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Basic soccer skills
Shielding the ball
Warm-up
Do some basic ball control moves, along with your stretches. Introduce rolls, pullbacks, and circle turns, if you have not done so, as these techniques will be used in this session. Then, to fully warm up the players, put the players in pairs so that their arms are linked and they are leaning against one another, and have them try to roll the ball around with their outside foot. Have pairs switch sides periodically, so that they can work with both feet. Have a “sack-race” kind of activity, where the pairs try to walk/hop from one line to another, while controlling the ball with the outside foot. Have one race going forward; one going backward; and two going sideways (left-to-right and right-to-left).
One of the first skills which young players will need is the ability to shield the ball in order to keep a nearby opponent from stealing it. Confidence in the ability to shield the ball is critical to later success as a player – because a player who does not believe that he can hang onto the ball usually will get his head down, get flustered, and just blindly kick the ball away (“hot potato” clearance).
When should you shield the ball?
Common reasons to decide to shield the ball instead of trying to take the defender on by dribbling are that your opponent is bigger/faster or there is so much traffic past him that it doesn’t make sense to keep going ahead (so you need to stop and find one of your team-mates who is facing less traffic) or you are in your defensive third where it is too risky to dribble when you could lose possession.
How do you shield the ball?
By using various techniques to put your body between the opponent and the ball, so that you can gain time to give the ball to a team-mate or take advantage of a mistake by the defender to get past him.
What are the basic rules of shielding?
The first rule of shielding is to avoid turning your back on the incoming defender if at all possible. It is much harder to hang onto the ball if you cannot see what your opponent is doing – so try to keep one shoulder pointed at the defender at all times. About the only time that you want to turn your back on an opponent is when you know that you have back support and you will be able to play the ball back to a team-mate very quickly.
The second rule of shielding is to take control of the situation yourself. If the opponent is coming in hard, it is generally a good idea to be the one to make the first contact.
The third rule of shielding is to be aggressive in holding onto the ball. It is okay in soccer to use your arms, shoulders, body and legs to keep an opponent from getting the ball (you just cannot push with your hands or kick/push with your feet), so don’t be afraid to hold your ground or to use your body to push the opponent away.
Individual Work
There are four basic shielding moves which you will cover in this session. They are the simple step across; the roll; the pull-back; and the circle turn (Note: younger players may have trouble with the circle turn, but it is a good idea to introduce it anyway – and, for older players, it may be possible to add pull-back/taps behind the support leg and the stepover).
Put the players into pairs, and put each pair in a long/narrow grid with one ball (one player on one end and one at the other). The player with the ball will serve the ball to the other player, then act as the defender. This same grid will be used to teach each of these moves. Put the spare ball at one end of the grid.
Step Across
This is the most basic shielding move – but is amazingly useful. The player simply steps over the ball to put either one or both legs between the ball and an incoming opponent.
There is a trick to it, however. In stepping across the ball, the player usually wants to end up being positioned to face the direction where there is the best chance of finding support players (i.e., toward the open field- not the touchline). In general, the only time that you want to turn towards the touchline is when it makes sense to kick the ball off of the opponent’s shin guards to get a throw-in.
Obviously, the direction that the player will end up facing will depend on which foot is used to lead off. Let’s say that the open field is to his left. He will want to step across the ball in the direction of the defender, starting with his right foot – and then lifting his left foot so that it rests on the ball or comes over beside his right foot. Some coaches recommend that the player get in the habit of swinging the lead foot around the face of the ball, instead of stepping directly over the ball, so that the ball is shielded at all times. However, this may be an extra complication for young players (who can get confused with multiple decision), so you can leave this for later if it seems like a good idea.
After learning the basic step across, the player needs to know when/how to use the move. However, give the players some time to experiment on actually doing the move before you get into this.
Put two players at opposite ends of a small grid. Have one player pass to the other player, then walk towards the receiver to start shutting him down. Have the receiver step across the ball to put himself between the opponent and the ball – and end up with his back foot (the foot farthest from the opponent) resting on top of the ball. Once they have this basic idea down – and have learned the mechanics, it is time for the next step – which is to make actual contact with the opponent.
