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U8/U7 Curriculum Week 1

Sample Training Session – Mobility Skills

ThemeMobility Skills -running forward and backward

Pre-Session Game - N minutesSlam

Warmup Activities - 10 minutesAround the Cones (3 minutes) - no ballDogs 'n Rabbits (5 minutes)

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate proper running form forward and backward (emphasize arm movements)Use skipping to demonstrate arm movement (2 minutes)Crackers/Crunch (10 minutes)City Game (15 minutes) - forward to 2 cities; backward to 2 cities

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 Movable Goal

Wrap Up - 2 minutesAsk players to demonstrate proper running form.Remind players of game on game schedules etc.

Clean Up - 3 minutes

Pre-Session Game

RetrieverPurpose To improve dribbling movesThemes Ball Mastery# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 5 minutes

Players love this silly and fun game. It's also fun for you especially if you’re a little tired of your players (just throw the ball further away!).

There is no set up necessary for this game - simply select a dribbling move to be practiced.

Each of the players brings his/her ball to you. You throw it or kick it in any direction. The player chases after the ball, retrieves it, and dribbles it back. The player should do the selected move as many times as possible. After the ball is returned, you throw it or kick it away again.

After several retrievals, pick a different move to be practiced.

VARIATIONS

Instead of practicing dribbling moves, you can practice speed dribbling by having each player dribble back their ball as fast as possible.

You can practice striking the ball by calling out a number. Each player must return the ball in that exact number of touches. You can even do Retriever in pairs and the players need to do the selected number of passes while returning.

Work on agility and problem solving by calling out different ways to bring the ball back – dribbling, one hand only, one hand and head, head only. T he possibilities are endless.

TECHNICAL POINTST1: To make the game more fun, have the players bark and act like Black Labs when they run out to retrieve their ball.

Warmup Activities – 10 Minutes

Around the Cones

Purpose To improve dribbling at speed in a straight lineThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players All - in relay teams with 3 or 4 players per teamEquipment 1 ball per relay team; 4 disc cones per teamTime 2 minutes

Relays are a very simple game to use to train dribbling at speed. The competitive nature of relays always means players will give a good effort. Around the Cones is a very simple relay with easy setup and few rules to learn. Relay teams should have three or four players so that players get two or three parts rest to every part of work (2:1 or 3:1 rest:work ratio). If you have an odd number of players, add a parent, sibling or coach. You can also have one player go twice at each distance.

Set up the relay by laying out disc cones in front of each relay team at the following distances: 0 yards (the starting line), 10 yards, 20 yards and 30 yards.

When the relay is started, the first player from each relay dribbles around the 10- yard cone and then passes to the second player. The second player dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the third player. When the ball is passed to the first player, the first player then dribbles around the

20-yard cone and passes the ball to the second player. When the ball is passed to the first player again, the first player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and passes to the second player. The relay is done when the last player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and dribbles back across the starting line.

The different distances allow players to change their dribbling patterns to be most successful. In addition, you get some work on passing, receiving and first-touch control during the relay.

VARIATIONS

Instead of just dribbling around the cones, have the players practice one of the 180 moves (Zico or Switchback) when they reach a cone.

You can train sprinting skills by running around the cones instead of dribbling. You can have players run forward, backward, shuffle, etc. - whatever mobility skill(s) you would like to train.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T1: Make sure players are dribbling in a straight line.T2: Divide players into relay teams that are equal.T3: Work on proper foot position while dribbling as well as the length of the dribble.T4: Let the players pass to the next player from whatever distance they want. They will soon figure out the correct

distance that will be successful and fastest.

Dogs 'n Rabbits

Purpose To improve dribbling at speed in a straight lineThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players All - in pairs with 3 pairs at each courseEquipment 1 ball per pair, 3 disc cones per courseTime 5-10 minutes

What could give more incentive to dribbling faster than being a dribbling rabbit chased by a mad, drooling dog? In this game, the chaser (the dog) tries to run down and tag the dribbler (the rabbit) before the dribbler can reach the finish line.

Set up each course by laying out disc cones at the following distances: 0 yards, 5 yards and 30 yards.

Have each pair decide who is the dog and who is the rabbit. The first pair starts the game. The dog stands at the cone at 0 yards. The rabbit stands with a ball at the cone at 5 yards. As soon as the rabbit makes his/her first dribble, the dog is released and chases the rabbit. If the dog tags the rabbit before the rabbit reaches the cone at 30 yards, the dog gets a point. If the rabbit makes it to the 30-yard cone without being tagged, the rabbit gets a point.

Once the first pair has finished, the second and then third pairs play the game. When the first pair plays for a second time, switch roles so that the rabbit becomes the dog and vice versa.

The first player to get three points in any pair is the winner of the game and gets to be Bugs Bunny for the day!

TECHNICAL POINTS

T1: If the rabbits are not being successful, move the dogs back several yards.T2: Proper dribbling foot position and length of the dribble are crucial to a rabbit's survival.T3: The dogs should be using proper sprinting form.T4: To make the game more fun, have the dogs bark like crazy when they try to chase down their rabbit.T5:

Main Activities – 30 Minutes

Crackers/Crunch

Purpose To improve cutting and accelerationThemes Mobility Skills# of Players AllEquipment Disc cones for three linesTime 5-10 minutes

This is a very fun game that works on acceleration. It has the added benefit of making players listen carefully to what you are saying. Wouldn't it be nice if they'd do that all the time. Once the players get the hang of the game, let the winner from the previous game be the caller. This game is so much fun you'll have trouble ending the game to play soccer!

Use your disc cones to set up three parallel lines each 15-20 yards apart. You stand at the end of the centerline.

Before the game starts, select one of the end lines to be the "Crackers" line and the other to be the "Crunch" line. If you say "Crackers", players run to the "Crackers" line. If you say "Crunch", players run to the "Crunch" line.

Line all of the players up one behind the other straddling the centerline and facing you. Say either "Crackers" or "Crunch". Last two players to the correct line are eliminated. The remaining players line up to try again. Keep playing until only one player is left.

Make it fun by stretching out the words - "Cccccccrrrrrrrrrrackers" or "Cccccccrrrrrrunch".

VARIATIONS

Have each player use a ball. This makes it a dribbling at speed game.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T5: Proper footwork is key. Make sure players plant their trailing foot and push off without stepping backward.T6: Stress proper acceleration and running form.

City Game

Purpose Multi-faceted game that can be used to improve dribbling, dribbling at speed and agilityThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players All - divided equally among the four citiesEquipment 1 ball per player, 16 disc conesTime 10-15 minutes

The City Game is adapted from the Dutch KNVB training game of the same name. It can be used in the training of a variety of skills.

Set up four cities in a square grid with each city being 10 yards apart. Use four cones (about three yards apart) to mark the corners of each city. Name the cities (or have the players name them) and divide the players among the cities

Agility Variants (No Balls)

1. When you say "Go!", each player must run in a counterclockwise direction around the grid passing through each city. When they return to their home city, they go down on one knee to show they have finished. First city with all of its residents back is the winner.

2. Game is the same except when you run from City A to City B, you must run forward. From City B to City C, you must run backward. From City C to City D, you must shuffle sideways. From City D to City A, you run forward but must do a somersault in the middle.

3. Make an obstacle course with different obstacles between each city. Put hula hoops between City A and City B and make players run around the hoops. Put hurdles between City B and City C. Put bars between City C and City D and make players shuffle sideways around the bars. Hold hoops on their edge between City D and City A and make players dive through the hoops.

