Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): L-Turn, L-Turn/U-turn combo

Ball Mastery (10 mins)

Organization:

All players with a ball 

Instructions:

players will work on performing the demonstrated dribbling technique, first as a static technique, then while moving (week 3 - L-turn, L-Turn/U-turn combo)

Coaching Points:

footwork and execution of the move

use of body to sell the fake

ability to take touch into space after performing the move

head up as touch comes out of feet

Progressions:

Technical Repetitions - Fully oppposed (10 mins)

Organization:

2 groups of 6, 1 GK in each wide Goal (rotate GK's in central goal if desired)

Set up as shown with ball starting with player on endline

Addition of defender that starts in the back of the shooter

Instructions:

Player on endline starts rotation with a pass into player at central cone

Central player checks away from the space he wants to get into, receives the ball and sets it back to the first player

Central player then makes a run to receive the ball back at the next cone, 1st player plays a through ball to lead his teammate to the next cone

Central player now rounds the top cone with the ball, then plays a pass into the waiting recieving player

Receiving player takes a touch to turn while protecting the ball from the defender, then performs an L-turn before shooting on goal

Defenders can only defend after the shooters first touch

Players follow their pass to take up the position of the next player; shooter follows the shot and retrieves ball before returning to line, defender becomes the shooter

Each new rotation will go the to the opposite side, so if the shooter for the 1st rotation shoots at the wide goal, the 2nd shooter will receive next and shoot at the central goal.

Both groups play at once and share the central goal

If there is an even number in the group, the first player will be assigned as captain and will be in charge of making sure that his starting pass alternates from one side to the other each time he is up. This will change the direction that everyone behind him will receive from and ensure that all players are shooting from both sides.

Coaching Points:

weight and accuracy of pass

quality and direction of first touch

execution of L-turn move to create the space to shoot

quality of execution/ability to sell fake

big touch past the defender

head up/quality of end product

Progressions:

Conditioned Game (15 mins)

Organization:

3 teams set up as shown with one team defending the large goal (+GK) and one team defending the two counter goals

The third team is waiting off the field to rotate on

1 GK needed (rotate if more than one GK)

Instructions:

4+GK vs 4

Team with GK sets up in GK-2-1-1

Opposing team sets up in 1-2-1

Ball always starts with GK to allow team to play out of the back

If team defending counter goals wins the ball and scores in the large goal, then switch sides and defend the large goal, and the next team comes on to defend the counter goals

If the team defending the large goal scores in one of the counter goals, they stay where they are as the champions

Team that was scored on rotates off

Coaching Points:

Recognize moments to turn away from defender using L-turn

ability to use attacking move to beat defender and create the chance to shoot

decision to dribble or pass

quality of end product

Team shape to allow passing options

Progressions: