Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Ball Mastery

Ball Mastery (15 mins)

Organization:

Use available space

Create a perimeter/center zone

Instructions:

- Split players into two teams, every player starts with a ball

- One team will attack first while the other team will be taggers.

- Attackers must try to get from side to side as many times as they can without getting tagged.

- Taggers will try to tag as many people as they can on the shoulder, collecting a point each time they do.

- After "x" amount of time, add up the points, switch teams, and let the teams try opposite roles to see who collects the most points. x = coaches discretion of time based on ability/fitness.

- Player multiple rounds

Coaching Points:

- Heads up dribbling using all surfaces of both feet

- Recognizing and exploiting spaces to get through quickly and safely

- Recognizing when you need to unbalance a defender

- Several options on HOW to unbalance a defender

Progressions/Regressions:

P - Time limit for players when in the safe areas

P - Defenders can knock their ball into the attackers to get a point

R - Defenders have to dribble a specific way, slowing down their movements, allowing enough success for attackers.

R - Increase space, if available