SKILL BASED CURRICULUM FOR PLAYERS AGED 7-9 The skill-based curriculum is taught through a series of developmental practices

that isolate the particular theme/skill for that session. The measure of success becomes how well the skill is performed in a realistic game situation. This approach provides every coach and player with a definite GOAL for each session. Players not reaching their goal should NOT be labeled as failures. It is our belief that rather than dismiss players as failures, the coach uses the information gained as a source of reference to develop future practices. Coaches should note that players aged 7 and up will mostly enjoy the more skill based or GOAL driven approach. It should also be noted that those players having participated in KICK OFF SOCCER based sessions at a younger age would experience more success with the following work. The skills taught are as follows: Week One - Breaking Pressure. Week Two - Applying Pressure forcing turnovers. Week Three- Forward foot passing. Week Four- Performing a give and go (Wall pass). Week Five - Turning an Opponent. Week Six - Possessing the ball. Week Seven - Making an Overlap. Week Eight - Creating space and shooting. The novice coach should perceive the teaching time prior to the game as his warm up period. For the purposes of this curriculum and to keep the warm up period to a suitable time limit, each session has been designed to be approximately 20-30 minutes. Skill Based Curriculum Coaching In the Game The following comments are meant as guidelines and suggestions for those coaches working with players aged 7-9 playing in a competitive environment. 1. FORMATION - Players at this age need a basic shape to play from. Most novice coaches inadvertently play formations that are top heavy. In a developmental program, with coaches concerned about developing players, a possession style of play is a must. A style of play where the goalkeeper has three or four options to roll the ball to and the defender receiving the ball has two or thee options to pass too. As play develops all players are then encouraged to make supporting attacking runs. b. In reference to the above the formations which should be promoted are as follows: For 2nd grade a) 6-aside (5 + Gk) Gk 3 defenders and 2 in a midfield. b) 7-aside (6+ Gk) Gk 3 defenders, 2 in midfield and 1 in attack. For 3rd grade (playing 8 aside) a) Gk 3 defenders, 3 midfield players and one attacker. b) Gk - 4 defenders, 3 midfield players and 0 attackers.

2. As many of the coaches have recognized at the ages of 7 and 8 it is important to get the players to try and play with shape - when a team has the ball they should try and keep some width, some penetration and depth. 3. DEFENDING the young players must be taught that when a team has the ball they are all attackers and when a team loses the ball they are all defenders. As a priority teach the youngsters to mark players and not space. NO TEAM SHOULD HAVE ANY DEFENDERS MAROONED deep in their own half. 4. OVERCOACHING - the most common problem with coaches of players aged 7-8 is overcoaching. Young players aged 7 & 8 need to solve the problems of the game themselves rather than have a coach give them an order on what to do next. The two main situations when this occurs are: 5. Throw Ins - coaches were ordering kids to throw it down the line even though none of their teammates were available in this space. The players should be asked to throw the ball to the player in the biggest space. If this is a defender in his half, then so be it. 6. Goal Kicks - or balls played in from the Goalkeeper after a save has been made. The goalkeeper should be encouraged to distribute (rolling the ball is the best method) to the player in his team in the biggest space which has the least chance of being intercepted. AVOID ordering the keeper to roll it or throw it to the sides. 7. Try and pick one skill each week and focus some time coaching upon that skill, a move or a chosen technique such as breaking pressure is good examples.

Practice 1 Pass & Move Inside half a field the team is divided into pairs with one ball for each group. (one group of three is okay if there is an odd number of players in the group). Players dribble the ball, taking as many touches of the ball as they want then pass to their partner. After they have passed the ball to their partner they have to move in to a new space in time to receive a return pass. Encourage each pair to cover as much of the half field as they can and to dribble and perform a move before they return the pass.

SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK ONE BREAKING PRESSURE

Coaching Points Encourage lots of touches and sharp movement off the ball as soon as they release the pass. Practice 2 Pass, Move and fake Each Pair continues to pass and move as above. In addition each player must make a fake just before they receive the ball. Explain, that by disguising the space where they intend to control the ball they can neutralize a defender, thus giving themselves more time and space to play. Coaching points 1.By faking and disguising the space in which they intend to control the ball they can learn to neutralize a defender. This will give them more space and time to play in. Practice 3 Pass, Move and Fake 2 In a more restricted space - (_ of the field or penalty area) the players perform the same sequence as above. This time the coach selects one or two fakes that they have noticed the players try and has the whole team perform these fakes. The player selected to demonstrate should be one who is performing a fake that is thrown more with the hips and body than with the head. If none of the players are performing a fake correctly then the coach should demonstrate, explaining to the players what they are doing wrong. As part of the demonstration the coach should also instruct the players to try and play a pass in the direction in which they controlled the ball. This should have the effect of making the players decide where they are going to pass the ball before they receive it.