The basic shielding posture is:
- Knees bent and bottom down to lower centre of gravity;
- Body in a fencer’s or boxer’s stance (turned sideways with weight balanced on both feet);
- Arm/elbow of side which will make contact tucked well in to protect ribs;
- Other arm spread out for balance;
- Time the step-across so that shoulder aggressively makes contact with opponent (bump him slightly), transferring weight to front foot so that back foot is free to pass/control ball.
Now, return to the grid and allow players to practice making the shoulder-to-shoulder contact (or getting their shoulder into the opponent’s chest, depending on the angle). The idea is to aggressively hold the opponent on one shoulder while you get your head up to find a team-mate to give the ball to. In the warm-up, the players experimented with moving the ball while leaning into the partner, so they should have some ideas of their own which they should be allowed to explore.
Rolls
When in the basic shielding position, the ball is moved around either with the side of the foot or the sole of the free foot. The way to move it with the sole of the foot is by rolling the ball back and forth, periodically putting the foot down to movement of the plant foot.
There is a knack to doing this successfully, which is only gained by practice. Allow the players some time to work on this in the grid – and also suggest to players that they can work on this at home by pushing one shoulder against a wall, and simply rolling the ball back and forth to move in a circular fashion. After some experimentation, play a game where the defender gets 1 point if he can steal the ball or kick it away before the count of 5, while the attacker gets 1 point if he can hold the ball to the count of 5. Increase the holding time to 7 or 9 as you get success.
Pull-Back
The pullback move is used when an opponent is coming in so quickly that it will be hard to step across the ball in time to shield it, so the ball is basically snatched to one side using the sole of the foot. Once the ball is snatched back, the basic shielding posture is used to lean into the opponent – but the player will need to be more braced for the contact, as he likely will not have time to initiate the contact himself.
After illustrating this move, have the receiver move up into the middle of the grid (which will reduce the time needed for the server to get to him), and work on using the pull-back to get ready to shield the ball. Play the same game of points for holding the ball or stealing it.
Circle Turn
There are two types of circle turns – one by using the inside of the foot and one by using the outside of the foot. The latter is the one which is most commonly used – although both can be practiced. In an outside circle turn, the foot used to turn the ball is cocked outwards and somewhat back, and the ball is tapped 3-4 times to allow the player to make a complete circle.
Usually, a circle turn will be used in a pressure situation to spin off of an opponent and explode away on the last tap. Therefore, when practicing circle turns, add an explosion to the last tap so that the ball is pulled with the foot in the new direction. Note that it is fine to do partial circles (and, in games, most “circle” turns actually are about _ of a full circle). The key to using circle turns well is to be able to look up as the taps are being made, so that the ball can be laid off to a team-mate if close support is available – as the ball almost always should be laid off in such situations, since the natural position of the first player will serve to obstruct the opponent. When you observe a player actively obstructing the opponent, however, you need to bring up the difference between just holding your ground (which is legal) and active movement to prevent the opponent from getting to your team-mate with the ball (which is a foul).
Return to the same grid to work on the circle turn. Put the receiver on the back end line (to give him more time to control the ball once received, and allow him to initiate the circle turn as soon as the opponent gets within contact range. Instruct the server to act more like a shadow, just slightly crowding the receiver from the rear as he makes the circle – but not really make an effort to steal the ball. Remember: you are just introducing the idea of this move at this stage. Young players are unlikely to be able to execute this move under full pressure until they have spent more time working on dribbling (especially on explosions), so simply encourage effort.
Small Group Work
Split up every other pair, so that you now have 3 players in a grid. Leave the server at one end, put the receiver in the middle, and put the other player on the far end of the grid (he will serve as the support player). Then, serve the ball into the receiver; allow the defender to close him down; and, as soon as the defender is on him, have the support player start counting slowly to X (which is the amount of time that most of your players could successfully hold off an opponent by shielding). Once the count is reached, the support player then can move in to accept a drop pass and the team then can try to dribble across the opponent’s end line.
After 3 tries, swap out roles. Then, play a game of 2v1 – encouraging the inside player to hold the ball and wait for support unless the defender makes a clear goof which will allow him to get by.
Large Group
Station a line of players at the midline, and a line of players on both sides of the goal. When you serve a ball into the middle, the first players on the goal line can start for the ball. The midline player starts after the count of 3 and acts as a support player for whichever goal line player wins possession. The player who wins possession may try to score himself, or can hold the ball and lay the ball off for the incomer (going 2v1). Defender scores by dispossession, and attackers score by getting a goal. You will want this game to move quickly, so use two goals if you have more than 9 players, as you don’t want more than 2-3 in line. Have players move to a different station after their turn.
Scrimmage
You can play a regular scrimmage, or can continue to play with lopsided teams (creating various restrictions to provide for arrival of late support). Regardless of your decision, praise all efforts to shield the ball and look for support. Encourage team-mates to talk to one another, and to call for the ball if available. Remind them that, when under heavy pressure, players may be afraid to look up – so they will need to YELL and get close to offer any meaningful help.
Fitness, passing skills and teamwork
A football (soccer) coaching session designed to improve aerobic fitness, passing skills and teamwork
- Age group: U8 to adult
- Number of players: 8 – 20
Warm up – passing skills
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)
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
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.
Passing, receiving and shooting practice plan for U10s
A passing, dribbling and shooting drill where one side is given an extra player (2 v 1)
Game Rules
- Have substitute players ready to replace those who are playing.
- One team has a single outfield player, the other has two, and both have a goalkeeper.
- Several balls should be kept within each goal to keep a ball in play.
- Make the goal four yards wide, and create a play area 25 yards by 15 yards.
- Encourage both teams to score even though one has a manpower advantage.
- When the ball is out of play, start the game at the goal line by the goalkeeper.
- Keep score.
Player Objectives
- Watch the ball but keep head up to observe opponents and the goal.
- Team with two outfield players:
- The player in possession has two options – pass the ball or keep it.
- Pass to teammate with pace and accuracy, and use teamwork to score.
- For the player not in possession, support teammate by being visible.
Team with one outfield player:
- Player in possession keeps the ball until the angle to shoot exists, then tries to score.
- Manipulate the ball, keeping body between opponents and the ball.
- Change pace and direction.
A 1 v 1 v 1 drill that induces the player in possession to create a shooting position
Game Rules
- One ball for three players in the area shown in the diagram, approximately 15 yards square.
- Each player plays against the other two players.
- Each player tries to score in a goal four to five yards wide.
- When the ball goes out of play, the coach puts another ball in play.
- Goalkeeper making a save throws the ball to the coach.
- After 10 balls are served, all three players and the goalkeeper are changed.
- Keep score and play the winners against each other to name the champion.
Player Objectives
- Control the ball from the coach.
- Manipulate the ball to avoid challenges.
- Shield the ball when necessary.
- Change direction – turn with the ball.
- Change pace.
- Shoot at the earliest opportunity.
A fun game which encourages good kicking technique and develops passing skills
Mark out an area approximately 15 yards by 10 yards with a goal three yards wide in the middle.
Game Rules
- Each player remains behind his own line.
- A shot can be played with the inside or outside of the foot through the goal.
- The receiving player controls the ball behind his line and tries to pass the ball through the goal (if by lack of control the ball rebounds into the goal, it does not count).
- As the players improve, increase the length of the area of decrease the size of the goal.
- Limit the touches to three or, as players improve, to two.
- Play the game for five minutes and have the players keep score.
Player Objectives
- To control the ball and set up the pass.
- To achieve pace and accuracy of passes.
- A circle game that develops passing and shooting
Soccer circle drill – passing and shooting
Game Rules
- Make the goal one cone placed inside an area with a radius of approximately six yards.
- If a liner is not available, the circumference can be marked out with frisbees, bibs or other cones.
- The team in dark uniforms plays against the team in white.
- A goal is scored when the ball is played from outside the area to knock over the cone.
- All players are allowed to run through the circle but no player is allowed to touch the ball in the circle.
- If any player touches the ball in the area, the opposing team has a free shot at the “goal” from the edge of the circle.
- Keep score.
Player Objectives
Player in possession:
- To keep an eye on the ball and keep the head up to observe teammates, opponents and the goal.
- To maintain possession of the ball by keeping one’s body between the ball and opponent.
- To change direction, by turning with the ball, and to change pace.
- To pass to teammates and choose which teammate is the better option.
- To achieve pace and accuracy of pass.
Players not in possession:
- To support the player with the ball.
- To know where and when to run.