Dribbling Variants (Every Player with a Ball)

1. When you say "Go!", each player must dribble in a counterclockwise direction around the grid passing through each city. When they return to their home city, they need to stop the ball by placing their foot on top of it and wait in that position until all the other residents of their city finish. First city with all of its residents back is the winner.

2. Between each city, you have to do a certain dribbling move or sequence of dribbling moves. For example, between City A and City B you must do a Matthews. Between City B and City C you must do two Switchbacks and so forth.

3. Make an obstacle course similar to that described above. For hurdles, have them pass the ball to the end of the hurdles, jump over all of them, get their ball and continue. For the hoops on their edge, make them pass the ball through the hoop.

Dribbling at Speed Variants (Every Player with a Ball)

Increase the distance between cities to 20 yards.

1. When you say "Go!", each player must dribble at speed in a counterclockwise direction around the grid passing through each city. When they return to their home city, they need to stop the ball by placing their foot on top of it and wait in that position until all the other residents of their city finish. First city with all of its residents back is the winner.

VARIATIONS

Instead of dribbling through each city, make the players perform an appropriate 90-dribbling move - Chop or Pull and Tuck.

Have half of the players from each city go in a clockwise direction. Have the other half go in a counterclockwise direction. Now the players will also be obstacles as they run/dribble around the course.

Place a fifth city in the middle of the grid. Players must visit the four other cities (including the one in the middle) and return to their home city. How they do that is up to them.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T7: Have the players pick the city names. Some "cities" will have an interesting names like "Mexico" and "Japan"T8: For dribbling at speed, work on proper foot position while dribbling as well as the length of the dribble.T9: To make the game more fun and a learning experience, have players yell out a word appropriate to their city when

they finish. For example, if the city is Madrid, they must yell out something in Spanish. If it's a city for which you don't know a word, let the players make up a word that sounds like the city's language!

Small Sided Game – 15 Minutes

4v4 Movable Goal

Purpose Small-sided game to train all basic aspects of soccer playThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players 8 - in two teams of 4Equipment 3+ balls, disc cones to lay out a 25x30 field, 2 corner flags, 4 coaches or parents to serve as "goal posts", 4

pinneysTime 10-15 minutes

This is a very fun variant of the standard 4v4 game. Because the goals are moving, players must get their heads up to see where they must attack. The "goal posts" can move as quickly or as slowly as necessary, but don't make it too hard to score a goal.

Set up a 25x30-yard field using your disc cones. Two coaches or parents grab each end of a corner flag holding it horizontally. The coaches/parents are the goal posts and the corner flag is the crossbar. Safety note: if possible, remove the stake from the corner flag (or have the coach/parent cover it up with his/her hand). Have the other pair of coaches/parents take the second corner flag.

The game is played the same as the standard 4v4 game except that the goals can move. Make sure the players know which goal they are attacking (you may want to give pinneys to the goal posts). A goal can be scored in either direction through the goal. The goals can move anywhere on the field of play.

VARIATIONS

Allow both teams to score on either goal.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T10:See the standard 4v4 game.T11:Because the goals can move, players need to adapt quickly to their changing environment. This is a crucial skill for

success in soccer.










Pre-Session Game






VARIATIONS






Around the Cones




When the relay is started, the first player from each relay dribbles around the 10- yard cone and then passes to the second player. The second player dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the third player. When the ball is passed to the first player, the first player then dribbles around the 20-yard cone and passes the ball to the second player. When the ball is passed to the first player again, the first player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and passes to the second player. The relay is done when the last player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and dribbles back across the starting line.


VARIATIONS



TECHNICAL POINTS

T12:Make sure players are dribbling in a straight line.T13:Divide players into relay teams that are equal.T14:Work on proper foot position while dribbling as well as the length of the dribble.T15:Let the players pass to the next player from whatever distance they want. They will soon figure out the correct


Dogs 'n Rabbits







TECHNICAL POINTS

T6: If the rabbits are not being successful, move the dogs back several yards.T7: Proper dribbling foot position and length of the dribble are crucial to a rabbit's survival.T8: The dogs should be using proper sprinting form.T9: To make the game more fun, have the dogs bark like crazy when they try to chase down their rabbit.T10:


Crackers/Crunch


This is a very fun game that works on acceleration. It has the added benefit of making players listen carefully to what you are saying. Wouldn't it be nice if they'd do that all the time. Once the players get the hang of the

game, let the winner from the previous game be the caller. This game is so much fun you'll have trouble ending the game to play soccer!





VARIATIONS


TECHNICAL POINTS

T16:Proper footwork is key. Make sure players plant their trailing foot and push off without stepping backward.T17:Stress proper acceleration and running form.

City Game















VARIATIONS




TECHNICAL POINTS

T18:Have the players pick the city names. Some "cities" will have an interesting names like "Mexico" and "Japan"T19: For dribbling at speed, work on proper foot position while dribbling as well as the length of the dribble.T20:To make the game more fun and a learning experience, have players yell out a word appropriate to their city when



4v4 Movable Goal






VARIATIONS


TECHNICAL POINTS


success in soccer.





Warmup Activities - 10 minutesJuggling (5 minutes)Around the Cones (5 minutes) – Add Ball

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate proper running form forward and backward (emphasize arm movements)Use skipping to demonstrate arm movement (2 minutes)Capture the Flag (10 minutes)Sharks n’ Minnows (15 Minutes)

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 Four Goals

Wrap Up - 2 minutesAsk players to demonstrate juggling skills assign number of juggles as goal for next practice.Remind players of game schedules etc.


Pre-Session Game

Slam

Purpose To improve striking and receiving of the ballThemes Ball Mastery, Striking the Ball# of Players All - no more than six players per wall.Equipment Several soccer balls per wallTime 5-10 minutes

This is a classic playground game. There are almost limitless variations possible and players will play the game for the entire training session if allowed.

You need some sort of rebounding surface to be able to play Slam. At Urbana Park, our new shooting wall on the Lower Field is perfect. Plus, you can use both sides of the wall at once to have two simultaneous games. You

can also play Slam using the wooden rebounding walls that are at Urbana Park. Putting two walls side-by-side will make the game a little easier. At other practice locations, building walls can be used. Please keep an eye out for safety - stay away from windows, outside lights and low roofs. At Oakdale MS, the concrete wall on the tennis courts makes for a great game of Slam. Please make sure that players do not wear their cleats on the tennis courts.

In the basic game of Slam, players line up one behind the other approximately 10-15 yards from the wall. The first player in the line has the ball. All players have three "lives".

To start the game, the first player shoots the ball against the wall and goes to the end of the line. The second player receives the shot off the wall and must shoot within two touches - the first touch to control the ball and the second touch to shoot (shooting on the first touch is fine, too). The player loses a life if he/she misses the wall completely or lets the ball stop moving at any time. If a player loses a life, the next player in line starts the game again with a shot. As long as the shots are successful, play continues in a round-robin fashion until someone loses a life.

Players are eliminated from the game when they have lost their third life. The last player with one or more lives left is the winner. The winner picks the next game.

VARIATIONS

To make this a non-elimination game, a player gets a point each time that he/she is successful. First player to get ten points wins the game.

When a player is eliminated, allow them to get an extra life if they can juggle the ball five times in a row before the end of the game.

