Joseph Luxbacher, PhD Director of Coaching USC Travel Soccer Week #4 Curriculum. Small - Sided Games to Reinforce All Fundamental Skills

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Joseph Luxbacher, PhD Director of Coaching USC Travel Soccer Week #4 Curriculum Topics: Small - Sided Games to Reinforce All Fundamental Skills The focus this week will be on reviewing the

1 Joseph Luxbacher, PhD Director of Coaching USC Travel Soccer Week #4 Curriculum Topics: Small - Sided Games to Reinforce All Fundamental Skills The focus this week will be on reviewing the fundamental skills of dribbling, passing and shooting covered in the first three weeks of training primarily through the use of small-sided games. Small-sided (3v3, 4 v 4, 6 v 4.etc.) soccer games provide an ideal environment for player development. There is increased contact with the ball (skill development), players are required to make more decisions (tactical development), and positional play is greatly reduced since players must assume both offensive and defensive responsibilities. Small-sided games are also fun to play since scoring is increased and all players are involved in the action. As the saying goes, the game is the best teacher. Coaches can provide feedback to players as they play in the small sided exercises/games that focus on dribbling, passing and shooting skills. SUGGESTED PRACTICE PLAN The following small-sided exercises are designed to reinforce proper execution of dribbling, passing and shooting skills while under game simulated pressures of limited time and restricted space. The exercises are suggestions only, and can be adapted to virtually all ages and ability levels. Coaches can impose restrictions to create varying degrees of difficulty within the same drill. For example, reducing the available space, increasing speed of repetition, and limiting the number of touches players can use to control and pass the ball makes each game more challenging for players. Adding opponents to any exercise will also create game simulated pressures.

2 15 minutes Warm Up Dribbling warm-up All players, each with a ball, dribble in open space among themselves, keeping the ball under close control and avoiding other players On coach command players make sudden change of direction by cutting or chopping the ball with outside or inside surface of foot On coach command players execute deceptive body feint or dribbling maneuver (step over, roll with sole of foot, etc) On coach command players execute sudden change of speed/acceleration On coach command players combine all three change of direction, deceptive foot feints, and change of pace. Progress to. Passing warm up Entire team within the penalty area approximately one ball for every two players. All players begin moving throughout the area. Players with ball dribble and then at the appropriate time pass to a player who is without a ball. Players without a ball should constantly move to into positions to become available to receive a pass. Coach should emphasize continuous movement by all players, passing and receiving the entire time. Also reinforce the principle that the ball should be received into the space of next movement ball should not be stopped dead when receiving it. The 1 st touch on the ball is very important. Same set-up but require instep passes over longer distance to replicate the shooting technique 20 minutes Dribbling Games Dribble the End Line to Score Setup: Organize teams of 5-8 players each. Position markers to create a 30-yard wide by 40-yard long field for each game. Use colored vests to differentiate teams. Begin with a kickoff from the center of the field. Regular soccer rules are in effect except for the method of scoring. Goals are scored by dribbling the ball across the opponent s end line under close control rather than by shooting. The entire length of the end line is considered the goal line. There are no goalkeepers. Players should use passing skills as well as dribbling skills to create situations

3 where a player can dribble over the opponent s endline with control of the ball. 20 minutes Passing Game(s) Numbers Passing Game Objectives: To develop passing and receiving skills when moving throughout a field area Setup: Divide team into groups of 5-6 players each. Use markers to outline a playing area 25 by 30 yards for each group. Players station within the area. Label each player with a number, beginning with #1 and continuing up through the number of players in the group. Two players in each group have a ball to begin. On coach s command all players begin moving/jogging within the area. Those players with a ball dribble; those without a ball continuously reposition to make themselves available to receive a pass from the player numbered below him or her. For example; player #1 always passes to player #2, player #2 to #3, etc. The highest numbered player in the group passes to player #1 to complete the circuit and connect all of the dots. All players are expected to move continuously during the exercise as they pass to the teammate numbered above them and receive passes from the teammate numbered below them. As players become more proficient add a 3 rd ball to the exercise. Passing thru Multiple Goals Objectives: To develop passing and receiving skills under game-simulated pressures Setup: Organize equal teams of 6-8 players each. Play within an area approximately 30 yards square (can be larger for older players). Position markers to represent five (5) small goals (three yards wide) randomly positioned within the area. Use colored vests to differentiate teams. Do not use goalkeepers. Award one team possession of the ball to begin. Teams can score in all five goals and must defend all five goals. Players score by completing a pass through a goal to a teammate stationed on the opposite side. The ball may be passed through either side of a goal but not twice consecutively through the same goal. Play is continuous. Change of possession occurs when the defending team steals the ball or when the ball leaves the playing area last touched by the attacking team. Change of possession does not occur after each goal. The team that scores keeps the ball. Regular soccer rules apply, except that the offside rule is waived. Teams score 1 point for each pass through a goal

4 successfully received and controlled by a teammate. The team scoring the most points wins. (You can add a couple of neutral players to the game who always play with the team with the ball, to give a numerical advantage to the team with possession). Practice tips: Prohibiting consecutive scores through the same goal encourages players to switch the point of attack to penetrate the goal area with the fewest opponents. For older, more advanced players reduce the area size to further restrict the space and time available for players to pass and receive the ball. 20 minutes Shooting Games Empty Net Game Set Up: Play on one end of a regulation field with a full-size goal on the end line.. Divide the group into two teams. Team #1 players position next to one goalpost, team #2 players station at the other goal post. Place a marker 18 yards front and center of goal. Each team has a supply of soccer balls nearby. To begin, one player from Team #1 positions in goal. The first player in line for Team #2 sprints out from the goalpost, around the marker 18 yards from goal, and then turns towards goal. At that moment the second player in line for Team #2 plays a rolling ball towards the penalty spot for his or her teammate to finish with a one-time shot. After the player shoots on goal he or she sprints to the goal line and becomes the goalkeeper. If he or she fails to get to the goal in time, the opposing shooter has an empty net to shoot at; hence the drill name, Empty Net. Team #1 then attempts to score in the same manner. Teams compete for a predetermined time or number of goals scored. Team scoring the most goals wins the game. Practice tips: You can vary the type of service (rolling balls, bouncing balls, angled passes, etc.) depending upon the focus of the scoring session Three v Three (3v3) on Shortened Field to Full Goals Setup: Use markers to outline a 30-by-40 yard long field. Center a regulation goal on each end line. Organize four teams of three players each. Station teams A & B on the same end line: teams C & D on the opposite end line. Station a goalkeeper in each goal. Coach acts as a server at the midline of the field, with a supply of balls. Procedure: The coach kicks a ball into the field area; teams A & C enter the field from opposite end lines and compete for the ball. The team gaining possession

5 attempts to score in the opponent s goal; the opponents defend. Roles immediately reverse upon change of possession. After a shot on goal, a score, or a ball out of play, the coach immediately serves another ball into the area and the game continues. Play nonstop for two minutes or two goals, whichever comes first; then teams B & D compete. Play a series of two- minute games. Practice tips: Encourage players to attack at speed, and to shoot at every opportunity. Keep players active the entire time, so a large supply of balls is required COOL DOWN: Jog, stretch, review important points of the session.

Characteristics of U9 & U10Soccer Player

Psychomotor Development Characteristics of U9 & U10Soccer Player 1. Gross and small motor skills becoming more refined 2. Boys and girls begin to develop separately 3. Ability to stay on task is lengthened