8 Week Coaching Session Framework

1, Play
1a, Finishing
 Coach Tips - Finishing

1 – First Touch 2 – Scan

Get the ball out of your feet, into space and Look up, check where keeper is where the
away from the defender space is.

3 – Eyes on Ball 4 – Hit the Space

Keep your eyes on the ball at impact Aim to the ball high or low into wherever
ever you see the space
Week 1 Finishing - Basics
Week 1 – Finishing Trio

Finishing Trio
Instructions
• 3 Stations – up to 3 players at each station
• 1 Goalkeeper or cones in the goals to target corners.
Progression 1
• A player from each station takes on the pole/mannequin and shoots at goal
• Swap players around to have different positions and angles
Progression 2 – 1 – 2 Finish
• Player 1 Shoots, Then player 2 plays 1-2 with player 1 and player 2 shoots.
• Repeat again with player 3 playing 1-2 with player 2 and shooting.
Progression 3 – 1 v 1 to Finish
• Player 1 Shoots – he then becomes defender for player 2 (1 v 1), Player 2
shoots he then becomes defender for Player 3 and 1 in 2 v 1 3 2 1
Coach Instructions
• Good first touch out of feet
• Look up to see where keeper is
• Keep eyes on ball at impact
• Hit the space to finish

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Week 1 – Cross to Finish

Pass, Cross and Finish

Instructions
• Up to 12 players at one time. Players get in groups of 3
• Player 1 passes to player 2 and immediately sets off around pole to the
outside of the pitch.
• At the same time player 2 passes to player 3. At which point player 3 passes
the ball to the outside of the pitch for player 1 to receive.
• Player 2 and 3 then set off towards the penalty area.
• Player 1 crosses the ball into the box for player 2 and 3 to finish.
Progressions
• Player 2 and 3 have to switch runs – front and back post.
• Reduce Time to Finish (10 seconds to score) 3
• Introduce defender
Coach Instructions 2
• Good first touch out of feet
• Look up to see where keeper is 1
• Keep eyes on ball at impact
• Hit the space to finish

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Week 2 Finishing – Creating Space
Week 2 – Round the World

Round the World

Instructions
• 1 Goal, up to 9 players
• 1 player (attacker) stands with back to goal, with mannequin/pole behind him
• The rest of the players stand on a flat marker at 180 degree angle to attacker
• Players take it in turns to pass the ball into the players from all different
angles
• Players are challenged to turn and create angles before shooting at goal
• Round 1 in sequence going around each player
• Round 2 attacker calls out individual players names who he wants to receive
the ball from
Progressions
• Reduce Time to Finish (10 seconds to score)
• Two Touches to Finish (1 touch around pole/mannequin and 1 to finish)
Coach Instructions
• Good first touch out of feet
• Look up to see where keeper is
• Keep eyes on ball at impact
• Hit the space to finish

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Week 2 – Finishing Poles

Finishing Poles
No 1 Session
• Coach plays ball into player
1 2
• Player lets ball roll across the body and takes it on half turn
• Player goes through the 2 poles/mannequins then does skill/creativity to take it
around final pole to shoot.

No 2 Session
• Dribble around cones or pass ball to coach through cones
• Player run to outside of cones
– Player uses one touch to play it between poles (inside touch)
– Player goes through the 2 poles and then outside final pole to shoot
– Inside touch first, outside through poles, outside past pole and strike.
– Bring in skill/creativity to take it around final pole
Coach Instructions
• Good first touch out of feet
• Look up to see where keeper is
• Keep eyes on ball at impact
• Hit the space to finish

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1a, Dribbling
 Coach Tips - Dribbling

1 – Head Up 2 – Keep Low

Keep your head up and scan your Stay Low for a quicker change of direction
surroundings

3 – Change Of Speed 4 – Use Body

Change your speed to trick and get past You don’t have to move the ball to move
defenders your opposition.
• Creativity to unbalance them
• Arm across to protect the ball
Week 3 Dribbling - Basics
Week 3 – Dribbling Colours

Dribbling Colours
Instructions
• Cones and different coloured poles.
• 5 seconds ball mastery on the spot to start (Toe Taps etc)
• Coach holds up coloured cone (red or yellow) and depending on colour player goes left
or right
• Dribbles around pole and then back to center to go around the small cones.
• Once centre cones done dribble around outside cone and sprint back with ball through
gate to shoot.
• Mix up dribbling through cones to be
– Right Foot / Left Foot
– Inside Only
– Outside Only
– Inside & Outside
– Sole Roles
Coach Instructions
• Head up – scan your environment
• Keep Low – stay low for change of direction
• Change Speed
• Use Body – move your body to move opposition

