U6 - U12 Session Plans
The following plans are specifically designed by our expert team to help our F3 coaches to be the best they can be. These Session Plans can be used simply as guides alongside the drills you are currently using or feel free to follow along exactly as noted in the plans. As always, we are here for any questions so feel free to reach out to Coach Seamus Reilly @ seamus@finalthirdfoundation.org.
General Practice Drills to Accompany Session Plans
Touches on the Ball
For the Under 6 - Under 10 Program, please remember that your primary focus should be focusing on your players being comfortable on the ball. The primary focus for each session should be dribbling and 1v1’s, 2v1, and 3v2. Focus on having your players touch the ball with all parts of the foot as they dribble (outside, inside and the bottom of their feet/soles), making moves (fake left - go right, pull-back, turns, etc) and finding the open space - dribbling away from the pressure. Have them look up and down as they dribble so they can see the field.
Technique of Passing
Also, if your players are ready, you can start focusing on the technique of the pass - inside of foot, ankle locked, stepping to where you want to play the ball, not swinging the leg too much, and knee/body slightly over the ball to keep it on the ground. However, if you have a bunch of little dribblers, that would mean you have been very successful so far! At this age there is no such thing as a ball hog. If a player passes at the right time, please feel free to applaud them and say great pass!
Coaching on the Sideline
Please refrain from asking players to dribble, pass and shoot while they are playing. At this age, or any age, it does not help the player's development. They need to be able make decisions on their own while they are on the ball. If we really want to teach our kids, we should wait until a stoppage of play or when they are off the field and tell them when they should dribble, when they should pass and when they should shoot.
Warm-up before Matches
Ask players to arrive with their soccer balls 15-30 minutes before the game. This is the perfect time to hold a skills session with your kids. This is the time they are usually most focused because they are wearing their jerseys and ready to play. Work on toe touches, milkshakes (ball back and forth with inside of foot), inside-outside, inside-outside with both feet, red-light, green-light, working on moves like pull-backs, fake left - go right (push with outside of right foot) and fake right - go left (push with outside of left foot).