U10 Week 8

Tic-Tac-Toe

COACHING POINTS

  1. AWARENESS - Keep your head up looking for where you can get the next ball

  2. BE BRAVE - can you use those pull-backs, chops & scissors?

  3. TEAMWORK - work together to get the most balls - communicate and encourage

  • ✅20 x 25 yd area for 10-15 players - make larger for more

    ✅3 teams - max 5 per team (add more teams if more players)

    ✅ Triangle or square zone per team marked by cones

    ✅ 1 x ⚽ per player (or as many as you want) scattered around or in the middle of the zones

    ✅Each rep lasts 90secs - ask guided questions in a quick break - e.g. ‘how did the BLUE team find success?’

  • ✅All players/teams run to the center and dribble the ball back to their own zone

    ✅Players then find another ball in the middle or another team’s zone to 'steal' and dribble it back to their own zone.

    ✅Players can ONLY dribble the ball they have, they can't kick balls out of other zones

    ✅Players cannot guard a zone or the balls

    ✅No tackling - unless the players are adept. Only then, they can poke the ball away from opponents

    ✅Each rep lasts 90 seconds

    💡TIP - You can have a competition (first to 3 wins) and mix up the teams. Make it more interesting by getting the teams to come up with names instead of colors

  • ✅Scatter balls around the area

    ✅Introduce tackling if the players are adept

    ✅Make the ball zones smaller/larger so players get a challenge

    ✅Make the playing area smaller/larger

    ✅Less balls will mean less chaos, but also more awareness and competition

  • Dribbling, awareness, control, and competition are all part of soccer and this game too.

    In a game, where there’s traffic (other players or defenders) players must manipulate the ball using close control and drive with more pace and larger touches in space.

    At a younger age, competitiveness is still being honed and sportsmanship and encouraging teammates start to develop

3v3 Game

COACHING POINTS

  1. HAVE FUN! - It’s an opportunity to play the game, explore skills and work with teammates

  2. ATTACK & DEFEND! - You will have lots of opportunities in a small-sided game to get touches and attack and defend

  3. TEAMWORK - Work together to get the most success

  • ✅Set up fields of 15x20yds

    ✅Teams of 3 (if there is an odd number, make a team of 4)

    ✅Each game lasts 5-7 minutes

    ✅1 x ⚽ per game

    ✅2 x mini goal 🥅 or cone goal per game

  • All the rules of the game should be used. Free kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks. Restart the game after a goal with a kick-off.

    💡TIP - You can start to give players empowerment and responsibility by allowing them to referee their own game. This will help them understand the rules.

    💡TIP - Turn the 3v3 games into a mini-tournament to end the season. Make it fun by adding parents to the game!

  • ✅ Make the field larger or smaller

    ✅ Ensure teams are even skilled - if there is a weaker team, give them an extra player

  • 3v3 is perfect to show all moments of the game in a situation where all players get lots of action, which is important.

3v3 Game

COACHING POINTS

  1. HAVE FUN! - It’s an opportunity to play the game, explore skills and work with teammates

  2. ATTACK & DEFEND! - You will have lots of opportunities in a small-sided game to get touches and attack and defend

  3. TEAMWORK - Work together to get the most success

  • ✅Set up fields of 15x20yds

    ✅Teams of 3 (if there is an odd number, make a team of 4)

    ✅Each game lasts 5-7 minutes

    ✅1 x ⚽ per game

    ✅2 x mini goal 🥅 or cone goal per game

  • All the rules of the game should be used. Free kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks. Restart the game after a goal with a kick-off.

    💡TIP - You can start to give players empowerment and responsibility by allowing them to referee their own game. This will help them understand the rules.

    💡TIP - Turn the 3v3 games into a mini-tournament to end the season. Make it fun by adding parents to the game!

  • ✅ Make the field larger or smaller

    ✅ Ensure teams are even skilled - if there is a weaker team, give them an extra player

  • 3v3 is perfect to show all moments of the game in a situation where all players get lots of action, which is important.

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.