- To know not to make the same run as other supporting players, or to crowd the player in possession of the ball.
NOTES:
The game should be no longer than three minutes before allowing players to rest.
With a group of 12, six play and six rest.
3v3 one goal
A 3-a-side game which emphasizes dribbling, passing and shooting
Game Rules
- A normal 3-a-side game in an area approximately 30 yards by 20 yards, except that it is played around one goal rather than two.
- Emphasize shooting at goal at the earliest opportunity.
- Players combine to create goal-scoring opportunity.
- Team in the dark uniforms can score only from the left side of the field, and team in white only from the right side.
- Re-start game with a throw-in any time the ball goes out of bounds.
- When goalkeeper makes a save from one team, he throws the ball into the opposing half of the field.
Player Objectives
- To take early shots from within shooting distance of the goal.
- To provide support for the player with the ball.
A passing practice plan
While each child’s enjoyment still takes priority above anything during the coaching session and basic technique should be maintained, now introduce some technical and tactical elements. This is a good age to teach children basic skills of heading, shielding the ball and using the laces. Continue to help the children learn the rules of the game.
- A coach should:
- Be enthusiastic
- Encourage children
- Prepare a thoughtful progressive coaching session
- Promote good sportsmanship between all players
- Be a role model to the children
Priorities for a training session are:
Children should be working with their own soccer ball at the beginning of the session. As the session develops this requirement can be relaxed for more tactical practices. The same philosophy applies as with younger age groups: Many touches on the ball mean lots of learning.
Brief explanations and technical advice are used but still be careful not to lose the children’s interest.
A more tactical element is now introduced. This could include getting the players to spread out, using the width of the field instead of always playing down the middle and all players moving up and down the field as a team.
Continue to emphasize the correct technique.
Still discourage the use of the toe. Children should now be using the inside, outside, heel, laces and bottom of the foot.
End every session with a scrimmage, which should be about a third of the total sessions time. Coaches should continue to encourage players to spread out. When all the players bunch around the ball, make them freeze and ask them what they think about their position. Let them teach themselves. Repeat rules of the game during this time.
Every session should now follow a general pattern: warm up, unopposed practice, opposed practice, game related practice, scrimmage/game.
Fast Footwork Warm Up
Set out a square approximately 15 yards by 15 yards depending on the number of children. Players dribble around the square, moving into space and encouraged to keep their head up, no toes! Start with the inside of the foot, then the outside, bottom of the foot and laces. Incorporate turns during this warm up (coach demonstrates correct technique), starting with the basic hook turn and introduce a new turn each week.
Pinball
Set up a rectangle of cones 15 yards by 8 yards, depending on the ability of the children. Divide the children into two teams with each team standing outside the long side of the rectangle. Each child has a ball. A ball that is a different color (object ball) from all the rest is placed in the center of the area. Children should try to pass their ball to hit the object ball and knock it over their opponent’s line. Players may not stop the object ball with their feet; they can only pass their own ball into it. Play is continuous until the object ball has passed outside the area. If the object ball is knocked out the side the coach can pass the ball into the center again. Players may retrieve soccer balls from anywhere on their own side of the area. Balls can only be kicked from behind the end line. Soccer balls are to be passed using the inside of the foot only.
Keep Away
Set up an area of cones 10×10 yards for each group of 4 children with one soccer ball per group. Play 3 attackers against 1 defender (play 4 attackers against 1 defender with younger or less able children). The attackers must try to make 10 uninterrupted passes to score a goal. Defenders should try to intercept a pass and kick the ball out of the square to score a goal. The first pass is a free pass that can’t be intercepted. Play first to 3 goals then rotate defender.
Progression 1. Allow a maximum of 2 touches of the ball before a pass is made to another attacker. This will reduce any dribbling that may occur and requires swifter movement from those players without the ball.
Progression 2. Passes should now be made with the weaker foot.
Progression 3. Now make the square 20×20 yards and play 6 attackers against 2 defenders. Same rules apply and progression 1 and 2 can be added to this game if players are successful. To encourage players to spread out attackers can be made to run around a cone on the outside of the square after making a pass before they can rejoin the game.
