U12 Week 7

Pass Sequence

COACHING POINTS

  1. WIDTH & SUPPORT - pass and move into space to help your teammates

  2. COMMUNICATE - Ask for the ball if you’re in space!

  3. AWARENESS - Can you receive a pass? Is a defender close? Do you know where you’re going to pass or go next?

  • ✅20 x 25 yd area

    ✅1 x ⚽ for each team

    ✅ Cones to mark the area

    ✅2 different color pinnies for each team

  • Split the group into two teams, with 1 ball between each team.

    🏆LEVEL 1

    Start the warm-up by having them pass among their own team. Focus on the movement, communication and awareness of the players to get them used to the space and idea of the drill.

    🏆LEVEL 2

    Each player is given a number. Each number has to know who is before and after them. The players pass in sequence around the area. Let them play for 2 minutes to get used to the sequence and the movement.

    🏆LEVEL 3

    Add 2 defenders - for each time the team with the balls go round in sequence, they get a point. If they get tackled, the defender gets a point and the team has to start the sequence again.

  • ✅You can make the boxes larger

    ✅You can revert to just one team to make it easier

  • Awareness and vision are two very important skills that need to be developed to play at a high level. On the field in a high-level game, each player will be scanning and knowing what’s going on around them so they can pass, move and defend in the most efficient way for success.

    These skills are practiced and assimilated by playing the game but if coaches can actively coach this, it can help players understand the concept even easier.

Switch the Field

COACHING POINTS

  1. GET WIDE - Use the full space of the area to make it difficult for defenders

  2. SUPPORT - the player on the ball needs passing options - move and communicate!

  3. AWARENESS - think about where the defenders are and where your teammates are to move the ball quickly

  • ✅15 x 30 yd area split into 2 x 15yd areas

    ✅1 x ⚽

    ✅Pinnies for attackers and defenders

    ✅2 mini goals

  • ✅Attackers work together to keep the ball from defenders across 2 boxes

    ✅Minimum of 3 passes before the ball can go to the other area

    ✅3 defenders - 2 allowed in the box with the ball (pressure and cover) and the 3rd can be in the other area (for balance) - if they win the ball they can go to the mini-goal

    ✅After 3 minutes, switch the defenders

    🎯POINTS

    Attackers

    1. Switch the ball to the other area - 1

    2. Score after switching the ball twice - 3

    Defenders

    1. Win the ball back - 1

    2. Score in mini-goal - 3

    💡TIP - The focus is on possession, but the application of pressure, cover, and balance are also developed

  • ✅The possession team needs to pass 5 times to switch

    ✅Make the boxes smaller to make it more difficult for attackers or vice versa to make it easier.

    ✅2 touches for the attacking team - 2 touches maximum is what the attacking team should be going for, to ensure the ball is moved quickly, but not rushed.

  • In a game teams get a lot of success getting the ball forward, by switching it from a crowded area on one side of the field, to an open space on the other side.

    The principles of width and support are developed in this exercise. The team in possession should be aware of being wide (width or depth) and spreading out, to create space. Passing the ball into space are important to help unbalance and disorganize the defense in order to make it easier to move the ball closer to the opponent’s goal.

2v1 possession

COACHING POINTS

  1. WIDTH & SUPPORT - pass and move into space to help your teammates

  2. COMMUNICATE - Ask for the ball if you’re in space!

  3. AWARENESS - Can you receive a pass? Is a defender close? Do you know where you’re going to pass or go next?

  • ✅20 x 30 yd area (larger if teams are more than 5 each)

    ✅1 x ⚽

    ✅3 x equal teams (2-5 per group

    ✅3 x 🔵 🔴 🟡colors/pinnies

  • 2v1 possession is a game where 2 teams keep the ball from the other defending team.

    ✅3 equal teams in different colors

    ✅ 🔵 and 🔴 work together to keep the ball, with 🟡 defending & trying to win the ball back

    ✅🔵 and 🔴 use the full area to keep the ball away from the 🟡 team

    ✅🟡 team gain possession from 🔵 or 🔴the ball goes out of play, the color team that lost the ball swap with the 🟡 - i.e. 🔵is tackled, 🔵 become defenders

    ✅ If the 2 passing teams make 10 passes, they get 1 point! Add the points up at the end of the game.

    💡TIP - Play for 3 minutes and rest. If a team is defending a lot of the time, switch the teams

    💡TIP - Focus on the passing and possession teams, but ensure the defenders are pressuring the ball, working together and making it difficult for the attackers.

  • ✅Uneven teams - if there is a weaker team give them an extra player

    ✅Introduce mini-goals to score if the possession team makes 10 passes

    ✅Take tackles out - if teams are new to possession, make the exercise semi-opposed. Teams change only for interceptions or if the ball goes out of play

  • Being able to keep possession in the game is important - if the other team don’t have the ball, they can’t score.

    Working on the attacking principles, width & support can help this. THe attacking team needs to use the full space of the area, to find space. In a game this means they can go forward to goal easier.

    Making and passing the ball into space means time on the ball.

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.