U8 Girls - practice week of May 8

I will be working a partial mass practice with the U8 girls.  Warm up and Agility will be done as a large group.  Break into teams for skill drills.  I will give a quick demo before we break out.

Theme/Focus:  Passing

Warm up-  Dribble grid    

-15x15 grid

- review of dribbling from last week.  (See coaching points from last weeks post)

-turns, tick tocks, storks, inside, outside of foot, left and right foot, fakes etc...

-reference byte size coaching:  square dance  http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/u8.php

Agility Station  

-hurdles and cones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLEVwGjVNoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgP3-GwwRkI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njkpTaHP-50&feature=related

Passing and Receiving in pairs  

Set up a series of 5 yard x 5 yard grids. Two players with a ball between each pair face each in each grid. On two touches they pass the ball to each other, using the inside of the foot both to control and pass the ball. Work in 20 second segments to maintain intensity and form. Ask the players how many passes they can complete in a set time period - try for two touch.  ***Please enforce not stopping the ball with the sole of the foot b/c of injury potential***

**I demoed this at our session**

Focus on good form, receive with one foot....good first touch...pass with other foot

-athletic stance (on toes/balls of feet/ready position)

-planting foot next to ball pointing at partner

-strike ball with side of foot, firm ankle  (no floppy ankles)

-person receiving ball, moves to the ball


Passing and Receiving Triangles
Simple drill passing and following your pass.  Working on receiving with one foot and passing with the other.
Just watch video to get idea of pattern of drill...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJk1Im2B3W0

Passing and Receiving on the move  

15x15 grid cones at corners and along side

one ball between two people, start with simple movement around the grid, pass and cut to space calling for next pass, move to passing and then running around a cone along the outside the grid and then receiving the ball.  

Focus on nice crisp passes on the turf and good first touch.  No floppy ankles!  Move to the ball.

Numbers Game  

focus on passing, so always call at least 2 numbers

Set up a small grid, depending on number of players. Separate players into 2 teams as shown below. Number players 1,2,3,4,5 etc. Call out a number. That numbered player/parent combo from each team enters into the field to challenge for the ball. Players try to score on opposing side while defending their own side. Players not called can act as goalies on their side. Increase the # of players to 2 or 3.

Scrimmage    

small field, small goals, must pass 3 times before try to score.  work on triangles and width plus always supporting the ball.

Coaching Points

-athletic stance (on toes/balls of feet/ready position)

-planting foot next to ball pointing at partner/target

-strike ball with inside of foot, firm ankle  (no floppy ankles)

-good first touch!

-keep ball on the turf