U6 Practice - Big Touches vs Little Touches

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U6 Practice - Big Touches vs Little Touches

Practice Outline

  1. 20 x 10 2 v. 2 Small Sided Game (10 minutes)
  2. Body Part Dribble (15 minutes)
  3. Freeze Tag (15 minutes)
  4. 31 x 20 4 vs. 4 Scimmage (15 minutes)

End of Practice Questions

  • Bring your players in for the last five minutes of practice and recap your session using open-ended questions.
  • When should we use little touches vs. big touches? (little touches in tight spaces and big touches in space so we can build up speed faster).
  • What should we do with our head/eyes when dribbling? (use peripheral vision so we can see what’s around us, while still seeing the ball at the same time).
  • Have a team cheer, and see everyone at the game!

 

20 x 10 2v2 - Small Sided Soccer Game

Players Required: 
4

Set Up:

  • Make fields of 20 x 10 yards. Place small goals on each endline.

  • The players go 2 v 2 on the field. On balls put out of play, use a throw-in or kick-in to get ball back in (coach's choice).

  • After a goal is scored, play is restarted with a goal kick

Coaching Points:

  • None. Let the players play and make mistakes. Only intervene if it is taking too long to get ball back in play.

Body Part Dribble

Players Required: 
6-10
Balls Required: 
1 per player
Goals Required: 
0

Set Up:

  • Place several gates around the inside of grid, that are about a yard wide.
  • All of the players start with a ball and dribble through gates in order to score a goal. They have 30 seconds to get as many goals as they can.
  • When the Coach calls out a body part (ex: "knee!"), the players have to stop the ball by using that body part.
  • After all of the balls have stopped, ask the players what their goal scoring total is.
  • Progress to the coach just touching a body part and see which players can stop the quickest using that body part.

Coaching Points:

  • Encourage kids to use peripheral vision while dribbling.  
  • Make small, quick touches on the ball so that you can control it as you change direction.
  • Praise players who can stop quickly by keeping their ball close.

Freeze Tag

Players Required: 
6-8

Set Up:

  • Every player has a ball inside of the grid. The coach(es) are it and try to tag the players who must keep control of their ball. If a player gets tagged, they have to touch the ball with the bottom of their foot (alternating) six times before they can start playing again. Play for 30-45 seconds, make a coaching point, and then restart game. Play many rounds. If a player dribbles their ball out of bounds, they have to perform the special activity as if they got tagged.

Progression: Change activity that a player has to do when they get tagged. 

Coaching Points:

  • Encourage players to take little touches when the tagger is close (so they can change direction quicker), and bigger touches to get away from the tagger.
  • Compliment players that are using their peripheral vision to dribble.
  •  

31 x 20 4v4 Scrimmage

Players Required: 
8
Balls Required: 
1
Goals Required: 
0

Set Up:

  • Remove the endzones in the previous game, and add two 3 yard goals on each end (field is now 31x20yds)

  • Let players play 4v4, coach decides how restarts happen, depending on local rules

Coaching Points:

  • None. Just let them play. However, get excited when you see a player try a try a dribbling move or attempts to get a defender off balance.

  • Always highlight positives you see, but don’t stop play and don’t correct their decision making. This is their time to play how they want.

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