Academy 2
Session 2
If you have a small number of players, such as 2-4, start with very small-sided games like 1v1 or 2v2 and add players to each of the teams as they arrive at your session. If you have more players, divide them into multiple small teams ensuring as much balance as possible in terms of skills and physical attributes. Once the majority of players have arrived make trades and switch players if you need to in order to make the teams more balanced or to get like with like.
This segment aims to enhance physical literacy by focusing on speed, agility, and strength, setting a high-energy tone for the session. The activities are designed to improve players’ movement skills, cardiovascular fitness, and readiness for more complex soccer drills. This segment also serves as a dynamic warm-up, reducing the risk of injuries and ensuring players are mentally and physically prepared for the session. Coaches are encouraged to be creative within these guidelines, tailoring activities to suit the age and skill level of their players. The key is to keep every player moving and engaged throughout the entire segment.
Speed Drills: Short, intense sprints or shuttle runs to boost acceleration and speed.
Agility Work: Obstacle courses or cone drills requiring quick changes of direction, enhancing footwork and coordination.
Strength Exercises: Basic bodyweight movements like jump squats, planks, or burpees to build core and muscular strength.
Ball Skills (for advanced players): Fast-paced dribbling courses or quick passing games, integrating technical skills with physical conditioning.
Playing a 4v2 game is an excellent way to teach these principles. The team of four has a numerical advantage, which they must exploit by using the entire field. This setup encourages players to spread out, creating width and depth. The two players, being outnumbered, must learn to anticipate and cover more space, understanding the importance of positioning in both offensive and defensive situations. Every 5 minutes, rotate two players from the team of four with the two players from the team of two. This ensures everyone experiences playing with and against a numerical advantage/disadvantage.
Set up a playing grid split into two halves with 3 or 4 players in each half. The blue team starts with the ball in their half of the grid and must try and keep possession of the ball in their half for as long as they can. One of the green players goes across into the blue half of the playing grid and will try to steal the ball from the blue team. When the green player wins the ball from the blue team they must pass the ball back into the green half of the playing grid where their team mates are waiting for the ball. The green player that won the ball and passed it back sprints back to the green half to join their team mates. The green team will then try to keep the ball as one of the blue players will come over to try and steal it back. The Primary Objective is to pass the ball back to your team mates as quickly as you can whenever you win possession. This gets the ball as far away from the players who are going to try and win it back from you.
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Finish your session with two small sided games rotate the teams every 5 minutes so that every team gets to play each other. Remember to focus on coaching Width & Depth and Securing the Ball to an open team mate when you win the ball form the other team.