Session 12: Defending

Session 12: Defending
Age Group: U10 (16 Players)
Duration: 1 Hour

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Close down the ball quickly, on first touch slow down
2. Body stance, side on and low down(bent knees)
3. Use the back foot and inside of foot to perform a block tackle

WARM UP: 15 MINUTES

- Grid size 24m x 24m
- Bib 8 players before start of warm up
- Players start without a ball
- Players move freely around the grid
- Coach introduces activity (Heels, knees, skips, shuffles, headers, etc)
- Coach increases tempo from slow to fast
- Progress to ball ber non bib and pair off with a bib player
- Players move freely again(non bibs dribble ball)
- On coaches command bibs close down their partner
- After a few swap over
- To increase tempo witch to oon command play a pass to your partner and as ball is moving close it down





MAIN ACTIVITY: 25 MINUTES
PART 1: 10 MINUTES

Part 1 of activity is passive and used to coach the correct body shape of defending
- Grid size 15m x 10m
- Set up 2 grids(8 players per grid)
- Balls placed in zig zag lay  out 3m apart
- Player approaches each ball performing the key factors from top of planner
- When 1st player reaches the 2nd ball the next player should start







PART 2: 15 MINUTES
Progression 1 v 1 Defending
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Close down the ball quickly, while it is moving
2. Body shape side on and low(bent knees)
3. Use the back foot and inside of foot to perform a block tackle
4. Assess the attackers 1st touch
   - Bad touch, nick the ball
   - Good touch, delay approach
5. Threaten the ball using the key factors
6. Jockey and delay

- Grid size 15m x 10m
- Set up 2 grids (8 players in each)
- 4 players at end of each grid
- Balls at defenders end
- Defender plays ball out to attacker(good accurate pass) who then attacks the space
- Once the ball is played the defender will close it down using the key factors
- Swap over on coaches command







CONDITIONED GAME: 20 MINUTES
The focus of the end of session game should be on good body stance when players are defending, the coach should observe plenty of situations where good defending practice is used. Corner kicks and throw ins again should be used to give a real match feel for the players.
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This is a great session for teams who need a bit of defensive work, it is basic but covers everything a young player needs to know in basic 1 v 1 defending.

Session 11: Heading

Session 11: Heading
Age Group: U10 (16 Players)
Duration: 1 Hour

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Bodyshape
2. Relaxed and balanced
3. Mouth closed, eyes open
4. Head center of ball with forehead
Progression
1. Arch back
2. Adjust body position to hit ball at favourable height
3. Accuracy

WARM UP: 15 MINUTES

Use the first 4 key factors in the warm up so they will be fresh in their minds moving onto the main activity.
- Grid size 24m x 24m
- Bib 8 players before start of warm up
- Ball per player
- Players move freely around the area
- Coach instructs players to do an activity(drag back, stepover etc)
- Coach increases tempo from slow too fast
- Coach takes balls from bibs
- Bibs now must receive a header of non bibs(use key factors)
- After couple minutes swap over to non-bibs being servers





MAIN ACTIVITY: 20 MINUTES

- Grid size 15m x 20m
- Players work in pairs across the grid to get 1st key factors
- Progress to groups of three with player in middle as server
- Player heads over server to player at other end of grid (defensive header)
-Progress to downward headers between servers legs (attacking header)
- Progress again to cushion headers back to server

If a spare player rotate them in and out of the session



CONDITIONED GAME: 25 MINUTES
The coach should only stop the game if there defensive oppurtunities or attacking oppurtunities to head the ball, these might only occur from corner kicks. Again corner kicks and throw ins are in play.

Session 10: Possession Game

Session 10: Possession Game
Age Group: U10 (16 Players)
Duration: 1 Hour

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Create space(Width and depth)
2. Head up when on the ball
3. Good passing and control
4. Good decisions(timing and selection of pass)

WARM UP: 15 MINUTES

Again the topic being possession I have used the same warm up as session 9 to get the players focussed on passing in preparation for the possession game
- Bib 8 players before warm up
- Non bibs with a ball each
- Non bibs dribbling (plenty of touches, right foot, left foot)
-  Bibs without ball free movement performing activities(Heels, knees, headers, shuffles etc)
- On coaches command bibs recieve a pass from a non bib and proceed to dribble
- Non bibs now perform activity
- Coach increases tempo by more frequent change of passing
- Finish warm up with dribblin players taking 5 or 6 touches and then getting a pass off



