Pre Academy - Summer Session 1
SESSIONS : U6s , U7s & U8s (5:00pm - 7:00pm)
Warm-Up (5 Mins)
SESSIONS : U6s , U7s & U8s (5:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ball Mastery - Shark Attack (15 Mins)
SESSIONS : U6s , U7s & U8s (5:00pm - 7:00pm)
Overview:
Setup a circle with defenders in the middle of the circle without a ball and the attackers based around the outside of the circle with a ball each. The defenders act as ‘sharks’ and have to try and win the ball from the attackers as they try to cross the circle with their ball. If the defenders win the ball, they must dribble the ball outside of the circle and the attacker then joins them and becomes a defender too. Play until there is one player left at the end of the game.
Coaching Points:
Speed of Approach: The defender in this game should look to move at speed to press their opponent and prevent them having lots of space which they can move into with their ball. Players may need to decide on what player they are pressing too and how they will defend against them as well as prevent other attackers from crossing the circle.
Angle of Approach: Defenders as they approach their attackers should look to angle their approach to show the attacker one way. In this game, players should look to show the attackers onto their weaker foot to help them win the ball from them.
Body Shape: Encourage players when defending 1v1 to ‘shut down, sit down, show down’ throughout the game. Sitting down means getting your knees bent and getting side onto the attacker with your body shape to show them one way. Players should look to pivot off their back foot and keep an arm length away from the attacker, until they are in a position to apply more pressure on them and win the ball and dribble to the outside of the circle.
Win It to Keep It: Encourage defenders to keep the ball once they have won it to allow them to score by dribbling to the outside of the circle. Players that use their body well and look to step across the attacker to come away with the ball once they have won it will be in a better position to score after they’ve won the ball back.
Progressions:
- Split the circle into four segments with attackers having to move into another segment of the circle.
Regression:
- Play without footballs with attackers simply having to get across the circle without the ball and defenders just needing to tag them.
Dribble Get Out (10 mins)
SESSIONS : U6s , U7s & U8s (5:00pm - 7:00pm)
Overview:
Setup a square with a player with a ball each inside the area. Organise a larger square to be based around the outside of the middle square with large cones. In this game, players must travel with the ball around the middle square. When the coach blows their whistle, the players must take their ball and dribble around one of the outside cones before returning into the square. The first player to do so, wins!
Coaching Points: Dribbling, Awareness, Speed, Warm Up
Progressions:
Players must get around two cones.
Regression:
Players leave their football in the box, and must get around a cone and return to their ball.
1 v 1 Wave Game (15 mins)
SESSIONS : U6s , U7s & U8s (5:00pm - 7:00pm)
Overview:
Setup a 25 x 25 area with a goal on either side as well as two teams by each goal. Each player has a ball each. The attacker begins the game by travelling into the pitch with the ball, as soon as they score, they then become a defender. The opposition team then attacks with one player and goes 1v1. If the defender wins the ball back, they can look to score, however, if the attacker scores the defender then must leave the pitch and another attacker from their team then comes out with a ball. Attackers must be in the final third to score. Add goalkeepers as well if you have them too.
Coaching Points:
Eyes Up/Scanning: As the attackers enter the pitch, they should keep their eyes up to recognise where the space is but also where the defender is too. Players keeping their eyes up will enable them to be able to see how close/far the defender is away from them as well as the goal which will mean they will have to adapt how they go 1v1.
Ball Manipulation: Players using different surfaces of their feet will help them to manipulate the ball in the area by changing direction with different surfaces of the feet. This will help the attackers to manipulate the ball away from the defenders to avoid being tackled and help them to beat the defender 1v1.
Speed: Players should be ready to adjust their speed when travelling with the ball based on how close/far the defender is away from them. If there is space for the attacker to move into, they should look to take larger touches to get the ball out of their feet and run with the ball into that space.
1 v 1’s: Encourage players to explore different 1v1 skills to help them beat the defender using varying changes of direction, twists and turns as well as body feints to help them get past them. Players should be encouraged to be creative with their 1v1 skills on both feet.
Progressions:
- The game can be played as a 2 v 2, with two attackers and two defenders attacking at one time. This will encourage players to make decisions of when to pass and when to beat the defender.
Regression:
- Players are to work together in pairs, the defender must apply pressure on the attacker but cannot tackle. They work attacking one goal to the next.