Turning Session For Young Players

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By @DavidBairdSC

Progression 1:

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More drills and sessions by David Baird soccer coach: Soccer drills and sessions

1 v 1 training for young players

By David Baird

Follow @DavidBairdSC

A session to encourage young players to go past defenders




Successful 1 v 1 formula

• Close Control
  
• Change of direction
  
• Change of speed
  

Close control – use the front of your small toe to approach the defender, touch the ball with every step you take

Change direction – come in slow (60%) and straight (commit defender), perform a change of direction, scissors, step over, fake take etc

Change of speed – slightly bigger touch to take you in the direction that you want to go, accelerate at 100%


Progression 1:

Progression 2:

Progression 3:

Use the teammate as a diversion or if they are in a better position to get past the defender pass the ball


Progression 4:

 

Dribbling Session #1

The following session includes exercises to aid players dribbling abilities. The session helps to improve basic close control, change of pace and change of direction; progressing into using these skills in 1v1 and 2v1 situations

Technical Warm Up

 

Set up and instruction: Set up a square area with 2 gates on each side of the square. Use 4 defenders (1 defender to guard 2 gates.) Both defenders and attackers have a ball, the aim of the warm up is for attackers to dribble the ball through as many gates as possible (1 point for every gate you get through), the defenders get points for tagging attackers, but loose a point every time an attacker gets through one of their gates.

Progressions: Make the gates smaller and remove the defenders ball so they can now tackle the attackers

Drill 1

Set up and Instruction: Create a 3x3 square, with attackers lined up in the corners (with a ball) and the defenders in the middle squares (without a ball). The attackers work anti-clockwise around the area going 1 v 1 against the defenders, if the defender wins the ball they swap with the attacker. Progression: Two attackers are now going to attack the defenders square, creating a 2 v 1 situation

Coaching Points for 1 v 1:

• First touch must be forward
• Attack the defender and perform a skill to go past the defender, for the move to be successful it must be made up of three things
• Close Control, Change of Direction, Change of Pace
• Coach should give clear demonstrations and explanations of going past a defender 1 v 1

Coaching Points for 2 v 1:

Use the numbers advantage, to go past the attackers must perform either a Penetrating Dribble, Penetrating Run or a Penetrating Pass;

• Penetrating Dribble- player off the ball moves away (diversion) to creating a 1 v 1, see coaching points above
• Penetrating Run - player off the ball makes a cleaver run into space which will either set them free for the pass or act as a diversion for the player on the ball to dribble
• Penetrating Pass - player on the ball makes a pass around the defender for the player off the ball to run onto
• Decision making is key!

Conditioned Game

 

 

Set up and Instruction: Set up as above with two Goalkeepers added. Teams play 5 v 5, the aim of the conditioned game is to get through one of the gates and have an attempt on goal, players can dribble or pass to a teammate through the gates, once a player enters the end zone no defenders can follow him/her.

Progressions:

• Add neutral players to allow more 2 v 1 situations
• 2 touch finish inside the end zone
• Defenders can come into end zone and put pressure on the attacker





Fun Warm Up (dribbling)

Explanation: This is a fun introductory activity for young kids learning to dribble the ball. Set up a 30x30 square (depending on numbers) have all players lined up on the end line with a ball and two defenders in the center of the square.

The key to this exercise is to get past the defenders and to the other side, the main focus is on close control, change of direction and teaching young players to get their head up and see the field when running with a soccer ball.

On the coaches command players attempt to get from one side of the square to the other without the defenders kicking your ball outside the square. If an attacker is tackled they become defenders for the next round. The person tackled must sit down where they lost the ball and attempt to tackle players without standing up. The last player left wins.

Coaching Points:

• Change direction and pace to avoid tacklers
• Get your head up to see the defenders and 'sitters'
• Avoid the players on the ground

Introductory Skill Session

 

Age Group: 8-9 Years Old     Ability Level: Beginner   Gender: Boys/Girls

 

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: To learn, practice and improve basic technical skills. Passing/Dribbling/Turns

Overview: This session is designed as an introductory session, I have used this session to evaluate players I am working with for the first time to determine skill level and attitude towards learning. The drills start basic and progress to more complex skills and routines. It is easily adapted to increase the tempo for children who show signs of real understanding.

