U10 week 7

Race to goal

COACHING POINTS

  1. DETERMINATION - Get to the ball before your opponent and don’t give up until the end

  2. COMPOSURE - Stay calm in front of the goal, even with a defender on you

  3. TRANSITION - Try and win the ball back and change from defense to attack quickly!

  • ✅In the goal area of a 7v7 field - alternatively 1 goal and ensure the run towards the coach is around 10 yards

    ✅2 teams, 1 GK

    ✅4 cones - 2 to mark the starting position, 2 to mark the turning position

    ✅all ⚽with the coach around 5 yards outside the area

  • A simple, fun competition! It helps with encouragement, competition, and shooting under pressure.

    Two teams line up on the goal line - ensure each opposing player is of similar speed/size/ability/strength

    On the coach’s ‘GO’ 2 players run to the turning cone and battle to score

    As they are rounding the cone, the coach passes, rolls, or bounces the ball through the middle into the path of the goal

    Players play until the ball goes in (1 point) or out (0 points)

    Coach calls the next 2 players

  • ✅When serving the ball, you can vary the service - a disguised roll in one direction and then throw in the other, a bouncing ball, a stuttered throw.

    ✅You can get the players to lie or sit down or face the other direction to start

    ✅Make it easier for 1 player over another

  • Competition is something that comes to the fore for most kids between 5-7, so for 8 and 9-year-olds, it is good to create healthy competition to get used to being humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

    It’s important to make most shooting drills game-like, with at least an aspect of decision-making or pressure as this helps with being able to learn composure.

Attack from wide

COACHING POINTS

  1. COMPOSURE - if the ball is coming to you for a shot on goal, stay calm and keep your eye in the ball

  2. TEAMWORK - work together to get the most success - communicate and move fluidly

  3. BE BRAVE - wide players drive to the line with speed, don’t be afraid to shoot!

  • ✅Attacking 3rd of the field - central starting attackers should be starting halfway between the halfway line and the edge of the goal area.

    ✅Lots of balls next to the attacking lines

    The game starts with:

    ✅2 central attackers

    ✅2 wide players (alternating plays)

    ✅2 defenders and 1 GK

    ✅Cones near the end line to mark where a cross should happen

  • This is an attacking 3rd shooting drill with a cross from wide.

    ✅2 central attackers start - one passes the ball to a wide player (alternate each time) - the pass should be played at an angle for the wide player to run onto to give momentum

    ✅Wide player dribbles unopposed to the end line and crosses the ball

    ✅Attackers should run into the area of the cross and shoot to score.

    🏆LEVEL 1 - no defenders to give success and development in movement and shooting.

    🏆LEVEL 2 - add semi-opposed defenders (no tackling). The last players to shoot should become defenders, after the rep, the defenders join the attacking line again.

    🏆LEVEL 3 - opposed defending - you can add mini-goals for defenders to win the ball and play until the ball goes out.

    TIP - Attackers should try and vary their runs into the area to confuse defenders - you can ask questions like ‘how could you make it difficult for defenders when you run into the area?’

    After 10 reps, change the wide players

  • ✅You can have no defenders for as long as it takes for the attackers to get success, or add defenders earlier.

    ✅Points for each pair for scoring

    ✅Make it 3 attackers/defenders

  • Shooting or finishing drills can develop players more if they are game-like and dynamic. By having dynamic play before the finishing, enables players to develop their overall attacking play so that in the game they are adept in that situation.

    Using the wide areas in a game allow the attackers to disorganize the compact defense and the movement from attackers should be quick and timed well to meet the ball as it is crossed

3v2 to GOal

COACHING POINTS

  1. ATTACK - Dribble into space, pass to a teammate if they are in a good position

  2. DEFEND - Get to the ball quickly, work together like a pack of wolves to get the ball back!

  3. BE BRAVE! - Try skills and take lots of shots to score

  • ✅Use the goal area of a 4v4 field - 15W x 20L

    ✅Split teams equally, Attackers in 3s, Defenders in 2s and 1 GK

    ✅Attackers spread out at the opposite end of the goal

    ✅Defender on either side of the goal, others line up ready for their turn

  • ✅This is a game-like situation, with 3 attackers going to goal against 2 defenders.

    ✅There are more attackers to give them more success in scoring goals

    ✅The coach starts the rep with a pass or roll to the attackers.

    ✅As soon as an attacker receives the ball, they try and score a goal and the defenders can try and win the ball

    ✅The rep is over when the ball goes in the goal or out of the playing area.

    ✅After 10 reps, switch the attack and defense, and GK

    💡 TIP - Allow both ATTACK & DEFENSE to play, make mistakes and work things out for themselves, don’t stop the game too much, and encourage. At this age, it’s about reps and fun.

    DEFENDERS should pressure the ball as soon as the rep starts to make sure the ball stays away from the goal. DEFENDERS should stay close enough that it’s tough for the dribble to get through and so the ATTACKER finds it tricky to pass it without an interception

    ATTACKERS should use the space to get as near to the goal as possible.

  • ✅Allow defenders to start closer to the ball for more defensive success

    ✅Make the area larger to allow the players to play longer

    ✅Take out the GK for more goals

  • This exercise is like a real game situation, using all moments of the game.

    It’s important to use game-like situations in practice to give the confidence, understanding and use of skills put into practice.

GAME TIME!

What you need:

✅ 1 x⚽

✅ 2 teams (different colors)

✅ 2 goals

✅ All the rules of the game - throwins, goal-kicks, corners, kickoffs and fouls. So they can practice for the weekend!

TIME TO PLAY! ⚽ Allow the players to have fun, be competitive, and express themselves. At this age, don’t impose too much structure. Don’t force passing or stop the play. Encourage and give positive comments on the goal of the session (dribbling) and coach sporadically as the game goes on.