Using disc cones, make a line five yards in front of the wall. All shots must be taken from behind the line and must come back beyond the line or the shooter loses a life. This is a great game to work on longer shots.

Play a game where only one touch is allowed.

Play a game where you must use two touches. This helps to improve first touch control.

Play a game where only one foot can be used for shooting (or for all touches).

Make the middle of the wall out-of-bounds (i.e., a goalie). Players lose a life it they hit the middle area.

Have the first player volley the ball. The next player runs to pick up the volley after it rebounds off the wall. The second player volleys the ball from where he/she picked it up. Players continue volleying the ball until someone loses a life.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T23:Constantly stress to the players to keep the ball moving.T24:Stress a good first touch that pushes the ball an adequate distance away so a proper approach and shot can be

made. If the first touch does not push the ball far enough away, the player will have difficulty shooting with the ball under his/her feet.

T25:Stress proper shooting technique. Make sure the players follow through on their longer shots.T26:This is a great game to work on a player's non-dominant foot. Make sure there are both right-footed and left footed

games.


Juggling

For U8s, we will concentrate on thigh and foot juggling. A basic progression for juggling is:

1. Thigh and catch2. Other thigh and catch3. Foot and catch4. Other foot and catch5. Thigh, other thigh and catch6. Foot, other foot and catch7. Thigh, foot and catch8. Bounce juggling (juggle, bounce, juggle, bounce, juggle, etc.).9. Free form juggling using any body part other than the hands and arms.

Some important points in regard to juggling:

Let the ball bounce once on the ground if that is necessary. For thigh juggling, make sure they are using their thigh and not their knee. Knees are too bony and can't control

the ball. Thigh should be parallel to the ground so the ball pops straight up. When juggling with your foot, use the instep of the foot as opposed to the inside or outside of the foot. Consider doing timed juggling to see how many juggles players can do in 30 seconds (does not have to be

consecutive juggles - just the total). Juggling balloons or beach balls can help players get more confidence.

Around the Cones




When the relay is started, the first player from each relay dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the second player. The second player dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the third player. When the ball is passed to the first player, the first player then dribbles around the 20-yard cone and passes the ball to the second player. When the ball is passed to the first player again, the first player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and passes to the second player. The relay is done when the last player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and dribbles back across the starting line.


VARIATIONS



TECHNICAL POINTS




Capture the Flag

Purpose To improve dribbling and problem solving skillsThemes Ball Mastery# of Players All - in 2 teamsEquipment Lots of balls, 8 disc conesTime 10 minutes

This is a soccer version of the classic children's game. Instead of trying to capture the flag, each team tries to capture as many soccer balls as possible.

Use your disc cones to create two 10x10 squares that are approximately 20 yards apart. Place half of the balls in each square. Place all of the players from one team in one square; all of the players for the second team in the other square.

When you say "Go!", players from both teams run to the other square and take a ball. They dribble the ball back to their square and then get another ball. No passing is allowed - only dribbling. Play for 1-2 minutes. At the end of the game, the winner is the team with the most balls in their square.

VARIATIONS

Let players defend the balls in their square. Now each team needs to decide who will attack and who will defend. Only legal soccer defending tactics can be used - no holding, tripping, etc.

Play just like a real game with defenders, passing, etc. all allowed.

Play with more than two teams. This makes the problem solving part of the game much more intriguing.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T11:Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.

Sharks 'n Minnows

Purpose To improve dribbling at speed and under pressureThemes Ball Mastery# of Players All - two players start out as sharks (the rest are minnows)Equipment 1 ball per minnow; disc cones to set up a 20x25-yard areaTime 15 minutes

This is the soccer version of the classic swimming pool game. It challenges players’ (minnows’) dribbling skill by introducing defenders (sharks).

Use your disc cones to set up a 20x25-yard area. Pick two players to be sharks and place them at one end of the marked area. The remaining players are minnows. Each minnow needs a ball and all of the minnows line up on the other side of the marked area.

When you say "Swim!", the minnows must "swim" (i.e., dribble) across the marked area to the other end. The sharks try to knock each minnow's ball out of the marked area. If a minnow's ball is knocked out of the marked area before he/she reaches the end, that minnow becomes a shark for the next round.

After the round, all of the sharks go to the other end of the marked area and the surviving minnows try again. Last two surviving minnows become the sharks for the next game.

VARIATIONS

You can easily make this a tag game to work on movement skills and agility instead of dribbling. Give each minnow a pinney. Have the minnows tuck them in the top of their shorts with most of the pinney still showing (like flag football). The sharks must grab the pinney.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T12:Teach your players to recognize space and to explode into it so they won't be caught.


4v4 4 Goals

Purpose To train changing of direction while dribbling and the concept of spaceThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players 8 - in two teams of 4Equipment 3+ balls, disc cones to lay out a 25x30 field, 8 corner flags, 4 pinneysTime 10-15 minutes

U8s are notorious in 4v4 for blocking the goal with two or three defenders. In this game, each team has two goals to attack. The object is to attack one goal, draw all of the defenders, and then quickly change direction and attack the undefended goal. As the players get older, this change of direction will most likely be done with a pass. At this age, it will usually be done with a change of direction dribbling move.

Set up is the same as the standard 4v4 game except we use corner flags for goals and create four goals instead of two. Make each goal 2 yards wide and place a goal in each corner of the field. Now, teams will try to score a goal in either of the two goals on the goal line they are attacking. If you don't have enough corner flags, just make a goal with one corner flag and the disc cone that marks the corner of the field. If you have two sets of Pugg goals, you can use those.

The game is played the same as the standard 4v4 game. Try to get the players to recognize when they are dribbling toward a heavily defended goal (one with two or more defenders). When that occurs, they should immediately change directions via a dribbling move or pass and attack the other goal. See if they can be patient and switch back and forth if the defenders are playing well.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T13:See the standard 4v4 game.T14:As U10s, you'll start to teach them about spacing, and that one attacking player should play wide by the other goal.

That way, he/she will be open for a pass and an easy goal. At U8, that's a long way from the action. See if you can get the attackers to spread out around the dribbler. That will be a good first step.





Warmup Activities - 10 minutesJuggling (5 minutes)Around the Cones (5 minutes) – Add Ball

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate proper running form forward and backward (emphasize arm movements)Use skipping to demonstrate arm movement (2 minutes)Capture the Flag (10 minutes)Sharks n’ Minnows (15 Minutes)

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 Four Goals

Wrap Up - 2 minutesAsk players to demonstrate juggling skills assign number of juggles as goal for next practice.Remind players of game schedules etc.


Pre-Session Game

Slam

Purpose To improve striking and receiving of the ballThemes Ball Mastery, Striking the Ball# of Players All - no more than six players per wall.Equipment Several soccer balls per wallTime 5-10 minutes

This is a classic playground game. There are almost limitless variations possible and players will play the game for the entire training session if allowed.

You need some sort of rebounding surface to be able to play Slam. At Urbana Park, our new shooting wall on the Lower Field is perfect. Plus, you can use both sides of the wall at once to have two simultaneous games. You

can also play Slam using the wooden rebounding walls that are at Urbana Park. Putting two walls side-by-side will make the game a little easier. At other practice locations, building walls can be used. Please keep an eye out for safety - stay away from windows, outside lights and low roofs. At Oakdale MS, the concrete wall on the tennis courts makes for a great game of Slam. Please make sure that players do not wear their cleats on the tennis courts.