Coaching Points: 1.The coach should select a fake that is thrown more with the hips and body than with the head. 2.In addition to faking, the player receiving should be encouraged to pass the ball into the direction they have chosen to control the ball. Practice 4 Pass & Follow Working in groups of four they play with one ball and simply pass and follow. After they have played a pass to any other member of their group they follow the ball, simulating a defender putting pressure on the player receiving. The player receiving the ball should continue to fake as they receive and then play a pass to the third member of the group and continue the sequence by pressuring in the direction of the ball. Note that initially as each player pressures they should allow the receiving player to be successful. The coach should encourage the players to try the things they have been working on (faking as they receive, controlling the ball in the direction they wish to pass the ball) under the pressure of the defender

Coaching Points: 1.Stress that the player receiving the ball fake as he receives. 2.Stress the use of the first touch to guide the ball away from the oncoming player and into space. Practice 5 3v1 world cup possession Keep the players in the same groups of four and place them in marked areas that are 12yards by 10 yards, and then have them number themselves 1 to 4. Each team is given the name of a Football playing country e.g. Brazil, Italy, USA etc. To begin with each group should pass and move (in any order) with one ball inside their area. At regular intervals the coach will call out a number. The players whose number is called then leaves their area and runs to another group (this is predetermined) and becomes a defender. Once the defender has forced the ball out of each area the three players have to sit down. The last group in possession of the ball scores a goal for their team. This has the effect of allowing the groups having less success to observe the groups possessing the ball more effectively. Every player should have the opportunity to defend. The

coach should make every effort to ensure that the training environment is competitive and players are motivated to practice at a high intensity.

There are many coaching points that can be brought out of this practice. But it is important that the coach focus his comments and attention towards the players faking as they receive and playing their first touch into space.

SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK TWO APPLYING PRESSURE and FORCING TURNOVERS Practice 1 Dribbling Time Each player has a ball and dribbles around inside the penalty area. Once the players have started working at a high intensity the coach will call out certain body parts. The players have to place the selected body part on the ball until the coach instructs them to dribble again. As soon as the coach commands, the players have to get up from the ground and dribble. Prior to the practice the players should be informed that they are not allowed to use their hands to get up, thus allowing the coach the opportunity to talk to his/her players about the necessity for Football players to be athletic and not easily knocked off balance.

Coaching Points Talk to all the players about what an athlete is e.g. are athletes easily knocked off balance. Lead the players to the belief that to do well in todays game they need to be athletic. Practice 2 Pass & Chase Working in groups of four they play with one ball and simply pass and follow. After they have played a pass to any other member of their group they follow the ball, like a defender putting pressure on the player receiving. The player receiving the ball should continue to fake as they receive and then play a pass to the third member of the group and continue the sequence by pressuring in the direction of the ball. This continues so that all of the players have repeated opportunities to both pressure the ball and receive the ball under pressure. The coach should focus on the role of the pressuring player, stressing the importance of a positive and aggressive attitude when defending. Specifically discuss stride patterns and angle of approach and how they can be adopted to help the defender win the Football ball. Coaching Points 1.Stress the importance of a POSITIVE and AGRRESIVE ATTITUDE. Their ability to pressure quickly will be derived from their attitude towards winning the ball. 2.Discuss stride patterns and angle of approach as they apply final pressure Practice 3 One v One to a Ball The groups of four are split in two so that the players are placed in pairs. Both players need a Football ball, one player leaves their ball in a space; this becomes the goal ball and the other ball will be used to play the game. The two players then compete over the other ball in order to get possession and to score. A goal is scored each time a player touches the goal ball with the free ball. After every goal the goal ball is rolled into a new space and the process is repeated. To be productive this game should be played at a high intensity and the defenders should never let the person in possession of the ball play without any pressure on them, particularly in the time just

after they have lost possession themselves. Basically there should be no time wasted during the transition from attack to defense.

Coaching Points: 1.The coach should encourage all players to apply as much pressure as possible to the player in possession. 2.The defender should forget about delay and be taught to focus on the fact that the best time to win the ball back and apply pressure is normally when it has just been given away. Practice 4 7v4 in the Penalty Area The team is divided into one group of attackers who will play against a group of defenders. The attackers should always have two or even three more players than the defenders with an ideal number being 4 defenders (plus a goalkeeper) playing against 7 attackers. This practice should take place inside the penalty area (18 yard box) with the coach standing on the edge, beside a supply of Football balls. The coach begins the practice by feeding the balls to the attackers in the area and they attempt to score. The aim of the defenders is to gain possession of the ball and play it outside of the area. After all the balls have been used the players can be switched (Always have a greater number of attackers). As with the previous practices within this coaching session the coach should focus on the role of the defenders, stressing the importance of them being aggressive in their attempts to win the ball and pressuring the attackers quickly. The coach should also talk about forcing the attackers into spaces that suit the defenders.

