U8 practice #2 (week 1)

Kendra will be at your practices today.

Focus skill:  passing

Passing cues:
-planting/non kicking foot next to ball, pointing at target
-strike ball with side of foot
-firm ankle
-follow through to target
-loose hips
(ensure you talk about weight of the pass and appropriate passing distance)

Warm up:  Donkey Tails
Give half the players pinnies to tuck into their shorts like tails.  The half without pinnies chase players in the grid to try to steal a pinnie, if successful they tuck it in their shorts and the person who they stole from has to then chase to steal.

then obstacle course that includes agility and dribbling review

Game: try end zone soccer....to score must receive a pass in the end zone from a team mate....if too confusing, just make two mini goals (arches work well) and say no goalies and you must pass it in to score

Technical Session focus: passing (25-30 minutes)

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 - with feeders
20x20/15x15 grid.  Put half the kids in pinnies (they are the feeders to start) and have feeders spread out around the grid.  The other kids are receivers, they cut to a ball and call for a pass, receive pass and pass it back to feeder, then cut to a new ball.  (good time to talk about weight of pass and appropriate passing distance (DEMO this)).  Then switch the feeders and the receivers.


Pac Man (also known as Kick the coach)
Gird (15x15), all kids have ball and try to hit you with a pass (you don't want to be hit).  Working on good passing technique.  You may have to create a zone for you that the kids can't enter (small square in middle of grid and then move to no square and everyone moving).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9AJNANVrRA
(this video alsoo demos passing technique with cues.)

Clean Your Room.
Split grid in half and place half of player in each half grid with balls.  They must PASS not kick ball into other half of grid, keeping your half or room clean until coach says done.  Count balls in each half.

GAME:  regular small sided scrimmage