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Week 3 – Dribbling – Ring Ball

Ring Ball
Instructions
• 2 goals, 2 x 3 sets of rings, 2 x 3 poles
• 2 teams of 4 / 5
• At each cone leave one ring free and one with ball in.
• Players dribble ball into ring and takes spare ball to next ring
• Take final ball, dribble around poles and shoot
• Once shot sprint back to team

Progressions
• Team challenge – how many goals in 2 minutes
• Introduce goal keeper or defender

Coach Instructions
• Head up – scan your environment
• Keep Low – stay low for change of direction
• Change Speed
• Use Body – move your body to move opposition

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Week 4
Dribbling – Skills and Creativity
Week 4 – Dribbling Creativity

Dribbling Creativity
Set Up and Equipment
• 6 Cones – 1 Square in middle
• 1 Pole/Mannequin in centre of square

Instructions
• Player dribbles from start to end cone taking on pole/mannequin in the middle.
– Ronaldo – Step Over and outside
– Messi – Step Over and Outside
– Neymar – Sole Role, step over with same foot (inside) and outside with
other foot.
– Sterling – Elastico – drag foot over ball and push quickly with outside foot
– Modric - Chop
– Mata – Double touch
– Eddie C - Stepover, Inside, Inside
– Maradonna Turn – create angle
– Iniesta – sideways slide and stop
– Fake Shot

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Week 4 – Pole Angles

Pole Angles
Instructions
• 1 Goal, 1 Goal Keeper, up to 4 attacking players
• Player starts at cone and takes it in turn to dribble to poles, player turns away
from pole and towards goal to shoot.
• Turns and skills away from goal create spac
– Drop the Shoulder – body movement one way and push ball other way
– Elastico – one touch one way and then quick touch another way
– Roll and Stepover – Roll ball one way and step over
– Stepover / Outside – Step over and push ball with outside of foot
– Roll and Chop – Roll ball in one direction and chop ball in outside
direction
– Maradonna Turn – create angle
– Iniesta – sideways slide and stop
Progressions
• Reduce Time to Finish (10 seconds to score)
• Introduce actual defender

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1c, Passing & Receiving
Week 5 Passing Basics
 Coach Tips - Passing

1 - Accuracy 2 - Timing

Most Important Coaching Point – Focus on Right Time, into Right Space for a
the ball for good technique teammate on the run

3 – Pace 4 - Technique

Strong Passes to Feet. Different weight on Use different techniques for different
the pass for through passes situations
Inside, Outside, Toes, Heel
Week 5 - Passing Targets

Passing Targets:
Instructions
• All players on one side of a pitch with a ball
• In turn they have to pass into short, medium and long targets
• 1 points if you get the ball in the circle
• Start as side foot pass, then outside foot path, laces etc.
Progression 1
• Pass to player, one touch control and one touch pass to target
• Pass to player and first time pass to target
• Make target smaller
• Introduce Poles to make passes harder
• Introduce inside and outside of foot
Coach Instructions
• Accuracy – focus on good technique
• Timing – Right time and space for your teammate.
• Pace – make sure the weight is right
• Technique – using different parts of your foot.

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Week 5 – Passing Short and Long

Passing Short and Long

Instructions
• One main passer for each team and 2 sets of teams at either side of pitch
• Each main passer starts with a ball each
• Players from each team run across and either choose to either go to a short or
long flat marker.
• 2 Passes from one side to the other (1 short and 1 long)
• Once on the marker the main passer passes the ball and then receives it back
• Once its returned the next player goes
• Alternate the main passes through the team.
• How many passes in one minute.

Progressions
1. Players have to alternate short and long
2. Quickest team to get all players across
3. Player receiving the ball has to dribble to next marker and pass back

Coach Instructions
• Passing Tips – weight, accuracy, technique and timing of pass.

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Week 6 Passing and Receiving
 Coach Tips – Receiving The Ball

1 - Scan 2 - Decide

Scan the environment to understand where Decide which part of your body is best to
the space is and where you want to go receive the ball

3 – Touch 4 - Creativity

Either take pace off the ball or generate If under pressure use skill, technique or
pace if you want to body to buy yourself time.
Week 6 - Passing Gates

Passing Gates
Instructions
• Players set up in pairs 10-15 yards apart, 1 player on cone and 1 player by the
gates
• Pass to player on cone who takes one touch through gates and passes back to
player.
• Player then passes back to gate player who takes the ball through the other way
• Passing
– Inside Passes - 10 passes swap over players
– Outside Passes - 10 passes swap over players
– Laces Passes - 10 passes swap over players
• Receiving the Ball
– Inside touch
– Outside Touch
Progression1 -
• Move the passing players out so that passes become longer

Progression 2
• After player passes through gate they run round the pole behind them.
• First they pick pole, then passing player shouts pole

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Week 6 - Pass Triangle

Pass Triangle
Instructions
• Start by playing the ball into each other
• Player 1 passes to Player 2
• As the ball comes into feet take a touch off the defender, pull away
create space.
• Let the ball run across your body and control with your back foot
• Player 2 dribbles around spare pole/mannequin, around the triangle
and plays the ball back into player 1.

