COACH: Ross Duncan

LOCATION:

DATE:

AGE: U14

GENDER: Mixed

TIME:

AIM OF SESSION: Developing the header technique and implementing Depth into game play

SESSION SEVEN

ORGANIZATION

COACHING POINTS

WARM UP
0-10 minutes

1000 Touches – 20x20 yard area
This warm-up will be consistent throughout the ages and will work on close control. Click here for an explanation of 1000 Touches.

EXERCISE ONE
10-20 minutes

Heading in 2’s – Working on 2 types of headers, pass, defensive clearance.

Passing header – players stand 5 yards apart, player 1 feeds and player 2 passes back for player 1 to control.  Defensive clearance, 8 yards apart, player 1 feeds player 2 must header up and out over the top of player 1,

Eye on the ball

Use your forehead

Use your shoulders for power and direction

Aim high when defending, cushion when passing

EXERCISE TWO
20-30 minutes

Target Headers -  Working with a partner, create a 2 yard box positioned 5 yards from the players.  Each getting 5 turns to see how many times they can successfully head the ball into the target box.

Progression:
Move to an 8 yard defensive header
Double header and try to get in box

 Eye on the ball

Use your forehead

Use your shoulders for power and direction

Aim high when defending, cushion when passing

EXERCISE THREE
30-40 minutes

Scoring Header – in pairs, create a 5 yard box, players will kneel opposite each other, player 1 will try to score by using his head against, player 2 will catch the ball and then try to score with his head

Eye on the ball

Use your forehead

Use your shoulders for power and direction

Header downward to score

CONDITIONED GAME
40-50 minutes

Heady Handball – 4v4, players will play handball,

When in possession of the ball, using their hands, the players cannot move, they can only pass.  To score a goal a player must pass for the other one to header into the goal

Re-enforce sessions points, don’t lose focus of group

BEDDING DOWN
50-60 minutes

Depth – 16x10 yard area, Defenders must successfully prevent Attackers penetrating their line

See Principles of Soccer document

GAME RELATED PRACTICE
60-75 minutes

4v4 , split the field in half, 3v3 with a goal keeper, in each half will be 2 D’s and 1 A,  After a player passes to the attacker, the other spare player can run and support the attack, forming a 2v2 situation

See Principles of Soccer document

SMALL SIDED GAMES - 4v4
75-85 minutes

4v4 Small Sided Field – 35 x 22 yards (24 = 10 yards either side of a 2 yard goal)

Ensure team is still working at a high tempo.

Re-enforce sessions points, don’t lose focus of group

COOL DOWN
85-90 minutes

Relaxing Movement + recap session

Slow + gentle movements