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AGES 7 TO 8 - WEEK NINE

Drill 1 - Cushion Control using inside of the Foot
 

 

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.

Objective of the Practice:
This practice is designed to improve each player’s ability in ball control. The emphasis is placed on “Cushion Control using the Feet”.

Field Preparation:
Grid 10 x 10 yards. 2 players. Cones. 1 Ball.

 

Coaching Points:  
Two players per grid, with one ball. The grid should be 10 yards x 10 yards. The players are positioned facing each other about 5 yards apart. The player with the ball starts the practice by rolling the ball along the ground, for his partner to control using the inside of the foot. The player controlling the ball should get the controlling foot behind the flight of the ball. On contact with the ball, the player immediately withdraws the foot, taking the pace off the ball, and cushioning it. The player then passes the ball back to the server.

Players can keep score, one point for every successful control.

Drill 2 - Control inside of the Foot - on the Run
 

 

Objective of the Practice:
This practice is designed to improve each player’s ability in ball control. The emphasis is placed on “Cushion Control using the Feet”.

Field Preparation:
Grid 10 x 10 yards. 2 players. Cones. 1 Ball.

 

Coaching Points:  
Two players per grid, with one ball. The grid should be 10 yards x 10 yards. The players are positioned facing each other about 5 yards apart. The player with the ball starts the practice by rolling the ball along the ground, for their partner to control using the inside of the foot. The player controlling the ball should get the controlling foot behind the flight of the ball. On contact with the ball, the player immediately withdraws the foot, taking the pace off the ball, and cushioning it. The player then passes the ball back to the server.  

Players can keep score, one point for every successful control.

 

Drill 3 - Relay - Cushion Control - using the Foot
 

 

Objective of the Practice:
This practice is structured to improve the technical ability of the “Cushion Control using the Feet”. 

 

Field Preparation:
Grid 10 x 10 yards. Small group of players. Cones. 1 Ball.

 

Coaching Points:  
A small group of players are positioned in a grid 10 yards x 10 yards. The server rolls the ball along the ground to the receiving players. Players alternate receiving the ball from the server.

The receiving player must control the ball using the inside of the foot. After successfully controlling the ball the player must pass the ball back to the server, turn and join the end of the line. The player receives a point for each successful control and pass back to the server.

The coach should emphasize correct technique and slowly build up the tempo to match speed. Care must be taken to emphasize quality over speed. Create a competition between groups. Keep score and award points for the first team to reach 20 good controls and passes or the team who can perform the most controls and passes in one minute.

 

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.