Training - Thursday, Feb 8

6:00PM - 6:30PM Ball Masters - Individual Technical Development

Fast Feet

• Taps
• Speed Taps
• Zig Zag Taps
• Step On Taps
• 1/4 Turn Taps
• Cut Behind Taps
• "U" Taps
• Triangle Taps

6:30PM - 7:30PM Field Training

I. 5v5 + 1 Possession

Set Up

• Two teams of 5 (blue and green) and one neutral player (red)
• 30x50 yard grid with the players' soccer balls surrounding the playing area

Procedure

• Teams play possession soccer
• Neutral player plays with the team in possession, effectively making it 6v5

Make It Competitive

• +1 point for 5 consecutive passes in a row without the defending team touching the ball
• Scoring doubles from that point on; 10 passes in a row is an additional +2 points, 15 passes is an additional +4 points, etc.

Coaching Points

• Move for your teammates
• Play simple and quick when in possession
• Draw defenders in with short passes, then look to find a longer outlet pass to break pressure
• Everyone on the team communicating and giving teammates good information
• "Read" the player on the ball to know what kind of pass she can make - a dribbler with time and space can maybe look to play a longer, more difficult pass, players under pressure probably need shorter, simpler options the way they are facing

Progressions

• Three-touch or less
• Mandatory two-touch

II. Four Corners Shooting Repetition

Set Up

• Two teams, blue and green
• Four disks, two at the corners of the six yard box, two about 10 yards apart 25 yards from goal
• Split team so that half the girls are at disk at the top of the six yard box and the other half of the team is at the disk 25 yards out (see illustration below)
• All the team's soccer balls with the players at the top of the six

Procedure

• (1) First green team player at the top of the six yard box passes a ball out to their teammate (the shooter) at the disk 25 yards out from goal and then runs to wait their turn in the shooting line
• (2) the shooter takes a prep (preparation) touch and then a shot on goal
• (3) the shooter retrieves the ball and then ends up at the back of the passing line
• (4) as soon as the green shooter take a shot, blue begins their turn
• Play for a set amount of time, then have the teams switch sides

Make It Competitive

• +3 points for a goal
• +6 points for a goal from outside the 18
• +1 point for a finished rebound

Coaching Points

• Focus on a good prep touch, away from your feet and at a good angle in order to help set up a good shot
• Shooters should take a peek at the goal after their prep touch and while moving toward the ball in order to visualize their shot before taking it
• Follow in for rebounds

Progression #2 (see illustration below)

• (5) Passer now plays a softer ball out in front of their teammate
• (6) Shooter gets to the ball quickly and finishes first time (without controlling the ball first)

Progression #3 (see illustration below)

• (7) Passer plays a long ball in the air to their shooting teammate who can take two touches to finish

Progression #4 (see illustration above)

• (8) Passer plays a "junk" ball (a ball that bounces) to their shooting teammate who can take two touches to finish

Progression #5 (see illustration below)

• (9) Passer plays a high ball out in front of their shooting teammate who gets to the ball quickly and tries to finish first time (without controlling the ball first)

III. 5v5 Small Sided Scrimmage