U8 WEEK 5

Coconuts

  • ✅TECHNIQUE

    Remember the technique of passing and concentrate on that for success

    ✅COMPOSURE

    Take your time, take a breath, and stay calm

    ✅DETERMINATION

    Keep on trying, if you miss, give it another go until you get it.

  • ✅ Players in pairs - 1 x ⚽ per pair

    ✅ 1 target ball resting on a cone

    ✅ Players opposite on a line 5 yards on either side of the target ball (coconut!)

    ✅Each rep lasts 90 seconds

  • ✅Players take turns to pass the ball and knock the coconut off the shy, focusing on correct technique.

    ✅Rest a ball on a cone (or just have a ball in place and have players either side on a line 5 yards either side

    You can split the games up into:

    🏆Individual competition - one player vs the other

    🏆Working together - how many times can they hit the ball as a pair in 90 seconds

    🏆Teams - one side vs. the other. The team who knocks the most coconuts off wins

  • ✅Each time a player hits the ball, they go back a step - see how far back they can go

    ✅Practice with non-dominant foot

    ✅Ask players to take a maximum of 2 touches

  • The correct technique of passing, using the inside of the foot is essential to the game of soccer. At the top level, passing is used to not only get the ball forward (the ball moves faster than the player), but to also disorganize and unbalance the defense).

    At U6-U8, passing is not as important as teaching ball mastery, dribbling, and players having individual time on the ball. Also, the concept and understanding of teamwork are still new to them.

    If the players want to win the game, they need to concentrate and be composed, the more practice will help them be more confident and skilled in a game.

TEAM BALL TAG

  • ✅HEAD UP

    Awareness when dribbling and stay on the lookout for those attackers trying to tag you!

    ✅SMALL TOUCHES

    Keep the ball close and under control to change direction

    ✅TEAMWORK

    Have a plan & work together for success!

  • ✅20 x 25 yards area

    ✅ 1 x ⚽ for attacking team

    ✅ Pinnies for each team

    ✅Teams start on opposite sides of the area

  • ✅Divide the group into two teams.

    ✅One team have a ball each and dribble and try and pass the ball (under knee height) to tag the opposition. The opposite team have to get away.

    ✅The game can last for 90 seconds and then switch teams

    Different tag games

    🏆Tag - when a player is tagged they must stay out of the game. The attackers play until there is no opposition left. Or, so no one is left out of the game, you can just have a point tally

    🏆Freeze Tag - if hit, the player is frozen until they are tagged by a teammate.

    🏆Reverse tag - if a player is hit, they become an attacker. The winning team is the one with the least amount of attackers at the end of the game

    🏆Catch & Release - The tagged player goes to a zone, where they must be tagged to get free.

  • ✅Make the area smaller/larger

    ✅Have unequal teams to give one team an advantage

    ✅Tagging team has to use their non-dominant foot to tag/pass

  • Players need to develop the dynamic skill of dribbling and passing in a game and also use their awareness to find a teammate/target.

2v2 to endline

  • ✅ATTACKING

    Make a decision - is the pass to an open teammate on or is dribbling better?

    ✅DEFENDING

    Be compact - work like wolves in a pack to get the ball back

    ✅BOTH

    Teamwork - communicate and encourage!

  • ✅10 x 15yd zones (or split the previous game’s area in half

    ✅8 players per zone - Attackers at one end, defenders at the other (no more than 3 waiting in line)

    ✅Players get in pairs. 2 attackers and 2 defenders go against each other. Then the next pair go

    ✅1 x ⚽ per attacking pair

    ✅2 mins per repetition and then change attackers and defenders

  • 2 attackers go to the opposite end-line in a 2v2 matchup.

    ✅Attackers attempt to dribble or pass to a teammate to find an opportunity to get to the end-line

    ✅Defenders need to work together - 1 pressure the player with the ball and the other covers the other attacker, win the ball, and goes to the opposite end-line

    ✅If the ball goes out, the players rejoin the line. If the attacker scores, they get a point.

    POINTS

    🏆Attacker reaches end-line = 1 point

    🏆Defenders tackles = 1 point, an extra Defender dribbles to the attacker’s end-line = 1 extra point

    🏆Don’t take the scores too seriously!

    After 2 mins, change attackers and defenders

    After each player has been an attacker & defender, switch the teams (attackers from a different group switch zones) so they have different matchups)

  • ✅Make the grid smaller

    ✅Create a cone gate at the end-line so the players have a smaller area to dribble to

    ✅Introduce a points system - as per the rules

    ✅Give the defender a head start! Bring their start a yard closer

  • The 2v2 is a great progression and mirror of the full game. It has all 4 moments of the game - attacking, defending and transition between attacking>defending and defending>attacking.

    As an evolution of 1v1, there is also an element of decision-making, teamwork and supporting the attacker on the ball and defending as a team.

    Playing to end lines is more game-like in a central field position. It will stop players from shooting at a goal and get more practice in making decisions of passing to a teammate or dribbling 1v1

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.