In the basic game of Slam, players line up one behind the other approximately 10-15 yards from the wall. The first player in the line has the ball. All players have three "lives".

To start the game, the first player shoots the ball against the wall and goes to the end of the line. The second player receives the shot off the wall and must shoot within two touches - the first touch to control the ball and the second touch to shoot (shooting on the first touch is fine, too). The player loses a life if he/she misses the wall completely or lets the ball stop moving at any time. If a player loses a life, the next player in line starts the game again with a shot. As long as the shots are successful, play continues in a round-robin fashion until someone loses a life.

Players are eliminated from the game when they have lost their third life. The last player with one or more lives left is the winner. The winner picks the next game.

VARIATIONS

To make this a non-elimination game, a player gets a point each time that he/she is successful. First player to get ten points wins the game.

When a player is eliminated, allow them to get an extra life if they can juggle the ball five times in a row before the end of the game.

Using disc cones, make a line five yards in front of the wall. All shots must be taken from behind the line and must come back beyond the line or the shooter loses a life. This is a great game to work on longer shots.

Play a game where only one touch is allowed.

Play a game where you must use two touches. This helps to improve first touch control.

Play a game where only one foot can be used for shooting (or for all touches).

Make the middle of the wall out-of-bounds (i.e., a goalie). Players lose a life it they hit the middle area.

Have the first player volley the ball. The next player runs to pick up the volley after it rebounds off the wall. The second player volleys the ball from where he/she picked it up. Players continue volleying the ball until someone loses a life.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T31:Constantly stress to the players to keep the ball moving.T32:Stress a good first touch that pushes the ball an adequate distance away so a proper approach and shot can be

made. If the first touch does not push the ball far enough away, the player will have difficulty shooting with the ball under his/her feet.

T33:Stress proper shooting technique. Make sure the players follow through on their longer shots.T34:This is a great game to work on a player's non-dominant foot. Make sure there are both right-footed and left footed

games.


Juggling







Around the Cones




When the relay is started, the first player from each relay dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the second player. The second player dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the third player. When the ball is passed to the first player, the first player then dribbles around the 20-yard cone and passes the ball to the second player. When the ball is passed to the first player again, the first player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and passes to the second player. The relay is done when the last player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and dribbles back across the starting line.


VARIATIONS



TECHNICAL POINTS




Capture the Flag

Purpose To improve dribbling and problem solving skillsThemes Ball Mastery# of Players All - in 2 teamsEquipment Lots of balls, 8 disc conesTime 10 minutes

This is a soccer version of the classic children's game. Instead of trying to capture the flag, each team tries to capture as many soccer balls as possible.

Use your disc cones to create two 10x10 squares that are approximately 20 yards apart. Place half of the balls in each square. Place all of the players from one team in one square; all of the players for the second team in the other square.

When you say "Go!", players from both teams run to the other square and take a ball. They dribble the ball back to their square and then get another ball. No passing is allowed - only dribbling. Play for 1-2 minutes. At the end of the game, the winner is the team with the most balls in their square.

VARIATIONS

Let players defend the balls in their square. Now each team needs to decide who will attack and who will defend. Only legal soccer defending tactics can be used - no holding, tripping, etc.

Play just like a real game with defenders, passing, etc. all allowed.

Play with more than two teams. This makes the problem solving part of the game much more intriguing.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T15:Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.

Sharks 'n Minnows

Purpose To improve dribbling at speed and under pressureThemes Ball Mastery# of Players All - two players start out as sharks (the rest are minnows)Equipment 1 ball per minnow; disc cones to set up a 20x25-yard areaTime 15 minutes

This is the soccer version of the classic swimming pool game. It challenges players’ (minnows’) dribbling skill by introducing defenders (sharks).

Use your disc cones to set up a 20x25-yard area. Pick two players to be sharks and place them at one end of the marked area. The remaining players are minnows. Each minnow needs a ball and all of the minnows line up on the other side of the marked area.

When you say "Swim!", the minnows must "swim" (i.e., dribble) across the marked area to the other end. The sharks try to knock each minnow's ball out of the marked area. If a minnow's ball is knocked out of the marked area before he/she reaches the end, that minnow becomes a shark for the next round.

After the round, all of the sharks go to the other end of the marked area and the surviving minnows try again. Last two surviving minnows become the sharks for the next game.

VARIATIONS

You can easily make this a tag game to work on movement skills and agility instead of dribbling. Give each minnow a pinney. Have the minnows tuck them in the top of their shorts with most of the pinney still showing (like flag football). The sharks must grab the pinney.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T16:Teach your players to recognize space and to explode into it so they won't be caught.


4v4 4 Goals





TECHNICAL POINTS




Sample Training Session - Ball Mastery

ThemeBall mastery

Pre-Session Game - N minutesJuggling

Warmup Activities - 10 minutesBallnastics (5 minutes) - Step Ups, Foundation, Pull the VLike Magnets (5 minutes) - Zico as move to be made

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate Spin, SwitchbackFreeze Tag (10 minutes) - Spin and then Switchback as moves to be madeRun the Gauntlet (10-15 minutes)

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 Line Soccer - award extra point if player does a Spin or Switchback!

Wrap Up - 2 minutesReview Spin and Switchback - ask players to demonstrate.Up date players on practice schedule etc.


Pre-Session Game

Juggling








Foundation

Purpose To develop balance and foot quickness# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 20-30 seconds

Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball directly under you. Push the ball back and forth with the inside of the feet. Foundation resembles a game of Ping Pong played with the insides of your feet.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T39:Players should be light on their feet moving the ball back and forth as fast as possible. When done properly, the heels of your feet never touch the ground.

T40:Knees should be slightly bent, and players should try to develop a rhythm moving the ball back and forth. Players should NOT look like stick figures with straight legs and an awkward flow to the ball movement.

T41:Excitement is not this exercise's strong point so keep it short. It helps if you have players make video game noises every time they touch the ball or some other suitable distraction to make it more fun. You can also time them for 15 seconds and see how many touches they can make in that time. See if they can beat their first score on the second try.

Pull the V

Purpose To develop the quickness necessary to make moves to get out of congested areas# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 20-30 seconds

Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball 1 to 2 feet in front of your left foot. Reach across with your right foot and drag the ball with the sole of your right foot until the ball reaches the middle of your stance. Without letting your right foot touch the ground, pivot your right hip 45 to your right. Push the ball with the inside of your right foot until it is 1 to 2 feet in front of your right foot's originally starting location. Put your right foot down so that your feet are shoulder width apart again. Repeat with the left foot.

The goal is to repeatedly make the letter "V" in the grass as you pull/push the ball back and forth.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T1: While you want players to make Vs as fast as possible, you want them to do it with a fluid rhythm. Players should be pivoting at the hip as they transition from the sole of the foot to the inside of the foot. The stationary foot should be just that - stationary.

T2: Pull the V is an important tool for players to master. The "V" ball movement is necessary to get out of tight, congested areas where defenders are very close.

Like Magnets

Purpose To improve 180 dribbling moves (Zico/Switchback)Themes Ball Mastery# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball for each player, disc cones to mark off 20x25 yard area, pair of like and opposite magnetsTime 2-3 minutes

Nothing like a lesson in physics to spice up soccer training. Show the players how the opposite charged magnets attract while the like magnets repel each other.

Use your disc cones to mark an area approximately 20x25 yards. Choose a 180 dribbling move (Zico or Switchback) to be used during the game.

