AGES 7 TO 8 - WEEK TWO

Drill 1 - Slalom Through Cones

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 develop close control while running with the ball.

Field Preparation
3 Players
Area 10 x 15 yards
Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls

Coaching Pointers:
Two players are positioned at one end of the grid, with one player at the opposite side. Players alternate dribbling the ball at full speed through the line of cones. Cones are placed at 1-yard intervals across the full length of the grid.

The coach should emphasize the following coaching points:

1. Maintain close control over the ball.
1. Build up speed gradually. Don’t sacrifice quality for speed
1. Use the outside and inside of the foot to dribble with the ball.
1. Don’t keep the eye’s fixed on the ball.
  Scan the horizon.

Drill 2 - Dribble around the Cone

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

Field Preparation
2 Players
Area 10 x 10 yards
Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls

Coaching Pointers:
Divide players into pairs, with one ball each. Player’s alternate dribbling the ball to the opposite cone, turning and dribbling back to the starting position. The cone is placed approximately 5-7 yards from the starting line.

The coach should emphasize the following coaching points:

1. Maintain close control over the ball.
1. Build up speed gradually. Don’t sacrifice quality for speed.
1. Use the outside and inside of the foot to dribble with the ball.
Don’t keep the eye’s fixed on the ball. Scan the horizon.

Drill 3 - Dribble, Turn and Escape

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

Field Preparation
2 Players
Area 10 x 10 yards
Cones
2 Balls

Coaching Pointers:
Divide players into pairs, with one ball each. Players alternate dribbling the ball towards each other. At the mid-point of the grid, players’ turn and dribble back to their starting positions. Players should accelerate after turning.

The coach should emphasize the following coaching points:

1. Maintain close control over the ball.
1. Build up speed gradually. Don’t sacrifice quality for speed.
1. Use a variety of surfaces to turn with the ball such as outside, inside and sole of the foot.
1. Use a variety of turning techniques such as the “Step and Hop” or the Cryuff.
1. When turning, get the ball out of your feet and into the direction you want to turn.
1. If the turning touch is close to the feet the head will be down. If the turning touch is out of the feet, the player can scan the field and run onto the ball for their second touch.
Use a change of speed and explode away from the player.

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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