Giving young players the opportunity to work things out for themselves can be a very empowering experience for both the players and the coach involved.
In the following practice session, we will look at how players in the 5-11 age range can become immersed in their own learning by taking ownership of the practice session.
Allowing young players the opportunity to make their own decisions and try new things out without the fear of making ‘mistakes’ are the key principles which underpin the session. How the coach guides the practice through the use of effective questioning, asking the right questions at the right times, is the main focus for delivery.
Have a read and see where you can take the practice next.
FA Skills Programme 5-11: ‘How to be a good passer and a good mover.’
- All Players to get opportunities to experiment with and gain an understanding of:-
- How to move into different positions to help make and receive passes.
- Finding out different ways of getting the ball to other members of their team.
- Finding out the differences between using their hands and feet to make passes.
- How to keep the ball away from a defender and move it towards a goal.
Following on from the first part of the session, the next template is outlined using 16 players – however the framework can be adapted and changed according to the numbers of players available and age and ability.
1. ‘How do you get players to creatively use all the space they have?’
a) Ask the players in each square to imagine they are a team.
- Using the white board draw the number of players in each square.
- Explain that: "When you play a game of football, your team has to come up with a formation, so each player has a position, which tries to cover all the pitch.”
- Ask the players: “Can you come up with a formation so that each player has a position which covers your pitch?”
To reinforce these concepts, an example of how the players can fill their area can be drawn on the white board.
- “You’ve got 20 seconds to come up with a formation of your own that covers your area – GO!”
b) Explain that to be a good footballer you need to be able to play in different positions…
“Try and move into all the other positions of your team mates – making sure somebody is always in one of the positions!”
- If a player recognises one of the positions is empty encourage them to try and move into it.
- Ask the players “Do you need to be moving all the time?” Does it sometimes help to stand still? What are you looking for when you are moving around or standing still?”
c) Statues game - On an agreed cue (Coaches shout (Verbal) or Coach throwing and catching/bouncing ball (Visual)) players must stand still. This allows the players to evaluate their own team’s performance
Coach can ask: “Point at the positions on your team which are empty?” - (Indirectly the players will be recognising where space is and working out what opportunities there are to move into)
2. ‘How many different ways can we pass the ball? Can we pass and receive whilst moving?’
1) Each team is given a ball.
2) Players are still moving to cover all the positions on their pitch but are now passing the ball with their hands
3) Encourage different types of passes – hand the ball to partner/ bounce pass/chest pass/roll, etc.
“How many different ways of passing the balls with your hands can you show me?”
“What do you think is a good pass? How do we know if we have done a good pass?”
“See how it feels to pass the ball short/long, high/low, fast/slow.”
“What has happened to our movement now that we have to pass the ball? Do you know why?”
Progressions: Add a second ball which is to be passed in hands.
4) Players attempt the same movement patterns but now attempt to pass the ball with their feet. Give the option of controlling the ball with their hands – but passing with their feet.
5) Encourage different types of passing – with all surfaces of the feet – inside/sole/laces/back heal
6) “How many different positions can you make a pass from? How many positions can you receive in?”
Progressions: Add two balls which are to be passed with feet – encourage – one two’s – short and long passing.
3. ‘Distraction and interference!’
1) One player from each team moves to a different box (see diagram). Initially this player acts as a ‘distraction’ to the passing and movement of the team in possession. The ‘distracter’ doesn’t directly try to intercept the ball, but can move into the line of the player trying to pass/receive.