MAIN ACTIVITY: 20 MINUTES

- Grid size 30m x 20m, goal at each end, cones marking halfway line
- 3 teams(3 bib colours), 4 players each team and 2 goalkeepers
- Spare balls in each goal to keep game flowing
- Players on outside can only pass to team they received ball off( they must move up and down and not stand still)
- One player must stay in attacking half
- If ball goes dead start from goalkeeper
- Coach can progress to awarding goals for certain number of team passes

Coach encourages short passing, support and continuous movement
Swap the outside players in every few minutes


CONDITIONED GAME: 25 MINUTES
Very similar to the main activity, the coach encourages short passing and good support and movement, the coach should stop  the game if width and depth are not been used(demonstrate width and depth to players). Corner kicks and throw ins are enforced to give real match situation for players.
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It is important in all possession drills or games that the coach focuses on the players quality of passing. The coach should also makesure that the players understand width and depth, don't just demonstrate to players give them a reason why they are doing it aswell.

Session 9: Possession in 3 v 0 and in 3 v 1

Session 9: Posession in 3 v 0 and in 3 v 1
Age Group: U10 (16 Players)
Duration: 1 Hour

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
-3 v 0
1. Open body shape
2. Accuracy
3. Weight
4, Timing
5. Control
-3 v 1 (non tackle)
1. Angle of support (option left and right)
2. Distance of support
-3 v 1 (with tackle)
1. Create space by moving the ball
2. Time of pass
3. Disguise of pass

WARM UP: 15 MINUTES

*Because the topic is possession I have used a passing based warm up here to get the players used to moving the ball between them before the main activity. The coach should be refreshing the players on the key factors of passing during the warm up in preperation for the progression.
 Grid size 24m x 24m
- Bib 8 players before warm up
- Non bibs with a ball each
- Non bibs dribbling (plenty of touches, right foot, left foot)
-  Bibs without ball free movement performing activities(Heels, knees, headers, shuffles etc)
- On coaches command bibs recieve a pass from a non bib and proceed to dribble
- Non bibs now perform activity
- Coach increases tempo by more frequent change of passing
- Finish warm up with dribblin players taking 5 or 6 touches and then getting a pass off

MAIN ACTIVITY: 20 MINUTES

- Grid size 12m x 12m (4 grids)
- 4 players in each group, ball per group, 1 player per group with a bib(defender)
- Coach has extra balls to keep the session flowing
- Players have free movement in 3 v 0, swap in player every 30 seconds
- Progress to  3 v 1 defender standing in middle but not tackiling, again swap defender every 30 seconds
- Progress to 3 v 1 defender being active and allowed to tackle
- Follow key factors at top of planner


CONDITIONED GAME: 25 MINUTES
The focus in the end game is to keep good possession of the ball, the coach should be strict on good passing and should wncourage the players to support left and right of the player on the ball at all times. Again corner kicks and throw ins are enforced.

Session 8: Running With The Ball

Session 8: Running With The Ball
Age Group: U10 (16 Players)
Duration: 1 Hour

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Play ball out with laces
2. Keep ball out from under feet
3. Accelerate with head up
4. Take few touches on the ball
5. Run straight to exploit space
6. Give an end product

WARM UP: 15 MINUTES

For warm up use the key factors on dribbling from session 6 and 7
- Grid size 24m x 24m
- Ball per player
- Players move freely around the grid
- Coach introduces an activity(stepover, dragback, Ronldinho, inside turn, outside turn)
- Although warm up coach refreshs key factors to ensure good technique
- Coach increases the tempo from slow to fast








MAIN ACTIVITY: 20 MINUTES

- Grid size 30m x 8m, 5m zone at each end (2 grids)
- 4 Players behind each end line
- Players run with the ball and pass when they get to the green cone to the next player
- Key factors as at start of planner









CONDITIONED GAME: 25 MINUTES
The coaches focus during the end of session game is focussed on the key factors of running with the ball, the coach should identify to the players the importance of a good end product when running with the ball(ie a cross, a good pass or a shot on target). Again corner kicks and throw ins should be enforced at all times.