Learning Outcomes:

1. What part of the foot do we use to run with the ball

2. Different turns and skills

3. Good first touch is essential

4. Get your head up to find an open player

5. Pass and move

These concepts will be introduced gradually throughout the practice so not to overload the player with information and so they are given adequate time to work on each step, then hopefully with practice they will perform all of the above together successfully in the conditioned game.

Set Up/Warm up 

For this practice you will need to set up four areas 12x12 (depending on numbers) each area is separated, leaving 5 yards between each box. Set up different exercises in each box as a warm up, for example in box 1 have players with a ball each working on dribbling and in box 2 have 1 ball between the group working on passing and moving. Rotate players around the boxes on coaches command. Ideas for exercises:

• One bounce juggling
• Keep ball
• Dynamic stretches
• Throw - head - catch

Drill 1 - Dribbling and Turning

Instruction: Players line up between both sets of cones. The player at the front of the line will dribble the ball until he/she gets between  the cones and make a sharp turn, then pass back for the next player to go.

Coaches Instructions:

Running in a straight line: Push the ball forward with your laces, run as fast as you can forward, always keeping the ball close. Try and get your head up after every 2 touches.

Zig-Zag Running: Use inside and outside of both feet to move in a zig zag fashion up the line. The coach should give clear demonstrations and explanations of different variations.

Inside cut, outside cut, Cruyff turns: Again give clear demonstrations and emphasis exaggerating movements so to beat opponents.

Drill 2 - Dribbling, Turning and Passing

Instruction: The 4 players at the front of the lines will all go at the same time. They will attack the box in the centre (quick dribbling) then turn to their right and pass the ball to the player at the front of that line to go next. Again focus on correct dribbling and turning technique and now go over passing (inside of foot, standing foot faces the way you wish to pass)

Coaching Points: At first, tell all participants to wait for the coaches command before starting to dribble, as some players may be moving faster than the others. Then use this opportunity to test the players ability to get their head up and see the play. You can do this by allocating a 'trigger line'. Appoint one of the lines as the trigger line and tell the group that it is the responsibility of the player at the front of this line to shout 'GO'. So the player at the front of this line will receive a pass, quickly get there head up and look at the field and if the other 3 players have control of the ball and are ready to play they will communicate to the team by shouting 'GO'. (this builds confidence and teamwork).

Drill 3 - Further Progression

Instruction: A player is added to each corner of the grid (change this player every couple of minutes). All we are adding now is an extra pass and more communication. This time players will dribble the ball, make a sharp turn in the centre and look for this corner player (who eventually you can encourage to check off the cone into space) The player on the ball passes to the corner player and demands a 'give and go'. Once a successfully give and go has been completed the drill continues in the usual fashion.

Coaching Points:

• Attack the centre quickly
• Sharp turn
• Give and go with corner player
• Firm and accurate pass to the front of the next line
• Trigger line still starts the exercise with communication 'GO'

Conditioned Game

Instruction: The conditioned game is an overload of attacking players v defensive players to build confidence and success in young players trying to keep the ball when in possession. Have 2 players outside each side of the field playing as neutral (meaning they play for the team in possession) the neutral players cannot be tackles and depending on ability the coach can limit their touches of the ball. Play 4 v 4 inside the square when in possession is really 12 v 4, encourage players on the ball to pass, move and dribble to keep the ball. When a team successfully makes 5 passes they can score in either goal at both ends. It is important to coach that once 5 passes is made that does not mean we shoot the ball and loose possession, we keep the ball until there is an opportunity to score

Coaching Points: Keep the ball, pass and move, dribble when necessary.

 1 v 1 Attacking Principles

Age Group: 9-10 years old     Ability Level: Beginner     Gender: Boys

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: To learn, practice and improve taking on an opponent in a 1 v 1 situation.

