U 8 boys and girls: Practice #5

U8 girls practice week of May 29

Good work at Super Soccer Saturday this past weekend.

Stations this week working on attacking and defending. 

Defending coaching points

Defender's stance:
Defender's feet should be about a shoulder width apart

- legs should be slightly bent

- stay on toes so you can react to any sudden changes of direction by the attacker.
-quick close down

-delay/give space - don't commit- jockey

-watch ball not player

-make the attacker make the mistake

-force to outside/weak side if you know it

-go for ball when attacker has pushed ball away from feet

After you have had a chance to gather all your players I will do a mass warm up with all the players working on agility and  introducing defending and attacking.

Then all players will return to their coaches to start the first station. Each coach will run one station and each team will circulate through each station every 10 minutes. Feel free to switch stations between coaches.

Station 1- 1 vs 1   Focus: attacking      Boys:Joel and Kim  Girls: Robyn and Hrvojka

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSBu9bPMp4g&feature=relmfu

Station 2- Numbers Game  Focus: defending  Boys: Brock and Derek   Girls: John

20x30 grid

Set up a small grid with goals at both ends.  Separate players into 2 teams lined up at each end beside their goal.  Number players 1,2,3,4,5 etc. Call out a number. Coach rolls out ball at center line and numbered player on each team must try to win ball and then either defend their goal or attack the other goal. Progress to calling out more than one number and encourage players on same team to work together to score. . Add a goalkeeper

Station 3 - Four Corners  Shooting Review  Boys: Loris and Heather   Girls: Sylvia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuz6JGaEYtY&feature=related
A good activity to work on accurate passing and shooting.
Keep players moving. You will want to introduce a second ball as last player is taking a shot.

Station 4- Scrimmage   Focus on defending and attacking skills  Boys: Stacey/Marissa
Girls: Steve

Set up a 20X30 grid with small nets. Use throw-ins to restart play from sidelines. 

Have fun!

10 minutes at end of practice for you to work with your team on any skills that need more attention or a chance to talk to your team.