Through The Gates (Dribbling)
Set out pairs of cones about 1 yard apart covering a total area approximately 20×20 yards. Each pair of cones represents a gate. Each child has a ball. Time how many gates the players can dribble through in 30 seconds. Go over coaching points such as a) soft touches on the ball when dribbling, b) head up, c) only go towards open gates. Repeat for another 30 seconds to look for improvement. Try a third time to see if players can make their best score.
Progression 1. Players can only dribble with the outside of their feet.
Progression 2. Players must dribble with their weaker foot only.
Progression 3. Players must do a trick as they go through the gate
Through The Gates (Passing)
Set out the cones as above. This time the children are divided into pairs with a ball between two. The player that begins with the soccer ball must dribble up to a gate then pass the ball along the ground to their partner. This player then dribbles the ball to another gate where they return the pass. Time how many gates the players can pass through in 30 seconds. Go over coaching points such as a) soft touches on the ball when dribbling, b) head up, c) only go towards open gates, d) make a simple push pass e) don’t kick the ball too hard or in the air. Repeat for another 30 seconds to look for improvement. Try a third time to see if players can make their best score.
Progression 1. Players can only dribble with the outside of their feet.
Progression 2. Players must dribble with their weaker foot only.
Keeping possession
This section offers a list of soccer coaching exercises that will help develop your players’ ability to maintain possession of the ball. By combining one or more of the exercises with an appropriate warm up, a suitable practice plan can be assembled.
Exercises
In any of the exercises, you will find that it will be more effective to have the opponents work to win possession of the ball, not just to kick it away. Make the rules such that this is required. Otherwise, you will be chasing cleared balls and players will be standing around.
Pass and Chase – Groups of 6 in circles, each circle with one ball. Player with ball passes the circle to another player, chases pass to pressure passer into one or two touch pass. Play continuously.
Two Balls – Two teams in medium size space (like 30 x 40 yards for U14 boys playing teams of 6) each start with a ball. Each team works to maintain possession of one ball, win possession of other team’s ball. Point for every success, play to 3 or 4 points, move on. For 18 players, use up to 4 balls. Encourages small group play, decision making in support of possession.
Keep Away – Groups of 4, playing 3 v 1 possession with 1 ball in 10 yard grid.
5 v 1 – Play possession, 5 v 1 in free space. Move to 10 yard grid. With 12 players, run two groups at once.
4 + 1 v 1 – Play possession in 10 yard grid. Four passers on outside, one supporting player in grid, one opponent in grid. Player who loses ball takes opponents place. Try for 20 passes without losing possession. With 12 players, run two groups at once. Encourage the passers to work to split the defenders.
7 + 2 v 3 – Play possession in 20 x 10 yard grid. Three opponents and 2 possession players in middle of grid with seven possession players around grid edges. Possession team tries to keep ball in grid and to complete 20 passes without losing possession. Rotate players every few minutes.
Splitting Defenders – Play 8 v 4 in a large space, 30 x 40 yards. Work to keep possession and to complete several short passes in order to draw defenders in, then split defenders or make lofted pass to space away from pressure. Push the pace so it happens quickly. Adjust the numbers to get some success and some difficulty.
Two Zones – Play 4 v 2 for team with ball in each of two zones, like 30 x 40 yard space. Players have to stay in their own zones, can pass with team mates in other zone. Team with ball tries for continuous possession. Add restriction, team must make 5 passes in one half before passing to other half to get point. Defenders get point for every ball one. Change defenders. If it’s too easy for possession team, reduce the space.
Three Zones – Play 4 v 2 for team with ball in their defending half, 2 v 4 against team with ball in their final (attacking) third. Leave a 5 yard empty zone between the two halves. Play to goals without goalies. Two opponents in first zone try to pressure possession team into mistake. Possession team tries to hold ball until its “strikers” in the final third can get away from their four opponents.
Game – Play 6 v 6 to goals. Coach players to keep possession and to switch the point of attack quickly to create a good isolation situation (1v1) to create a shooting opportunity. Can add restriction, like 6 passes before any shot, to encourage possession.
Difficulty Factors
When teaching possession, it is very easy to control the technical and tactical difficulty level of the exercise. These can be selected and used in different combinations to add interest and variety to the practice. At the extreme level, where many of these factors are in place, the purpose of the practice moves away from “Possession” and towards “Speed of Play”, a closely related topic, in much the way that “motor racing” is related to “driving”. Same setup, just different conditions.
