AGES 7 TO 8 - WEEK ONE

Drill 1 - Sponge Bob Soccer Pants

Warm Up:
Refer to the “Warm Up” section for a variety of fun warm up activities for your team. Use a combination of exercises “with” and “without” the ball. Relate the warm up to the skill of the day. Be creative, energetic, and make the warm-up a fun start to the practice session.

Exercise Objectives:
This practice is designed to improve the player’s technical ability in a variety of dribbling moves.

Field Preparation
Entire Group
Area 10 x 20 yards
Supply of Balls
Cones

Coaching Pointers:
A group of players are positioned in a grid 10 yards x 20 yards, one set of players with one ball each. The group of is divided equally into two groups.

One group is positioned on the end line of the grid with one ball each. (These are the “Sponge Bobs”). The second group of players inside the grid as the “Planktons”. The players must dribble their ball (Crabby Patty) and get to the opposite end of the grid.

The Planktons want the secret recipe and try to steal the Crabby Patties. All players dribble at the same time. Planktons on the ground may only move using their hands and feet, they cannot stand up. They must try to kick the balls out over the sideline. If the ball is kicked back over the starting line the dribbling player may start over. All players dribble at the same time. Players on the ground may only move using their hands and feet, they cannot stand up. The defending players must try to kick the balls out over the sideline. If the ball is kicked back over the starting line the dribbling player may start over. When reaching the end line the coach counts all the successful players. The group then dribbles back to the opposite side. The dribbling group gets four attempts and all their points are totaled. The groups then switch roles.

Encourage the dribbling players to use a variety of dribbling moves and attack open spaces in the grid.

Drill 2 - Dribbling Knock Out

Exercise Objectives:
This practice is designed to improve the player’s technical ability in a variety of dribbling moves.

Field Preparation
Entire Group
Area 20 x 20 yards
Supply of Balls
Cones

Coaching Pointers:
The entire group is positioned in a grid 20 yards x 20 yards. All but one player has a ball. The practice is started with one defender placed in the center of the grid (Mad Max). The defender tries to kick the dribbling player’s ball out of the grid. Once the player has been dispossessed, he then becomes a member of the Mad Max gang and has to help him kick the ball out of the grid. The last player remaining in possession of a ball is the winner.

Encourage the players to seek out defenders and not hide in corners. The dribbling players should use a variety of dribbling moves while scanning the grid for open spaces and defensive players. The winner of the practice becomes Mad Max in the following game. Players should also look to screen the ball whenever needed, using their arms to hold off pressurizing defenders.

Drill 3 - Whacky Races

Exercise Objectives:
This practice is designed to develop close control while running with the ball.

Field Preparation
Entire Group
Area 20 x 20 yards
Supply of Balls
Cones

Coaching Pointers:
Divide players into pairs, with one ball each. Pairs are positioned at the starting line. On the coaches command,
players dribble their balls around the race track at full speed. First player through the end line wins.
Players must stay within the cones and start from the beginning if they dribble off the track. Team up players to
race different opponents each time. See who can record the best time. Have a championship race with the top
four highest times in the final.

Small-Sided Game (no goalkeepers)

Exercise Objectives:
Finish with small sided game 3 v 3 (No Goalkeepers). The practice should be concluded with a small-sided game reinforcing the coaching points from your drills.

Field Preparation
Entire Group (split into teams of three or fours)
Area 20 x 20 yards
Use Small Goals, Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls
Colored Bibs

Coaching Pointers:

Divide the players into teams of three or fours, no goalkeepers.
Each field should be approximately 20 yards x 20 yards.
Use corner flags or cones as goals.
Small-sided round robin tournaments can be used.
Every team plays each other.
Each game 10 minutes in duration.
Total time, 30 minutes.
At the end of your session, review all coaching points made during the practice.

Schedule

Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight

Week Nine
Week Ten
Week Eleven
Week Twelve

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