Natick Youth Soccer Technical Training Center Coaches Handbook
Week 1: Dribbling and Turning Warm up grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Every player with a ball Explore the grid as many touches in 60 seconds as possible Different parts of the foot, laces, inside, outside, bottom Both feet Introduce Turns Inside and outside hook, Drag back Turning Square (12mins) 20x20 grid with a 5x5 square inside Players in teams dribble from corners of outside square, to corners of inside square. Turn at the corner and return to team Competition to see who can do the most in 60s; first team back etc Different parts of the foot Specific turns only D r i n k s B r e a
k (3mins) 1v1 to goal (Chase the Bacon) (12mins) 20x20 square with goals at the end 2 teams either side of the square, numbered Coach calls number, players run around the goal and run in to play 1v1 Have to dribble the ball through the goal, not shoot. Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 2: Dribbling and Turning 2 Warm up grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Every player with a ball Explore the grid as many touches in 60 seconds as possible Different parts of the foot, laces, inside, outside, bottom Both feet Re-visit Turns Inside and outside hook, Drag back Grid with Squares (12mins) 20x20 grid with multiple 2x2 squares inside Players each have a ball, must dribble through as many squares as possible within the time frame Progress from dribbling straight through the square; to a 90 degree turn out of the square; to a 180 degree turn back through the side they entered Hook and drag backs. Introduce the Cruyff turn depending on the level of the players Great Escape (12mins) 20x20 square with 6-8 goals around the outside Play overloaded attacking team (e.g. 6v3, 7v2, 10v4 etc) Attackers must dribble out of the goals and turn back through to score Defenders must stop the attacking team from dribbling through the goals Always use less defenders than goals, so they have to cover 2 or 3 goals
Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 3: Passing Warm up grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Pairs with a ball between them Explore the grid as many passes between pairs in 60 seconds as possible Grid with gates (12 mins) 20x20 grid with multiple 1 yard gates inside grid. Players in pairs with a ball Must make as many passes through as many different gates as possible Progress to a different touch when receiving, playing a 1-2 or turning as they receive
Turning Square (12mins) 20x20 grid with a 5x5 square inside Split teams half on the outside with a ball, half on the inside without a ball. Players from the inside must receive a pass, turn, dribble through the inside square and pass to a free player on the outside of the grid. Play for 1 minute and swap Different combinations, 1-2, pass and layoff left foot/right foot etc. Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 4: Passing and Receiving Warm up grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Every player with a ball Explore the grid as many touches in 60 seconds as possible Different parts of the foot, laces, inside, outside, bottom Both feet Revisit Passing Inside of the foot to any spare players (remove half the balls) Grid with gates (12 mins) 20x20 grid with multiple 1 yard gates inside grid. Players in pairs with a ball Must make as many passes through as many different gates as possible Progress to a different touch when receiving, playing a 1-2 or turning as they receive Add a defender and an area to practice toe touches if they get caught
Ajax Triangle (12mins) 10x10x10 Triangle(s) Even numbers on each corner of the triangle, with one ball per triangle Ball has two dribbling lines and one passing line, players must follow the ball Introduce 2 balls Develop so players use both feet, different directions on the touch, and set and overlapping runs Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 5: 1v1 Shadow Soccer (12 mins) 20x20 grid Players in pairs with one ball between them Must move around the grid taking as many touches as possible whilst their opponent 1v1 Move Square (12mins) 20x20 grid with a 5x5 square inside Players in teams dribble from corners of outside square, to corners of inside square. Complete 1v1 move at the corner and move right, around the square to the next available corner Competition to see who can do the most in 60s; first team back etc Different parts of the foot Specific turns only
1v1 Channels (12mins) 5x15 channels 1 player at each end of the channel Must dribble the ball towards the other player, use a move to beat them and stop the ball on the opposite line The other play has to attempt to defend and stop them Rotate around, lots of goes in 2 minutes, then swap with another group Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 6: 2v1 Combination Warm Up Grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Groups of 2 or 3 with one ball between them Explore the grid as many touches and passes in 60 seconds as possible Different parts of the foot to dribble, laces, inside, outside, bottom Both feet Revisit passes and 1-2s, give and go s and combination work. Formation Combinations (12mins) Half field set up, with cones laid out in a formation applicable to the team (1-2-1-2; 1-2-4-1 etc) 2 players per cone, with one ball between them. Players dribble to a different cone, and the second player takes over Progress to a 5 yard pass, 1-2, give and go, round the corner pass etc Develop players to change direction quickly and introduce turns and fakes into the dribbling.
