Tewksbury Soccer Club Register

U8 4V4 Attacking

Week 1 · Session goal

Improve build up in the defensive half

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MomentAttacking
Duration60 minutes
Players8-12
Format4V4

Player actions

Pass or dribble forward, Spread out

Key qualities

Read and understand the game, Take initiative

Skill acquisition

Dribbling: Surface of the foot and ball, quality of the touch - Passing: Surface of the foot and ball, Pace and accuracy - Receiving: Body, position, surface of the foot and ball, first touch

The session

1

Play phase

Intentional Free Play

20 min3 intervals · 4 min play · 1 min rest

Objective

To pass or dribble past an opponent in order to move the ball into the attacking half

Player actions

Pass or dribble forward, Spread out

Organization

Divide your (25W x 35L) game field into two 15W x 25L fields with a small goal on each end line. When practice is ready to start & as soon as 2 players arrive, start playing a game. The game can start as 1v1. As players arrive, the game becomes 2v1 then 2v2 up to 3v3.

Key wordsPlay forwardFind your teammate

Guided questions

If you see an opening in front of you, what should you do?

Play forward and to goal whenever possible.

When should you pass instead of dribble?

If all the openings in front of you are closed, pass to a teammate to see if they can find an opening forward.

Coach note

Encourage players to dribble to goal. At the first break, ask questions which generate thoughts about when to dribble. Second break, elicit answers from the same questions to determine the level of understanding from the players.

2

Core activity

Partner Bandits

18 min9 intervals · 90 sec play · 30 sec rest

Objective

To move the ball forward past the bandits and score

Player actions

Pass or dribble forward

Organization

In a 25Wx35L grid, a 6Wx3L yard box goal on each end line & all players in pairs, the coach will select 1 pair to be the bandits. Each pair needs 1 ball to share except for the bandits. The pairs with a ball will try to dribble into either goal or pass to their teammate within the goal. After scoring at 1 end, play to score in the other. How many goals can you score in 90 seconds? The mission of the bandits is to steal the ball from any pair trying to score. Once they have stolen it, the bandits try to dribble the ball to either of their hideouts (goals.) The passing pairs can steal their ball back before they get it to a hideout. If the bandits get the ball to a hideout, the pair loses all their points & must start scoring again. Rotate bandits after each interval. RULES: bandits cannot defend inside of the goals.

Key wordsLook upFind an openingPlay through it

Guided questions

Where can you go if the bandit is closing your opening to the goal?

Tell your teammate to move to create a new opening.

What are some ways you can play the ball through an opening?

You can dribble through or pass through the openings.

Which part of your foot can you use to dribble forward?

Use your laces by pointing your toe down, making a fist with your toe & use your laces to push the ball forward

Coach note

If a bandit steals a ball and get it to a hideout, they can now begin scoring goals. The team that lost their ball must now become the bandits. The must steal a ball & score to stop being the bandits.

3

Less challenging

Bandits (Coach is it)

18 min9 intervals · 90 sec play · 30 sec rest

Objective

To move the ball forward past the bandits and score

Player actions

Dribble forward

Organization

In a 25Wx35L grid, a 6Wx3L yard box goal on each end line & all players with a soccer ball, the coach will be the bandits. The players will try to dribble into either goal. After scoring at 1 end, play to score in the other. How many goals can you score in 90 seconds? The mission of the bandits is to steal the ball from any player trying to score. Once they have stolen it, the bandits try to dribble the ball to either of their hideouts (goals.) The dribblers can steal their ball back before it is taken to a hideout. If a bandit gets the ball to a hideout, the player who lost all their ball, loses all their points & must start scoring again. RULES: bandits cannot defend inside of the goals.

Key wordsLook upFind an openingBe patient

Guided questions

Where can you go if another dribbler is in your way?

Look up to find a new opening to the goal.

What can you do if the bandit/coach is blocking the goal?

Be patient, dribble away from the bandit then pick a new route to the goal.

Which part of your foot can you use to dribble forward?

Use your laces by pointing your toe down, making a fist with your toe & use your laces to push the ball forward

Coach note

Once the players understand the direction & where to score, challenge them to work with a partner. The 2 players share a ball and try to cooperate to score in the goals. Week 1 FIVE ELEMENTS of TRAINING EXERCISE TRAINING SESSION SELF-REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. Organized: Is the exercise organized in the right way? 2. Game like: Is the exercise game like? 3. Repetitions: Are there repetitions when looking at the overall goal of the session? 4. Challenging: Are the players being challenged? (Is there the right balance between being successful and unsuccessful?) 5. Coaching: Is there the proper coaching based on the age/level of the players? 1. How did you achieve your goals of the training session? 2. What did you do well? 3. What could you do better?

4

More challenging

Multiple 2v2 to Goal

18 min6 intervals · 2 min play · 1 min rest

Objective

To move the ball forward past the bandits and score

Player actions

Pass or dribble forward, spread out

Organization

In a 25Wx35L grid, a 6Wx3L yard box goal on each end line, coach will create teams of 2 players each. 2 teams will play against one another and, on the same field & at the same time, two other teams will also play against one another. All teams share the field & the goals. In both games, each team defends 1 goal and attacks the other. RULES: A goal is scored be either dribbling into a goal or passing to a teammate into the opponent's goal. After a goal is scored, the scoring team backs up to allow the ball back into play & the game continues.

Key wordsLook upFind an openingPlay through it

Guided questions

What are some obstacles you must look for in this game?

You must look up to find your teammates, the goal, the opponents & other players using the field.

How can you help your team create an opening?

If you see space away from the crowd and you can still get the ball, spread out into that new space to help create a new opening.

Which part of your foot can you use to dribble forward?

Use your laces by pointing your toe down, making a fist with your toe & use your laces to push the ball forward.

Coach note

If you have more than 4 teams, either rotate teams are set up a second field. If the game is too chaotic, simple play 1 game of 2v2 and rotate teams.

5

Play phase

The Game - 4v4

22 min2 intervals · 9 min play · 2 min rest

Objective

To pass or dribble past an opponent then score goals.

Player actions

Pass or dribble forward, spread out

Organization

In a 25Wx35L field & a small goal on each end line, play a 4v4 game with no goal keepers. Play for 22 minutes - 2 x 9-minute halves with a 2-minute half-time. Local rules apply. If the ball leaves the field, the coach can play another ball onto the field and the play continues.

Rules

enforce. Remember to create a build out line for goal kicks and focus on the techniques needed to complete the task instead of the moment of the players on the field. The game must be played so try not to dwell on the restarts.

Key wordsTurnOpen upScore goals

Guided questions

Who should determine whether to pass, dribble or shoot?

The player with the ball should make that decision (coaches-it's important to allow the players the freedom to make their own decision.) If it is too crowded in front of your goal, spread out to provide your teammate with another option.

What can you do to help your teammate with the ball make that decision?

Coach note

Depending on your local rules, coaches may introduce throw-ins, corner kicks & goal kicks if rules enforce. Remember to create a build out line for goal kicks and focus on the techniques needed to complete the task instead of the moment of the players on the field. The game must be played so try not to dwell on the restarts.

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Check your setup

Five elements of a training exercise

1

Organized — Is the exercise organized in the right way?

2

Game like — Is the exercise game like?

3

Repetitions — Are there repetitions when looking at the overall goal of the session?

4

Challenging — Are the players being challenged? Is there the right balance between being successful and unsuccessful?

5

Coaching — Is there the proper coaching based on the age and level of the players?

After the session

Self-reflection

How did you achieve your goals of the training session?

What did you do well?

What could you do better?