Three free soccer sessions from James Jordan – educator and a soccer coach. He holds the NSCAA Premier Diploma, USSF National Youth License, and a Doctorate in Education.
Using Game-based Soccer techniques developed over the past decade, his teams (boys and girls) have won six high school state championships and one Classic 1 boys’ club championship.
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Soccer Session #1: Dribbling to Keep Possession – Activity #2: The Gate Dribbling Game with Pressure
Time: Approximately 15 minutes.
Area: 25 x 25 yards (L x W) or larger depending on how many players you have.
Activity: This activity is a progression from the previous one, which will allow you to give your players a quick water break and then get straight back into action. This time, start with a “bandit” whose job is to stop players from dribbling through the gates. Change the bandit every 30-45 seconds (get them to keep score of how many balls they kicked away).
Possible Progressions:
- Add a restriction whereby players can only dribble with their left foot (or right foot).
- Add another bandit (2 bandits at a time).
- Replace some of the gates with pinnies (or different colored cones) and say that players must go through a cone gate followed by a pinnie gate (or different colored cone gate).
- Add another bandit (3 bandits at a time).
- Make the gates smaller and/or reduce the number of gates.
- Add another bandit (4 bandits at a time).
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Soccer Session #5: Finishing in the Box – Activity #3: 2v1 Continuous*Stacked
Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
Area: If you have a marked 18-yard box, use it and then mark out another one with cones to create a 36 x 44 yard (L x W) playing grid.
Activity: Divide the players into 2 even teams. Have one team line up opposite each other (see the diagram) behind the 2 cones level with the edge of the 6-yard box. Have the other team do the same on the other side. The balls should be divided equally and diagonally (per the diagram). To begin, you can play the ball into the middle. Players go to the other line once they have had their turn (e.g., attacker goes to the other attacker line). Any time the ball crosses a line (side, end, goal), the team whose possession it would be restarts the game from their side with a new pair (the defending pair stays in). Also, any time a ball crosses the end line from a shot (including a goal), the shooter must run around the corner while the 2 defenders drop out (the attacking team now becomes the numbers down defending team), and a new attack begins by 2 forwards to make it 2v1 (with the recovering defender who just shot the ball running around the corner). Play first team to a set number of goals (e.g., 5, 7, 9) and give the losing team a consequence. After the consequence, you can ask the guided discovery questions, while the players catch their breath. This game will take a few rounds for the players to understand. It is very important that you are consistent with the rules. I find it helps to communicate early and often; for example, if the ball goes out of play, I will say “red team’s ball.” Also, if someone forgets to run, I will remind that player (e.g., “Janie, you have to run”). If she influences the play, I will award a penalty kick to the other team, which will transition back into 2v1 continuous immediately following the kick.
Possible Progressions:
- Move the balls to the other side (move the players, too, so the wide player is always on the “weak side”).
- Give 2 points for first time finishes (encourages combination plays, crosses, etc.).
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Soccer Session #15: Introduction to Getting Numbers in the Attack – End of Practice Scrimmage: Get Over the Halfway Line!
Time: Approximately 30 minutes (or whatever is left of practice).
Area: As per the diagram, extend the 18-yard box out to the sidelines. This makes for a shorter, but wider playing area – perfect for working on crossing and finishing.
Activity: Use (or make) a halfway line and state that all players (except the goalkeeper) must be past it in order for a goal to count. This simple rule, more than anything, has the ability to teach players to get up and support the attack. Don’t scream and shout at your players to “push up” over the halfway line. Just watch and listen. The first time that a team scores a goal and it doesn’t count because one of the attacking team’s defenders was in his own half, players on that team will start telling each other to “step” and “get up”. It works like magic! Play even numbers and arrange teams in a formation that reflects your desired game day formation.
Progressions:
- If you catch a member of the opposing team in their attacking half, the goal counts double.
- Add a neutral(s), so the attacking team is always numbers up (producing more scoring opportunities).
- Put field players on touch restrictions (e.g., 3 touch max).
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Want to Download these practices to print out?
Click Here: Soccer Exercises PDF
