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Warm up - passing
skills
how to teach the basic push
pass
Set up: create groups of 4/5 players.
Find a space that will allow each pass to be between 5-10 yards. No grid
lines or cones. One ball between two.
The objective: to ping the ball from
player to player in a one touch passing sequence.
Procedure: it's important to stress
that players do not stand still after passing the ball, so ensure the
players sprint after their pass for a few yards.
Players can use
their first touch to control the ball then pass with their second but they
should try to pass one touch wherever possible.
Make it a game by
seeing how many passes the group can complete in 45 seconds or a minute.
Only completed one touch passes count.
When performed well, this exercise is attractive
and satisfying, both to the players and the coach.
Team Escort Run -
improves aerobic fitness
from
catch them being good!
by Tony DiCicco and Colleen Hacker
Note: there are
two types of fitness - anaerobic and aerobic. Aerobic fitness can be sustained over long periods of time
while anaerobic fitness
is the ability to perform at maximum intensity for short period (up to
about 12 seconds)
Team Escort Run
Objective:
to improve aerobic fitness
Set up:
create groups of 4. Each group stands behind a cone with a second cone
about 20 metres away. The group decides in what order they are going to
run (1-4).
Procedure:
Runner 1 runs 20 metres to cone and back. On their return they are joined
by runner 2 who accompanies runner 1 back to the cone while dribbling a
ball. They return to the start with runner 2 leaving the ball for runner 3
who accompanies runner 1 . When they return, runner 4 takes runner 1 out
and back. Then it’s runner 2s turn to be escorted out an back with her
teammates.
Make it a competition between the groups to
see who can complete the exercise the quickest.
This is a fun way
to get fit that also serves as a team building exercise.
The pressing game
- improves closing down, fitness and teamwork
from Paul Coopers
SSG
handbook
download Paul Cooper's SSG
Handbook
(a zipped Word doc., right click, 'save target as')
This game can have a big effect on how your
team performs and is about encouraging the players to defend from the
front. It is quite a high tempo game.
It is also good
for conditioning and developing a physical and mental toughness.
-
Age Group – U8s
to adults
-
Pitch Size
30/40 x 20 – or at the discretion of the coach, but basically a standard
4 v 4 pitch, with a half way line marking. (you can use two traffic
cones at each side of the pitch)
-
Number of teams
– 2
-
Team sizes –
4-6 players
-
Bibs optional
-
Goals –5 a side
or mini soccer goals
The game is
played as a standard small sided game with one condition. If a team wins
the ball in the oppositions half and then goes on to score before the ball
has left that half, they are awarded two goals.
A goal scored any
other way counts as just one goal.
Very popular with
the players and evokes good team spirit.
The attacking
team need to work as a unit and both press and close down defenders.
Tip: try a short wide pitch so it’s easy to score goals
Finish with another
SSG.
I like
the 1-0 game for older children. The
younger ones should just be allowed to play with no conditions. |
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