Overview: 1 v 1 situations happen all the time during soccer games, this practice is developed to build confidence in young players and help them practice (hopefully with some success) the key formula to going past a player when in this situation. When faced with an opposition player trying to steal the ball, it is a combination of three things you need to go past them;

1. Close Control

2. Change of Direction

3. Change of Speed

These concepts will be introduced gradually throughout the practice so not to overload the player with information and so they are given adequate time to work on each step, then hopefully with practice they will perform all of the above together to successfully go past there opponent in a 1 v 1 situation.

 Set Up 

This practice will involve players working in pairs. A player should partner up with someone wearing a different coloured bib and you will need one ball between two for this session. Pairs work together in a squared area, here I have used 10x10 but each individual coach will make a judgement on the dimensions for 1 v 1 situations depending on age and ability level of the group. Set up as many squares as required for this 1 v 1 session. I have already set up goals so not to disrupt the practice later.

Drill 1 - Close Control

Instruction: The red players starts with the ball, on the coaches command the red player must try and hit the blue players feet with the ball, without the ball going outside the square (this will stop kids kicking the ball too hard as if the ball goes outside the square they loose). As the blue player moves around the tight area to stay away from the ball this will encourage the player on the ball to keep the ball close in order to move/turn quickly and chase the player while keeping there head up and on the opposing player. Switch roles. (for young kids you can put a bib in as a 'tail' to catch instead of kicking the ball.)

Coaching Points: Red player keep the ball close to feet so you can move it quickly, encourage use of all parts of the foot (inside, outside, sole, laces).

Blue player never turn your back on the ball, keep your eyes on the ball and work on quick feet, fakes and explosive movement without the ball.

Drill 2 - Change Direction and Change Pace

Instruction: Player line up on opposite sides of the area, with the markers acting as an end zone. The blue player feeds the ball to the red and then acts as a defender shutting the ball down quickly. The red player must demonstrate good close control when he receives the ball and then the aim is to try and get past the approaching defender and stop the ball under control over the blue players end zone. Switch Roles

Coaching Points: Encourage the attacking player to go past defender quickly, first time! If you do not get past within 4 seconds in a game it is likely the chance will be gone as the other team will have time to get players back. To go past quickly - approach defender at 75% pace, change your direction when you get closer the player and change your pace to 100%. Encourage attacker to perform fakes (drop shoulder, step overs) and show them when you break these moves down they are essentially the same thing, change direction (fake one way and go the other) then change pace (to catch defender of guard and so he can't catch you once you are past)

Drill 3 - Attacking Competition

Instruction: This time players line up diagonally on opposite cones, the blue player passes to the red who is the attacker to start. The attacking player is attempting to go by the oncoming defender (blue player). The scoring system is as follows; the attacking player gets 1 point if he can successfully get to the cone to the right or the left with the ball under control and having not been tackled by the blue player. If the attacker can get to the cone behind the defender he will get 3 points. Each player has 5 goes and score is kept to determine a winner. This can easily be turned into a tournament with winners moving up grids.

Coaching Points: Close control, change direction, change pace! Attackers should control the ball quickly with there first touch taking them forward in the direction they wish to go, if they attack one marker and the defender follows, quickly change direction and pace to get to the other marker before the defender has time to adapt. If the defender does not fall for the attackers fake then the attacker has a head start on the marker he is already pursuing. Let players be creative, who can do double fakes and step overs, make up their own moves and give them names and try new things, perfect them before the next game.

Conditioned Game

Instruction: Once the skill of 1 v 1 attacking has been practiced, put it into a conditioned game for the players to use the skills they have learned in a game type atmosphere. Play a small sided game 4 v 4 or 5 v 5 with goalkeepers who you can rotate as desired. In this game if the team in possession pass the ball forward they concede a free kick, they can only pass back. This means the only way to get the ball up the field to approach the other teams goal is to dribble with the ball and beat players in the 1 v 1 situation practiced. It is also a good game to develop young players the concept of passing the ball backwards to go forwards.

 Coaching Points: Close control, change of direction and change of pace.