U13 Practice #1 (week 1)

Hello coaches.  Welcome to the 2015 season!  This year to keep it simple I am just going to number the practices and you do the practice number that you are on.  If you find you need more time on a skill, do one drill from the previous week too as a review.  It could be part of your warm up even or just add the drill at the start of the technical/skills session and tell the kids you are reviewing from the previous practice.  PRACTICE #1 is in this post, practice #2 will be posted on Wednesday.

**Pick 2-3 drills for the technical session - I always provide lots so you can pick what you like....or use your own great dribbling drills.

Find a space on the field.  Introduce yourselves and get to know players names (they may not know everyone on the team either).  Review code of conduct and expectations:  (equipment, jewelry, fair play, being on time etc...)

Hand out uniforms (if you have them).

PRACTICE #1

Theme/Focus:  Dribbling

Dribbling cues

(with defender):

-ball close, lots of touches, use all parts of foot

-keep body/hip between you and defender ensure you can see ball and defender

-head up

(fast, break away style dribbling):

-ball still in control but pushed further ahead

-ball pushed forward with laces, toe pointed down

-head up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5KzkwC8uQE 

for technique tips on dribbling in a fast break situation

WARM UP (5-10 minutes)

Dribble Grid/Square Dance

http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/DrillDisplay.php?Dname=3

GAME: 4 goal soccer.  (10 minutes)

Teams can score on any of the four goals to encourage attacking the goal.  Have stipulation that they must dribble through the goal to score to emphasize controlled dribbling.

http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/DrillDisplay.php?Dname=34

Technical Session, Activity: Dribbling (25min)

Dribbling Agility

If you feel your players could use more time working on dribbling under close control using all parts of feet and no pressure spend some time doing this drill, you could build in some agility too.  Remember to keep the lines short and moving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE2tdbHk-JY

1v1 Attack to line
-15x12 grid
-45-60 second games rotate
-stop on line to score
-play kings court type style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=f2pPf3Q2WpQ


Dribble Attack
2 players per ball, inter‐ passing, when coach yells “go”, one tries to beat the other & dribble through a mini‐goal. Only 1 goal can be scored at each goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadxBPmQvtg


Dribble, shoot, score 
Mark out a goal.  About 20-30yards out two lines (mark with cones), staggered, offence (with balls) line in front, defence line about 2ft behind Coach shouts go, offence/attacking player dribbles towards goal trying to get in as many touches on ball (keep it close!) as possible before shooting on net trying not to let defending players catch up to them and take their ball.

Steal the Bacon
Create a small field two goals.  Have players line up on either side of feeder halfway on side of grid.  Send ball out, players race through goals and try to win the ball and dribble through the goal at opposite end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eOKS0piSi4

GAME:  two teams, two goals, play the beautiful game (10-15 minutes)