Control (on the ground) 9-12 year olds

WARM UP

Set up
20 x 20 Box, 6 players in red bibs with ball each and 6 players in yellow bibs without ball.

Instructions
Start off slow tempo players with ball on the move taken soft touches with left foot, right
foot. Players without ball on move and listening to instructions from coach eg heels up, knees
up, side stepping etc. players transfer ball to partner after a few touches.
Progression after players transfer the ball to partner he quickly closes him down, this
encourages player receiving the ball to take 1st touch away from defender into space. Repeat
sequence.
Coaching Points awareness, relax foot as ball approaches depending on type of pass,
communicate with partner.

Control (on the ground)

SKILL PRACTICE

Set Up
25 x 25 box, 6 players with yellow bibs and ball each, 6 players with red bibs without ball.
4 sets of coloured flat markers spread around area.

Instructions
Players in pairs one ball between 2. Player with ball (yellow bib) passes to partner (red bib)
and shouts a colour. The player receiving ball must take his 1st touch towards the colour of
marker shouted.
Progression, control ball towards coloured marker then attack any of the 4 small goals.

Coaching Points awareness, look over shoulders, use of upper body for balance and
protection, relax foot when receiving firm pass to control ball towards coloured marker.

Control (on the ground)

GAME RELATED PRACTICE

Set Up
25 x 25 box. 4 target goals in corners.
12 players.

Instructions
6 v 2 in middle area, 4 players on the outside ( all players must take minumum 2 touches). To
score a goal 6 middle players must have 4 consecutive passes before passing to any player on
the outside. If any defensive players win possession they can score into any of the 4 target
goals (rotate defensive players and wall players regularly).

Coaching Points awareness, body shape to receive ball, concentrate on first touch away
from pressure use of upper body for protection and balance.

Control (on the ground) 9-12 year olds

SKILL PRACTICE

Set Up
20 x 20 box, 9 players, 3 separate areas with 2 coloured gates and a marker facing them.

Instructions
1 player out facing the coloured gates, 2 players in between gates facing player without ball,
first player passes to player facing and shouts a colour. Receiving player takes first touch
towards the coloured gate indicated (they swap places and sequence continues).
Progression, player takes first touch away from gate indicated and second touch towards gate
indicated.

Coaching Points
Awareness, body shape to receive ball, relax foot as pass comes towards you (depending on
type of pass), use of upper body for balance and protection.

Control (on the ground)

FUN GAME

Set Up
Two 3 x 3 boxes 15 metres apart. 3 players in one box to face 3 players in the opposite
box.
12 players

Instructions
Pass from one box to the other. Player receiving must control the ball within the box and pass
back. Once player plays the pass he backward runs to the end of the queue. The first team to
complete 20 consecutive passes within their box are the winners.
Progression, varied type of passes, side foot passes and driven passes.

Coaching Points
Body shape to receive, good first touch away from body and use of upper body for balance
and protection.