U6 Practice Plan - Races and Games with Ball Touches

Set Up:

Pairs of players are set up at the center cones, facing each other. One player is the "rabbit" and the other is the "hunter". The rabbit attempts to run back to the cone on the end line behind him, and the hunter attempts to catch him before he gets there. The rabbit can start his run at any time and the hunter has to react. When they finish, the pairs return to the center cones and switch roles

Set Up:

On a split field. one team of 5-6 players plays against two opposing players. 10-12 soccer balls are spread around one half of the field. On the coach's signal, the players run in from the end line and try to clear all of the balls into the other half. The two opposing players try to play them back across the half line. The drill is over when all of the balls are played out of the half.

Set Up:

This is a great drill to follow up with after the "Fill the Bucket" drill becuase no additional setup is required. Players are divided up into teams of three players and each team will need 6 soccer balls. Now that all the soccer balls are in the bucket you can run the same race but the objective of this race is to empty the bucket instead of fill the bucket. The players will run into the bucket to retrieve a ball and bring it to the end line. Once they tag a teammate then they will also run to the bucket, retrieve a ball, and dribble it to the end line. The first team to empty the bucket and get all of the soccer balls back to the end line wins the race.

Set Up:

Two teams of three players set up three balls at each end of the field. Each team has a "bucket" - a small zone in the center of their line. Two players start at one end and the other player starts at the opposite end. On a signal, players will dribble the ball one at a time into the center, leaving it in the bucket. After leaving the ball, they run to the other end to tag the next player on the other side. Then that player takes his turn. So each player puts two balls in the bucket, and the first team to get all six balls into the bucket wins the race. After the race, you can leave the balls in the bucket and proceed to the "Empty the Bucket" race.

Coaching Points:

1.  When running with the ball, point your toe down with each touch and use your laces.

2.  The ball must be kept close enough to stop it at all times.

3.  Sprint to the ball in order to stop it.

Progressions:

1.  When the Coach blows the whistle, players must stop the ball. The last player to stop the ball waits three seconds after the re-start.

Set Up:

For this soccer drill players will be able to work on passing and conditioning. Teams line up on the two end lines with four players on each side. Coaches can put as many soccer balls as they would like on each side. Players race to the balls, pass them over to the other side and run back to their end line. They will go back and forth until all the soccer balls are on the other side. Coaches can set a time limit for each game and whoever has more soccer balls on their side when time expires is the loser.

Set Up:

The attacking players start on the end line with a ball. Two defenders (the Bulldogs) start inside of the central zone and may not leave the zone during play. The attackers try to dribble across the field and thru the central zone while the bulldogs try to kick their ball away. Once out of the central zone, attackers jog to the other end line and turn around. Anyone who has had their ball kicked out becomes another bulldog. The last attacker remaining in the game wins.