Develop and use proper soccer technique to change direction using a cut or type kind of turn Develop an awareness of space on the soccer field
HINTS:
If you need to speak to the whole team or an individual, kneel down and look your player(s) in the eye. Activity 1- “3-2-1 DRILLS”
Warmups:
Duration: 10 MIN
Hold a quick team meeting to welcome players to practice and tell them the focus tonight will be on dribbling and turning. Place cones in a circular design; Have each player line up at a cone. Teach players how to execute toe-taps or toe-touches, windshield wipers, and drag backs in a standing position. Take the cones away and have players dribble around the field. On your call, “3-2-1,” players must stop and place their dominate foot on top of the ball. Have players do 10 toe-taps and then dribble away. Do a series of repetitions with each.
COACHING DEMONSTRATION Have players line up at well spaced cones on one of the sidelines and show players how to change the direction of players’ bodies and the ball. Coaching points should include: using the inside of the foot to push the ball in a different direction, keeping the ball close, and changing the speed and direction of the body. Begin by having players dribble-walk or dribble slowly from one sideline to another practicing these techniques. Offer praise and reinforce the good habits you are observing. Activity 2- OCTOPUS GAME
Duration: 8 MIN
Have players return to the cones on either sideline. Players must use good dribbling technique to dribble from one sideline to the other without begin tagged. If a player is tagged, they must stand in the place where they were tagged with their arms out waving about like an octopus. They must stay in this spot. As the field fills up with octopuses, it makes it more likely players will need to use a cut to change direction. It is recommended that the coach begin as the tagger; tagged players can also be spaced out strategically by the coach to make sure players are being forced to cut and change direction. After a time or two, another player could be selected to be the tagger with the coach. Continue to offer praise and celebrate good dribbling skills and cutting skills. Activity 3- MINEFIELD GAME
Duration: 8 MIN
Have players return to the cones on either sideline. Place as many cones throughout the field as possible. Players must dribble through the “minefield” to get to the other sideline. Players should avoid the cones. Repeat a time or two. Continue to offer praise and celebrate good dribbling skills and cutting skills.
REPEAT COACHING DEMONSTRATION Use this to check for players’ understanding, to measure growth and to target players who may need additional help. Activity 4- SMALL SIDED GAME 4 v 4
(Keep the focus on tonight’s objectives!)
Duration: 20 MIN
End practice with a short team meeting to review the session objectives and highlight the good things seen and observed.