Progressions
• Move to a 1-2 sequence around the mannequin (see video)

Coach Instructions 2 1
• Stepping off the defender
• Opening the body up, controlling the ball with your back foot

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2, Protect
 Coach Tips – Protecting the Ball

1 – Bum 2 – Arms

Push your bum out to stop the player Use your arms to hold off the player
getting near you

3 – Touch 4 – Use Body

Touch the ball away from the player Use all parts of your body to stop them
getting to the ball
2a, Protecting the Ball
 Coach Tips – Protecting the Ball

1 – Bum 2 – Arms

Push your bum out to stop the player Use your arms to hold off the player
getting near you

3 – Touch 4 – Use Body

Touch the ball away from the player Use all parts of your body to stop them
getting to the ball
Week 7 Staying on the Ball
Week 7 – Staying on the Ball

Staying on the Ball

Instructions
• Get into Pairs.
• Set up Rectangle playing pitch areas,
1. Hide the ball – Stand still, keep ball still and stop other player from getting
the ball using your body. (Swap over
2. Hide the Ball on the move – 1 player dribbles around the pitch when
whistle stops the dribble player has to hide/protect the ball until the coach
blows his whistle.
3. Turn Away- Dribble one minute with player turning away each time
4. Stop and Start – 1 player dribbles around and dribbles away from the
player, the player on the ball chooses when to stop. Once they stop and
the tackler slows down you have to start moving again.
5. Dribbling Pairs - Go onto dribbling where the non ball player is allowed to
tackle the ball. If they win the ball they try and protect the ball. Get point if
you have the ball at the end of the minute
6. Dribble Group – Half the players have a ball, anyone can tackle anyone,
have to have the ball at the end of 1 minute
Coach Instructions
• Remember BAT to protect the ball – Body, Arms, Touch

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Week 7 - Stadium Games

Stadium Games
Instructions:
• Split the teams up into two teams as shown (gives bibs if required)
• Place the balls on the halfway line as shown. On the coaches signal players will
run out and try gain possession off the football. Short tackles first
• If a player is successful in winning a ball they must try take it back into their own
half and keep it for a set period of time.
• If they aren’t successful and don’t win possession of the ball they must enter the
other teams half and try win a ball to bring back into their half .
• The team who has the most footballs in their half at the end of the game are the
winners.
Progressions:
• Go from 5 footballs to 4 footballs meaning players then need to work together
and can now pass and move the football when they are in possession of a ball.
• Now take another ball out and go from 4 footballs to 3 footballs, players should
now look to split into groups and work together to support and give a passing
options to try and keep possession.
Coaching Points:
• Pressing the ball to try and win back possession.
• Hiding, revealing and moving the ball.
• Moving to support player in possession.

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Week 8 Twisting and Turning
 Coach Tips – Twisting and Turning

1 - Scan 2 - Decide

Scan the environment to understand where Decide which turn is best to receive the ball
the space is and where you want to go

3 – Time 4 – Explode

Create time and space by turning away Use your touch and power to explode away
from the player from player
Week 8 – Twist and Turn Triangle

Twist and Turn Triangle

Instructions
• Player starts in middle on cone/flat marker
• Player starts with no ball, have to touch as many outside cones as possible in 1
minute
• Player brings in ball, now have to dribble and touch to as many outside cones
as possible
• Every time they touch cone they have to return ball to centre cone and have to
go to a different cone each time

Progressions
• How many poles they can touch in 2 minute
• Coach moves to a cone each time so player is scanning.
• Pass the ball into player in centre, call coloured pole and the player has to take
first touch towards the coloured pole and pass it back to server.

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Week 8 – First to Ball

First to Ball

Instructions
• 2 sets of Pole gates, 2 sets of teams

• Progression 1 –
• Both red and blue players do quick feet until coach shouts ‘Go’
• Both players sprint through poles,
• First to get to their ball and score

Progression 2 –
– Reduce to one ball, sprint to ball and then have 1 v 1

• Progression 3 –
• Red and Blue work as a team – blue pass to Red, Red dribble through
wide cone while blue run through other wide cone, red cross the ball in
for blue to shoot.

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