Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Close The Gates

Practice (10 mins)

Set up

• Square / circle / rectangle - use whatever space you have
• Set up pair groups of cones
• Players work in pairs, one ball between each pair

• Players working pairs to pass the ball through the gates to 'close' them
• 'Receiving player' must always run around the cones to the back of the gate to receive; they then become the 'passer'
• Players cannot keep passing through the same gate
• Mix up pairings regularly

Progressions

• 1) Introduce a time limit - how many gates can you pass through in x minutes?
• 2) First team to complete all the gates - 1pt for each
• 3) Introduce a defender who is trying to intercept passes - defender then tries to intercept a new player (include a scoring system for the defender, e.g. 3 points for each interception?)

• Players can roll / throw the ball through the gate with their hands

• Teamwork
• Decision making
• Movement to receive
• Awareness
• Encourage passing / receiving with different parts of the feet

Think STEP

• Space - do you need to make it larger (easier) or smaller (more challenging)
• Task - can you change the task or challenge?
• Equipment - can you add target areas for example?
• Players - can you increase/decrease the number of players?