When you say "Go!", all players start dribbling around in the area. Whenever they approach another player, they must act as if they are like magnets and repel each other. To do this, they do the selected dribbling move and dribble off in the other direction.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T1: To promote skillful use of both feet, tell players they can only dribble with their right foot. On the next round, players can only dribble with their left foot.


Freeze Tag

Purpose To improve general dribbling skills as well as particular dribbling movesThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players All (one is Mr./Mrs. Freeze)Equipment 1 ball for each player (except Mr./Mrs. Freeze), disc cones to mark off 20x25 yard areaTime 5-10 minutes

This fun tag game utilizes a dribbling move to make a player "safe". This makes the players work on this particular dribbling move over and over as they try to prevent being tagged.

Use your disc cones to mark an area approximately 20x25 yards. Choose a dribbling move that will keep a player safe from being tagged (a Zico in this example).

For the first round, you are Mr./Mrs. Freeze. When you say "Go!", all players start dribbling around the marked area trying to avoid being tagged by Mr./Mrs. Freeze. If a player is doing the selected move (e.g., a Zico), they are safe and can not be tagged. If they are tagged at any other time, the player is frozen. When frozen, the player stands with his/her legs spread apart holding his/her ball overhead. To be unfrozen and back in the game, an unfrozen player must pass the ball between the frozen player's legs.

For the second round, pick a new "safe" move and a player to be Mr./Mrs. Freeze.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T42:Just attempting the "safe" move makes the player safe - it doesn't have to be successful.T43:To promote skillful use of both feet, pick a one-footed move for the "safe" move and tell players they can only

dribble with their right foot. On the next round, players can only dribble with their left foot.T44:Make the area smaller/larger to make the game more difficult/easier.

Run the Gauntlet

Purpose To improve 1v1 dribbling skillsThemes Ball Mastery# of Players Minimum 6, maximum 12Equipment 1 ball per player, 8 disc conesTime 5-10 minutesThis excellent, rapid-fire 1v1 game challenges dribbling skills and requires quick thinking.

Mark the corners of a 10x30-yard area. Put additional cones at 10 and 20 yards on each of the 30-yard sides. You should now have three consecutive 10x10-yard areas.

Pick three players to be defenders. Have the first defender

stand between the two 10-yard cones. The second defender stands between the two 20-yard cones. The third defender stands between the two 30-yard cones. The other players each get a ball and line up one behind the other between the 0-yard cones.

When the first player dribbles into the first box, the first defender moves into the box trying to stop the dribbler from advancing into the second box. If the dribbler successfully makes it to the second box, the second defender comes forward to defend that box. If the dribbler successfully makes it to the third box, the third defender comes forward to defend the third box. If the dribbler's ball is knocked out of the boxes, the dribbler retrieves the ball and moves to the back of the dribblers' line. The dribbler earns one point for each box they successfully navigate (maximum of three points if they get through all three boxes without losing his/her ball).

As soon as the first dribbler gets to the second box (or as soon as the first dribbler's ball is knocked out of the first box), the second dribbler enters the first box.

Defenders must retreat to the back of their box when waiting for the next dribbler.

Play continues in a furious fashion until one of the dribblers gets to 10 points and is the winner.

Keep playing games until everyone has had a chance to be a defender.

VARIATIONS

You can vary the way players start to force them to work on other dribbling aspects:

1. Start with the attacker in the first box with the defender right behind the attacker. The next player in line passes the ball to the attacker (the pass is free and the defender must let the attacker have the first touch). By starting in this manner, players must learn to play with their back to the defender. If the attacker beats the defender in the first box, play continues as in the normal game for the second and third boxes.

2. Same as #1 above, but pass the ball in from the side of the box. The play is very similar, but now the attacker must receive the ball from the side and attack.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T45:Constantly stress the importance of changing direction and speed to beat the defenders. First, dribble to your left and then make a big move to your right. You can't dribble to your left and then make a move to your left - you'll be out of space.

T46:Also stress to the players to dribble into the box and then, BANG!, make their big move and accelerate away. If they are too cautious and slow, they'll never succeed.


4v4 Line Soccer

Purpose To train ball control, dribbling moves, and recognition of spaceThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players 8 - in two teams of 4Equipment 3+ balls, disc cones to lay out a 30x25 field, 4 pinneysTime 10-15 minutesThis 4v4 game is all about dribbling so it makes a nice session ending game when dribbling was the theme of the session.

Set up a 30x25-yard field using your disc cones. Note that the field is wider than it is long (so that there is more space in which to score a goal).

The game is played the same as the standard 4v4 game except that the method of scoring a goal is different. To score a goal, a player needs to dribble the ball and stop it anywhere on the goal line they are attacking.

Since you can score anywhere along the goal line, it is important for players to recognize when the space in front of them is heavily defended (2+ defenders). In that case, the dribbler needs to quickly change directions and attack another part of the goal line. Of course, passing is another way to change the point of attack quickly. If that happens, great; however, stress dribbling first and passing second.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T47:See the standard 4v4 game.T48:Try to get the attacking team to create some space around the dribbler so they are not "defenders' as well. We

want many 1v1 duels - not 3v3s.



ThemeBall mastery


Warmup Activities - 10 minutesBallnastics (5 minutes) - Step Ups, Push Pull, RolloverLike Magnets (5 minutes) – Chop, Shake N’ Bake moves to be made

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate Chop, Shake N’ Bake Freeze Tag (10 minutes) - Chop and then Shake N’ Bake as moves to be madeRun the Gauntlet (10-15 minutes)

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 4 Goals

Wrap Up - 2 minutesReview moves of the day - ask players to demonstrate.Update players on practice and game schedule etc.


Pre-Session Game

Juggling




Let the ball bounce once on the ground if that is necessary.

For thigh juggling, make sure they are using their thigh and not their knee. Knees are too bony and can't control the ball. Thigh should be parallel to the ground so the ball pops straight up.

When juggling with your foot, use the instep of the foot as opposed to the inside or outside of the foot. Consider doing timed juggling to see how many juggles players can do in 30 seconds (does not have to be



Step Ups


Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball directly in front of you. Touch the top of the ball with the sole of your right foot, and then return your right foot to its original position. Then, touch the top of the ball with the sole of your left foot, and then return your left foot to its original position. Keep alternating feet with no pause in movement.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T1: Players should be light on their feet moving as quickly as possible. When done properly, the heels of your feet never touch the ground.

T2: The ball should not be moving.T3: Expect a lot of falling down in this exercise. At the U8 level, this is half the fun T4: To increase the difficulty, have the players rotate around the ball in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction as

they do their step ups.T5: Excitement is not this exercise's strong point so keep it short. It helps if you have players make video game noises

every time they touch the ball or some other suitable distraction to make it more fun. You can also time them for 15 seconds and see how many touches they can make in that time. See if they can beat their first score on the second try.

Push-Pull

Purpose To develop a light touch on the ball# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 20-30 seconds

Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball directly in front of your right foot. With the instep of your right foot, push the ball until it is 1 to 2 feet in front of your left foot. Return your right foot to its original starting position. With the sole of your left foot, pull the ball back so that it is directly in front of your left foot's original starting position. Put your left foot down so that your feet are shoulder width apart again. Repeat by pushing with the left foot and pulling with the right foot.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T49:The key to being successful is a light and accurate touch with the instep of the pushing foot. Push too hard and the ball will go too far away. Push too lightly and the ball won't move.