2v1 Channels (12mins) 10x20 channels 1 player at one end of the channel, vs 2 players at the other end Must dribble the ball towards the other player, use a move or passing combination to beat them and stop the ball on the opposite line The other play has to attempt to defend and stop them Rotate around, lots of goes in 2 minutes, then swap with another group Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 7: 2v2 Combination Warm Up Grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Groups of 2 or 3 with one ball between them Explore the grid as many touches and passes in 60 seconds as possible Different parts of the foot to dribble, laces, inside, outside, bottom Both feet Revisit passes and 1-2s, give and go s and combination work. Waves (12 mins) 20x40 grid with a goal at each end Players split into pairs and stationed half behind one goal, half behind the other Players take turns in travelling in their pairs towards the opposite goal, until a finish Quick game, players should be on the move straightaway Progression add pairs as defenders, to make a 2v2 game Players must make a combination pass (1-2, give and go) Time period to travel the length of the grid and score Have 2 sets of pairs going at once (opposite directions) to promote head up, and awareness whilst attacking.
2v2 Four goal game (12mins) 20x20 square with goals in the corners 2 teams either side of the square, numbered Coach calls 2 numbers, players run around the goal and run in to play 2v2 Have to dribble the ball through the goal, not shoot. Use 4 goals to help spread the field, and encourage players to play with their head up. Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 8: Defending Shadow Soccer (12 mins) 20x20 grid Players in pairs with one ball between them Must move around the grid taking as many touches as possible whilst their opponent 1v1 Channels (12mins) 5x15 channels 1 player at each end of the channel Emphasis on defending, so defender starts with the ball and plays it as a pass to the attacker, starts to defend early Must dribble the ball towards the other player, use a move to beat them and stop the ball on the opposite line The other play has to attempt to defend and stop them Rotate around, lots of goes in 2 minutes, then swap with another group
Defending Circles (12mins) Create a circle 15 yards in diameter Players work in pairs with a ball between the pair. One player dribbles the ball around trying to stay inside the circle. The other player tries to force the attacker out of the circle without making a tackle. Once the ball is out the area players swap roles. Stay close to attacker and block movements towards the center of the arc Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 9: Shooting Warm up grid with breakout to mini goals (12 mins) 20x20 grid Every player with a ball Explore the grid as many touches in 60 seconds as possible Goals situated 10 yards outside the grid On coaches call the players must break out of the grid and score in the goal, first one to do so wins Shooting Races (12mins) 2 goals 20 yards apart, with a cone in the middle Players split into 2 teams and line up to the right of each goal Players dribble to middle cone and shoot First player to score wins Competition to see who can do the most in 60s; first team back etc Strike with the laces Check GK position before shot 4 Goal Numbers Game (12mins) 20x20 square with goals on each side 2 teams on opposite corners of the square, numbered Coach plays the ball in and calls a number. Players run in and compete to score in one of the 2 goals they are allocated to score in Look to turn away from danger, and toward the open goal Debrief (3mins) Reinforce points of the sessions Evaluate the players performance
Discussion to progress, follow up sessions etc
Week 10: End of Season Scrimmages Warm up grid (12 mins) 20x20 grid Every player with a ball Explore the grid as many touches in 60 seconds as possible Different parts of the foot, laces, inside, outside, bottom Both feet Revisit all skills, turns and 1v1 moves Organized games of 3v3 or 4v4. Multiple games at once, with coaches refereeing and running the games. PDOs to help out with coaching points based on previous work in TTCs.