 teams start at the cone, each player with a ball. While the Coaches are in the middle grid (jellyfish field) without balls.

Past the middle grid there will be a 5 yard safe zone at the end where tall cones are placed over different color pinnies.

Orange pinnie = Nemo; Blue pinnie = Squirt

Instructions:

1. Each group will be competing against one another to find as many Nemo(s) as they can before time runs out.

2.The two groups at the starting cones represent Marlin and Dory on the search to find Nemo. The Coaches in the middle will be their opponents, the dangerous jellyfish. 

3. If any of the players get stung by a jellyfish they must go back to the end of their line and wait until it is their turn again.

4. If a player makes it to the safe zone they have only one chance to turn over a cone to see if Nemo is there. If they find Squirt (blue pinnie) instead they must go back to the end of their line.

5. Once a player has made it into the safe zone the next player in line may start to dribble and attempt to get past the jellyfish.

Coaching Points:

1. Keep your head up to try and avoid the jellyfish. Where are they?

2. Small touches vs. big touches. When should we be exploding into space?

3. Can we avoid the jellyfish by doing a cut in front of them? (Pullback, inside/outside cut) 

Progressions:

(P1) - If a player is in danger of being tagged by a jellyfish, or can't get around them, they may decide to play the ball back to the next player in line. This way they can advance through the jellyfish field together by passing around them.