Rollover

Purpose To develop agility and mastery of the ball# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 20-30 seconds

Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball directly in front of your right foot. With your right foot, roll the ball to your left by moving the right foot from the outside of the ball, over the top, and to the left side of the ball. Your right foot will end up crossed over your left. Move your left foot to your left and roll the ball again with your right. You should be moving in a straight line to your left. After 10 yards or so, switch feet and use your left foot to roll the ball to your right until you end up where you started. Keep repeating back and forth.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T50:Make sure the players don't kick the ball to the left and right. The foot should stay in contact with the ball as it rolls the ball from the outside of the ball, over the top to the inside of the ball.

T51:Like Pulling the V, the players should move as fast as possible, but the movement needs to be fluid and rhythmic.T52:A player's torso should always be facing straight ahead (at a 90 angle to the direction they are traveling). The

twisting movements necessary should be coming from the hips.

Like Magnets

Purpose To improve 180 dribbling moves (Chop/Shake N’ Bake)Themes Ball Mastery# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball for each player, disc cones to mark off 20x25 yard area, pair of like and opposite magnetsTime 2-3 minutes




TECHNICAL POINTS



Freeze Tag






TECHNICAL POINTS



Run the Gauntlet



Pick three players to be defenders. Have the first defender stand between the two 10-yard cones. The second defender stands between the two 20-yard cones. The third defender stands between the two 30-yard cones. The other players each get a ball and line up one behind the other between the 0-yard cones.






VARIATIONS




TECHNICAL POINTS




4v4 4 Goals





TECHNICAL POINTS




Sample Training Session - Striking the Ball

ThemeStriking the ball - inside of the foot

Pre-Session Game - N minutesCross Country

Warmup Activities - 10 minutesPong (5 minutes) - right foot first and then left foot!Swim the Channel (5 minutes)

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate inside of the foot pass techniqueMarbles (10 minutes) - right foot, left foot, either footClean Up Your Room (15 minutes) - inside of the foot only - right then left

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 4 Big Goals

Wrap Up - 2 minutesReview inside of the foot technique - see if players can remember key phrases (heel down/toe up, etc.)Remind players of practice and game day schedules


Pre-Session Game

Cross Country

Purpose To improve striking the ball with the instep of the footThemes Striking the Ball# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 5 minutes

No cones, no setup, no organizing teams - what could be better? Cross Country is an extremely simple game that lets you really concentrate on training striking the ball with the instep of the foot.Line up all of the players across one touch line. Each player needs a ball. Select a foot to be used.

When you say "Go!", players strike the ball with the instep of the selected foot. They continue to do this until the ball crosses the far touch line. Players should count how many strikes it took them to cross the field.

Line all of the players up for a second round and see if they can beat their first score.

VARIATIONS

Who can cross the field the fastest?

TECHNICAL POINTS

T21:Stress proper striking the ball technique.T22:Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.


Pong

Purpose To train proper technique when striking the ball with the inside of the footThemes Ball Mastery, Striking the Ball# of Players All - in pairs with one pair at each goalEquipment 1 ball per pair, 2 disc cones per goalTime 5 minutes

This is a great game to focus solely on striking the ball with the inside of the foot. It is a very controlled game so it is easy to have players work on striking the ball with either foot. A side benefit is that players learn receiving skills as well.

Use your disc cones to set up one goal for each pair. Each goal should be two yards wide. There should be about five yards between each goal so the pairs won't be interfering with one another. Player A should be about three yards on one side of the goal; player B about three yards on the other side of the goal.

Tell the players which foot they will be using for passing. When you say "Go!", players in each pair pass back and forth to each other using the inside of the chosen foot. If the ball goes through the goal, that pair is awarded one point. First pair to ten wins the game and jumps for joy! Have the pairs count each point aloud so you can tell how much progress they are making (this also puts pressure on the teams who are behind to catch up). The game should look like the old Pong arcade game.

Switch the passing foot for the second game and play again. If the players are doing well, have them move back several steps and play again.

VARIATIONS

Instead of playing to ten, if a pair makes three consecutive successful passes through the goal, each player takes one big step backward. If they mess up, they have to start back at the beginning (three yards from the goal). See which pair can get the furthest apart.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T58:Plant foot pointing toward the target (through the goal), passing foot turned outward at a 90 angle, heel down/toes up, lock the ankle, and follow through.

T59:Have the players try to keep the ball moving. You don't want them to trap it and then pass it.T60:This can turn into a boring drill very quickly. Make sure you keep it a game by keeping score or some other means.

Swim the Channel

Purpose To improve movement skills, agility and striking the ballThemes Striking the Ball, Mobility Skills# of Players All - two players start out as passers (the rest are swimmers)Equipment Lots of balls; disc cones to set up a 20x25 yard areaTime 5-10 minutes

This is another extremely fun game like Sharks 'n Minnows. In Swim the Channel, the roles are reversed - the swimmers play without a ball while the taggers have all of the balls.

Use your disc cones to set up a 20x25-yard area. Pick two players to be passers and place them on opposite sides of the marked area. Split all of the soccer balls between the two passers. The remaining players are swimmers. All of the swimmers line up at one end of the marked area.

When you say "Swim!", the swimmers must "swim" (i.e., run) across the marked area to the other end. The passers pass the ball and try to hit the swimmers BELOW the waist before they reach the end of the area. Swimmers who are hit become passers in the next round.

After the round, split the passers evenly on each side of the area. The surviving swimmers try again. Last two surviving swimmers become the passers for the next game.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T23:Make sure that the passers are passing the ball and not shooting. Because you can only be hit below the waist, stress to the passers to keep the ball low (and so that there are no tears).

T24:You can work on passing with both feet by making players play one game with one foot and the next game with the other.

T25:To keep the game flowing as quickly as possible, have parents help you retrieve balls.


Marbles

Purpose To improve striking the ball with the inside of the footTheme(s) Basic Passing,# of Players All - in 2 teamsEquipment Lots of balls, 10 disc conesTime 5-10 minutes

This is the soccer equivalent of the standard marbles game. It's a good game to use because there are no lines and everyone is active at the same time. It helps if you have a bountiful supply of soccer balls for this game so that there are plenty of target marbles and plenty of balls to use as shooters.

Use your disc cones to set up two parallel lines that are 10 yards apart, and put 5-10 balls in between the two lines. Have one team set up on the outside of each line. Each player should have a ball. It is very helpful if the 5-10 balls in the middle (a.k.a., the marbles) are easily differentiated from the other balls. This way, players will know the balls at which they are shooting. If you don't have different color soccer balls, you can put duct tape on the "marbles" to differentiate them.

When you say "Go!", players from both teams begin shooting their soccer balls at the "marbles" in the middle. Players should be using the inside of their feet to strike the ball. The goal of the game is to knock the marbles across the other team's line. The game is over when all of the marbles have been knocked over one of the two lines. Count the marbles knocked out by each team to determine the winner.

TECHNICAL POINTS

Stress proper inside of the foot technique.Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.

Clean Up Your Room

Purpose To improve striking the ball with either instep or inside of the footTheme(s) Basic Passing, Shooting# of Players All - in 2 teamsEquipment Lots of balls, 10 disc conesTime 5-10 minutes

This frenetic game is a player favorite. The only downfall of the game is it needs a large amount of space so that players aren't kicking balls into other practice areas, etc.