To increase the difficulty of a Possession progression –
- reduce the space
- make the space more soccer – shaped, not open, not square
- add players without increasing the space
- level the sides to make it more even
- eliminate restrictions on opponents…for example with passers outside a grid and defenders inside trying to win the ball, allow the defenders to go outside the grid
- increase the number of teams in the exercise – like 3 instead of 2
- add psychological pressure by adding a goal – like 10 passes to win
- add psychological pressure by adding a penalty for the losers
- challenge the team with the ball to keep it against pressure for a set period of time – count down out loud as the time nears
- add restrictions – for example – if one player uses two touches, the next may only use one touch
- give direction to the exercise – play to goal lines or goals
- add goals and shooting – require possession before shooting
- increase the number of balls in play to force thinking and vision
Possession warm ups
These warm ups are recommended for this type of session.
Wall Passing – Partners with ball executing wall pass in space.
Wall Passing in Grid – Put the whole team into a 20 yard square, let partners with a ball do wall passes around other pairs.
Takeovers – Partners with ball executing takeovers with overlap and pass.
1-2-3 Touch (from Kerry Miller, Women’s Coach, Charleston Southern in 1993). Partners at 5 yards with ball, one touch passing as hard as possible. Change to two touch passing. Push the pace. Finally, change to three touch passing. First touch to stop ball, second touch push ball forward a couple of steps to attack, third touch pass. Passer must retreat several steps immediately after passing. Partners move up and back together very quickly, very demanding physically on the quads.
Decision making for very young soccer players
This practice session will help young soccer players to make their own decisions. It uses the well established and successful technique of guided discovery – a technique that should be understood and used by all youth soccer coaches.
Introduction
The purpose of this training session is to encourage informed decision making by young players regarding where to pass the ball, receiving the ball, and moving off the ball.
Too many coaches of young children tell their players where to run, when to pass the ball, and where to pass the ball to. Making decisions for your players may result in short term wins for the team but it stifles player development. Players from a young age who are encouraged to make decisions for themselves, to experiment and not worry about the consequences will turn out to be more skilled and capable players in the long term .
Even 5 and 6 year olds can be taught simple ideas and encouraged to think about their options with regard to passing and moving without the ball.
The approach of using guided discovery is used during this practice session. It is a simple process – begin by asking questions and then encourage the players to work out the answers for themselves. This is a proven and more effective method of learning than simply telling children where and how to pass the ball.
A word of warning – guided discovery requires you to really know and understand what you want to get out of the training session. You need to think carefully about the type of questions you need to ask.
Warm-up: passing in pairs
Players get in pairs and pass and move within a designated area.
Begin with free-style passing then make it more directed by telling them to run around a cone that is on the outside of the grid after they pass and before they receive the ball back from their partner.
Key coaching points
- Technique of passing ball
- Eye Contact
- Passing to correct foot
- Passing to feet or space
- Pace of pass
Some of the questions that can be asked during this activity (not drill) are:
If a player without the ball is running toward you, where you should pass the ball? Answer: To their feet. As the coach, you may have to give them the choice of saying either “feet or space”.
If a player without the football is running away from you, where you should pass the ball? Answer: To space. As the coach, you may have to give them the choice of saying either “feet or space”
How do I know my partner (teammate) is ready to receive a pass? Answer: Because they are looking at you. (Eye contact)
Even in the warm-up, you have asked them good questions, without you necessarily having to show or tell them. Ask them! You will be surprised at what they can tell you.
Then play a small sided game (scrimmage).
The point of this game is to get into a winning position and then keep the ball away from the opposition for a set period of time. It provides young players with many opportunities for making decisions relating to running into space or a supporting position.
When players are participating in this game, you will find many moments as a coach to ask them the following questions:
If a player with the ball has pressure, where do you run support or space? Answer: support
If a player with a ball doesn’t have pressure, where to you run support or space? Answer: space
You are planting a seed in their mind of where they run during a match. As a player, you can only run to either support or space. The amount of pressure that is on the ball determines where you run when you are close to the ball.
The entire training session then is continuing to ask them these questions, not demanding anything, but asking them constantly what are their thoughts?
Defending skills
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