U8 Week 7

Tic-Tac-Toe

  • ✅AWARENESS

    Can you think of what move to make before your turn?

    ✅HEAD UP

    Keep your head up when dribbling

    ✅ENCOURAGE

    Cheer on your teammates

  • ✅9 cones set out in a 3x3 grid

    ✅ 2 teams (3-5 players max) - each team 1 x ⚽

    ✅ Players line up at cone 5-10 yards from the cone grid

  • Tic-tac-toe with a ball!

    ✅First 3 players have a pinnie, the rest don’t.

    ✅Players dribble to the grid and place a pinnie on a cone and dribble back

    ✅When all 3 pinnies are used, the next player dribbles and can move their own pinnie to a different position

    ✅The first team to have 3-in-a-row wins!

    🏆LEVEL 1 - no ball - get the players familiar with the game and rules without a ball

    🏆LEVEL 2 - players dribble to the cone grid and dribble back

    🏆LEVEL 3 - players dribble and pass the ball back to the next player

  • ✅Change the length of the dribble

    ✅Create a cone slalom with a couple of cones to add a dribbling challenge

  • Games that are not totally related to the game can be fun, but while it develops dribbling and teamwork skills, it also helps cognitive development.

    Just as in a game, players need to make decisions and to be successful at a higher level, have to think 1 or 2 steps ahead.

4v1 Rondo

  • ✅No restriction on area size but try and keep them within a 10x10yd area

    ✅1 x ⚽ for each group - 4 attackers, 1 defender

    ✅Pinnie for the defender

  • ✅You can call it monkey in the middle, keep-ball/keep-away and the premise is to keep the ball away from a defender.

    ✅4 attackers pass the ball to keep it away from the 1 defender.

    ✅The goal is to see how many passes they can make without losing possession of the ball.

    ✅If a defender steals or intercepts the ball, they switch places with the attacker who last touched the ball. If an attacker kicks the ball out of bounds, they switch places with the player who has been defender

    💡TIP - don’t worry too much about technique, focus more on the movement of a player off the ball to get into a position to receive the ball and encourage them to ask for the ball and communicate

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

  • There are so many technical skills being practiced that help within a game:

    Attacking - first touch, passing, awareness, supporting teammates, and communication.

    Defending - correct defending technique, teamwork - understanding pressure and cover, communication

    While it is a simple concept and fun game, it is used from grassroots soccer all the way to the top of the professional game and has many different variations

  • ✅TEAMWORK

    Move and ask for the ball to keep it away

    ✅AWARENESS

    If you get the ball, where will you pass it next?

    ✅BODY POSITION

    Keep your body facing the ball and teammates so you can move it efficiently

3v2 to Goal

  • ✅ATTACK

    Dribble into space, pass to a teammate if they are in a good position, shoot!

    ✅DEFEND

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

    ✅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.