Use your disc cones to set up two parallel lines that are 10 yards apart. Put one team on one side of the lines and the other team on the opposite side. The area between the lines is a neutral zone that can not be entered. Divide the balls so that each team has an equal number. It helps if each team has more balls than they have players.

When you say "Go!", players from both teams try to "clean up their rooms" by kicking balls over to the other team's "room". Play the game for 1-2 minutes. At the end of that time, the team with the "cleanest room" (i.e., the fewest balls) wins.

Note that players are not allowed to go into the neutral zone to recover any balls there although they can try to knock them out like in Marbles.

TECHNICAL POINTS

Stress proper striking the ball technique.Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.Play one game using only the inside of the foot and the next game using the instep.


4v4 4 Big Goals

Purpose To train changing the point of attack, the concept of space and shootingTheme(s) Ball Mastery, Basic Passing, Shooting, Basic Team Play, Basic Communication# of Players 8 - in two teams of 4Equipment 3+ balls, disc cones to lay out a

25x30 field, 8 corner flags, 4 pinneys

Time 10-15 minutes

This game is the same as the 4v4 4 Goals game except the goals are bigger to put more emphasis on shooting.

Set up is the same as the 4v4 4 Goals game except the goals should all be six yards wide.


Also, stress that the players should shoot as soon as possible (shoot early). With such big goals, the players should be able to shoot and score from a good distance.

VARIATIONS

Play with goalies but only use one goalie per team. That means the goalie has to defend two goals, which can lead to lots of fun (and some exercise for the goalie).

TECHNICAL POINTS

See the standard 4v4 game.Remember diamonds and triangles. Make sure players spread out so they can switch the attack to the other goal quickly.


Sample Training Session - Striking the Ball

ThemeStriking the ball - inside of the foot

Pre-Session Game - N minutesCross Country

Warmup Activities - 10 minutesCrows and Cranes (5 minutes) Swim the Channel (5 minutes)

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate inside of the foot pass techniqueDribble and Shoot (10 minutes) - right foot, left foot, either footClean Up Your Room (15 minutes) - inside of the foot only - right then left

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 Shoot!

Wrap Up - 2 minutesReview inside of the foot technique - see if players can remember key phrases (heel down/toe up, etc.)Remind players of practice and game day schedules


Pre-Session Game

Cross Country

Purpose To improve striking the ball with the instep of the footThemes Striking the Ball# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 5 minutes

No cones, no setup, no organizing teams - what could be better? Cross Country is an extremely simple game that lets you really concentrate on training striking the ball with the instep of the foot.Line up all of the players across one touch line. Each player needs a ball. Select a foot to be used.

When you say "Go!", players strike the ball with the instep of the selected foot. They continue to do this until the ball crosses the far touch line. Players should count how many strikes it took them to cross the field.

Line all of the players up for a second round and see if they can beat their first score.

VARIATIONS

Who can cross the field the fastest?

TECHNICAL POINTS

T26:Stress proper striking the ball technique.T27:Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.


Crows and Cranes

Purpose To improve turning and acceleration as well as inside of the foot passingTheme(s) Striking the Ball, Mobility Skills# of Players All - divided into two teamsEquipment Lots of balls (at least one per player), disc

cones for three linesTime 5-10 minutes

At this age, this game will be a player's favorite. It has an advantage over Crackers/Crunch in that it is not an elimination game. There is also a lower probability of tears

in this game (than in other similar games like Swim the Channel and Pac Man) because players are usually hit in the back because they are running away.

Use your disc cones to set up three parallel lines each 20 yards apart. You stand at the end of the centerline. All of the balls are placed on the centerline with teams facing one another. Before the game starts, select one of the teams to be "Crows" and the other to be "Cranes"

When the players are ready, call out a team's name ("Crows" or "Cranes"). The team not called turns and tries to run to their line. The players on the called team pass the ball (inside of the foot) and try to hit the retreating players. Any players who are hit before reaching the line switch teams and join the team that hit them.

The game continues until all the players are on one team.

Make it fun by stretching out the words - "Cccccccrrrrrrrrrrows" or "Cccccccrrrrranes".

TECHNICAL POINTS

T28:Stress proper inside of the foot passing form.T29:Stress proper acceleration and running form.

Swim the Channel

Purpose To improve movement skills, agility and striking the ballThemes Striking the Ball, Mobility Skills# of Players All - two players start out as passers (the rest are swimmers)Equipment Lots of balls; disc cones to set up a 20x25 yard areaTime 5-10 minutes

This is another extremely fun game like Sharks 'n Minnows. In Swim the Channel, the roles are reversed - the swimmers play without a ball while the taggers have all of the balls.

Use your disc cones to set up a 20x25-yard area. Pick two players to be passers and place them on opposite sides of the marked area. Split all of the soccer balls between the two passers. The remaining players are swimmers. All of the swimmers line up at one end of the marked area.

When you say "Swim!", the swimmers must "swim" (i.e., run) across the marked area to the other end. The passers pass the ball and try to hit the swimmers BELOW the waist before they reach the end of the area. Swimmers who are hit become passers in the next round.

After the round, split the passers evenly on each side of the area. The surviving swimmers try again. Last two surviving swimmers become the passers for the next game.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T30:Make sure that the passers are passing the ball and not shooting. Because you can only be hit below the waist, stress to the passers to keep the ball low (and so that there are no tears).

T31:You can work on passing with both feet by making players play one game with one foot and the next game with the other.

T32:To keep the game flowing as quickly as possible, have parents help you retrieve balls.


Dribble and Shoot

Purpose To improve instep shooting off the dribble.Themes Ball Mastery, Striking the Ball# of Players All - in two groupsEquipment Lots of balls, 2 disc cones, 2 Pugg goals (or any goals)Time 5-10 minutes

This is the basic shooting game that is played everywhere. Players get to work on their dribbling moves and shooting at the same time.

Set up your Pugg goals side by side approximately 5-10 yards apart. In front of each Pugg goal, set up disc cones at the following distances: 10 yards and 25 yards. Behind each of the 25-yard cones, line up one group of players. Every player should have a ball. Note that if you only have one large goal, simply have both groups shoot on the same goal at the same time.

The first player from each group dribbles forward, makes a dribbling move, and must shoot before reaching the cone. If the shot goes into the goal, that player's team gets one point. Have each group count their points aloud and the first team with ten points is the winner. Switch goals and shooting feet for the next round.

You can make players shag their own shots to give them extra incentive to put them into the net!

TECHNICAL POINTS

T33:Dribbling moves and shots must be made at game speed. Don't let players walk into their shots.T34:The last dribble before the shot should be a longer one. This allows the player to accelerate into the shot for more

power. If the last dribble is a short one, the player will have a hard time getting the ball out from under his/her feet in order to shoot powerfully.

T35:Stress proper instep shooting form - plant foot next to the ball, toe down, follow through with the knee and the toe and land on the shooting foot.

Clean Up Your Room

Purpose To improve striking the ball with either instep or inside of the footTheme(s) Basic Passing, Shooting# of Players All - in 2 teamsEquipment Lots of balls, 10 disc conesTime 5-10 minutes

This frenetic game is a player favorite. The only downfall of the game is it needs a large amount of space so that players aren't kicking balls into other practice areas, etc.

Use your disc cones to set up two parallel lines that are 10 yards apart. Put one team on one side of the lines and the other team on the opposite side. The area between the lines is a neutral zone that can not be entered. Divide the balls so that each team has an equal number. It helps if each team has more balls than they have players.

When you say "Go!", players from both teams try to "clean up their rooms" by kicking balls over to the other team's "room". Play the game for 1-2 minutes. At the end of that time, the team with the "cleanest room" (i.e., the fewest balls) wins.

Note that players are not allowed to go into the neutral zone to recover any balls there although they can try to knock them out like in Marbles.

TECHNICAL POINTS

Stress proper striking the ball technique.Work on both feet by playing one game with the right foot only and the next game with the left.Play one game using only the inside of the foot and the next game using the instep.


4v4 SHOOT!

Purpose Small-sided game to train shootingThemes Ball Mastery, Striking the Ball, Mobility

Skills# of Players 8 - in two teams of 4Equipment 3+ balls, disc cones to lay out a 30x20

field, 4 corner flags, 4 pinneysTime 10-15 minutes

This is a fast-paced, shooting game on a short and wide field. It is an excellent ending to a training session with a shooting/striking the ball theme.

Set up is the same as the standard 4v4 game except:

1. Field is 30x20 yards (field is wider than it is long).2. Use corner flags for goals instead of Pugg goals. Make each goal 6-8 yards wide.

There are usually no goalies in this game, but you can add them if you like.

The game is played the same as the standard 4v4 game. With the goals so close together and so big, the emphasis is on shooting as soon as possible. As soon as a player gets just a little opening, he/she should be thinking about shooting.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T61:See the standard 4v4 game.T62:If you have real soccer goals available, use those. Shooting games are always better when you can shoot the ball into

a net!




Pre-Session Game - N minutesRetriever






Pre-Session Game






VARIATIONS






Around the Cones




When the relay is started, the first player from each relay dribbles around the 10- yard cone and then passes to the second player. The second player dribbles around the 10-yard cone and then passes to the third player. When the ball is passed to the first player, the first player then dribbles around the 20-yard cone and passes the ball to the second player. When the ball is passed to the first player again, the first player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and passes to the second player. The relay is done when the last player dribbles around the 30-yard cone and dribbles back across the starting line.


VARIATIONS



TECHNICAL POINTS



Dogs 'n Rabbits







TECHNICAL POINTS

T36:If the rabbits are not being successful, move the dogs back several yards.T37:Proper dribbling foot position and length of the dribble are crucial to a rabbit's survival.T38:The dogs should be using proper sprinting form.T39:To make the game more fun, have the dogs bark like crazy when they try to chase down their rabbit.T40:


Crackers/Crunch


This is a very fun game that works on acceleration. It has the added benefit of making players listen carefully to what you are saying. Wouldn't it be nice if they'd do that all the time. Once the players get the hang of the

game, let the winner from the previous game be the caller. This game is so much fun you'll have trouble ending the game to play soccer!





VARIATIONS


TECHNICAL POINTS

T67:Proper footwork is key. Make sure players plant their trailing foot and push off without stepping backward.T68:Stress proper acceleration and running form.

City Game















VARIATIONS




TECHNICAL POINTS

T69:Have the players pick the city names. Some "cities" will have an interesting names like "Mexico" and "Japan"T70: For dribbling at speed, work on proper foot position while dribbling as well as the length of the dribble.T71:To make the game more fun and a learning experience, have players yell out a word appropriate to their city when



4v4 Movable Goal






VARIATIONS


TECHNICAL POINTS


success in soccer.



ThemeBall mastery


Warmup Activities - 10 minutesBallnastics (5 minutes) - Step Ups, Foundation, Pull the VLike Magnets (5 minutes) - Zico as move to be made

Main Activities - 30 minutesDemonstrate Spin, SwitchbackFreeze Tag (10 minutes) - Spin and then Switchback as moves to be madeRun the Gauntlet (10-15 minutes)

Small-Sided Game - 15 minutes4v4 Line Soccer - award extra point if player does a Spin or Switchback!

Wrap Up - 2 minutesReview Spin and Switchback - ask players to demonstrate.Up date players on practice schedule etc.


Pre-Session Game

Juggling








Foundation


Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball directly under you. Push the ball back and forth with the inside of the feet. Foundation resembles a game of Ping Pong played with the insides of your feet.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T74:Players should be light on their feet moving the ball back and forth as fast as possible. When done properly, the heels of your feet never touch the ground.

T75:Knees should be slightly bent, and players should try to develop a rhythm moving the ball back and forth. Players should NOT look like stick figures with straight legs and an awkward flow to the ball movement.

T76:Excitement is not this exercise's strong point so keep it short. It helps if you have players make video game noises every time they touch the ball or some other suitable distraction to make it more fun. You can also time them for 15 seconds and see how many touches they can make in that time. See if they can beat their first score on the second try.

Pull the V

Purpose To develop the quickness necessary to make moves to get out of congested areas# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball per playerTime 20-30 seconds

Start with your feet shoulder width apart and the ball 1 to 2 feet in front of your left foot. Reach across with your right foot and drag the ball with the sole of your right foot until the ball reaches the middle of your stance. Without letting your right foot touch the ground, pivot your right hip 45 to your right. Push the ball with the inside of your right foot until it is 1 to 2 feet in front of your right foot's originally starting location. Put your right foot down so that your feet are shoulder width apart again. Repeat with the left foot.

The goal is to repeatedly make the letter "V" in the grass as you pull/push the ball back and forth.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T3: While you want players to make Vs as fast as possible, you want them to do it with a fluid rhythm. Players should be pivoting at the hip as they transition from the sole of the foot to the inside of the foot. The stationary foot should be just that - stationary.

T4: Pull the V is an important tool for players to master. The "V" ball movement is necessary to get out of tight, congested areas where defenders are very close.

Like Magnets

Purpose To improve 180 dribbling moves (Zico/Switchback)Themes Ball Mastery# of Players AllEquipment 1 ball for each player, disc cones to mark off 20x25 yard area, pair of like and opposite magnetsTime 2-3 minutes




TECHNICAL POINTS



Freeze Tag






TECHNICAL POINTS



Run the Gauntlet



Pick three players to be defenders. Have the first defender stand between the two 10-yard cones. The second defender stands between the two 20-yard cones. The third defender stands between the two 30-yard cones. The other players each get a ball and line up one behind the other between the 0-yard cones.






VARIATIONS




TECHNICAL POINTS




4v4 Line Soccer

Purpose To train ball control, dribbling moves, and recognition of spaceThemes Ball Mastery, Mobility Skills# of Players 8 - in two teams of 4Equipment 3+ balls, disc cones to lay out a 30x25 field, 4 pinneysTime 10-15 minutesThis 4v4 game is all about dribbling so it makes a nice session ending game when dribbling was the theme of the session.

Set up a 30x25-yard field using your disc cones. Note that the field is wider than it is long (so that there is more space in which to score a goal).

The game is played the same as the standard 4v4 game except that the method of scoring a goal is different. To score a goal, a player needs to dribble the ball and stop it anywhere on the goal line they are attacking.

Since you can score anywhere along the goal line, it is important for players to recognize when the space in front of them is heavily defended (2+ defenders). In that case, the dribbler needs to quickly change directions and attack another part of the goal line. Of course, passing is another way to change the point of attack quickly. If that happens, great; however, stress dribbling first and passing second.

TECHNICAL POINTS

T82:See the standard 4v4 game.T83:Try to get the attacking team to create some space around the dribbler so they are not "defenders' as well. We

want many 1v1 duels - not 3v3s.

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