Coaching Points: 1.Stress the importance of an aggressive attitude for the defenders, 2.Educate the players to the fact that players who have to lunge for the ball have normally been slow in arriving to pressure.

3.Begin to talk about forcing attackers into spaces where they will lose the ball. SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK THREE FORWARD FOOT PASSING Practice 1 Pass & Move Inside half a field the team is divided into pairs with one ball for each group. (One group of three is okay if there are an odd number of players in the group). Players dribble the ball, taking as many touches of the ball as they want then pass to their partner. After they have passed the ball to their partner they have to move in to a new space in time to receive a return pass. Encourage each pair to cover as much of the half field as they can

Coaching Points 1. Encourage lots of touches and sharp movement off the ball as soon as they release the pass 2. Encourage the players to pass within the rhythm of their dribble. That is without changing their stride pattern Practice 2 Pass & Move- Guided Discovery The team is divided into pairs (one group of three is okay if there is an odd number of players in the group) and they continue to pass and move. On this occasion the players are asked to think for themselves. Encourage each player to dribble and perform a move before they return the pass. Explain to the players their aim is to discover how best to play passes without slowing down their dribble or make obvious as to whom and where they will pass. The players, with help from the coach if necessary should discover that passing with the toe and the outside of the foot are both techniques, which will have the desired effect. Coaching Points The two techniques that the youngsters should come up with are passing with the outside of the foot or the toe. Coaching points for the above techniques are: Outside of the foot pass 1. Non kicking foot a little behind and to the side of the ball with the toe pointing away from target (the inside of the non-kicking foot is at about 45-degree angle to the target) 2. Kicking foot is led by the knee and strikes the mid point on the side of the ball using the area just below the little toe 3.Body weight from the back foot that is behind and to the side of the ball through the center of the ball to follow the pass

4. Head remains steady throughout Passing With the toe. 1. With ankle locked and head steady the ball is poked with the toe. 2. The head should be kept steady and the pass should be generated with a quick movement of the knee. Practice 3 2v1 The team is divided into groups of three. Each player within the group is given a number 1,2 or 3. The groups begin passing and moving in half a field. The coach randomly calls out one of the numbers. When a number is called that player becomes the defender. The game is now 2v1, this continues until either the coach shouts rest or the defender wins possession of the ball. If either occurs the players resume passing and moving as a three. The coach should ensure each defender works for up to one minute and their should be thirty seconds play between the end of one defenders attempt and the start of another. Within this practice the coach encourages the attackers to run at the defender and use the disguised passes which were discovered in the previous practice. One of the reasons that possession may be lost to a defender is the poor weight of the pass; as such the coach should talk to his/her players about playing their passes with zip (fast pace). This will make it less likely that a defender will intercept the pass while also improving the control of the player receiving the ball.

Coaching Points 1.Encourage the attackers to run at the defender and play passes with the forward foot within the rhythm of the dribble. 2. Talk about the pace of the pass, which they play, and how the pass should zip. Practice 4 2v1 with direction This set up for this practice is exactly the same as above (practice 3). However this time when a number is called out and one player becomes a defender and the two players in possession of the ball have to move the ball in towards one of the goal lines. The 2 players score by placing the ball alternately on one line and then the other. (Use the edges of the penalty area as the two lines). This continues until either the two players are successful, the coach shouts rest or the defender wins possession of the ball. If either occurs the players resume passing and moving as a three.

The coach should ensure each defender works for up to one minute and their should be thirty seconds play between the end of one defenders attempt and the start of another.

SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK FOUR WALL PASSES & OTHER COMBINATIONS Please note that although this skill based session is and can be used in isolation as a one off practice those players having completed weeks one through three of this work should have a high degree of success with this work. The two-player combination worked on in this practice session is the wall pass, however the format used in this practice can be used to coach other two player combinations such as, the double pass, fakeovers and takeovers. Practice 1 Pass & Move Inside half a field the team is divided into pairs with one ball for each group. (One group of three is okay if there are an odd number of players in the group). Players dribble the ball, taking as many touches of the ball as they want then pass to their partner. After they have passed the ball to their partner they have to move in to a new space in time to receive a return pass. Encourage each pair to cover as much of the half field as they can and to dribble and perform a move before they return the pass.

Coaching Points 1. Encourage lots of touches and sharp movement off the ball as soon as they release the pass 2. Encourage the players to pass within the rhythm of their dribble. That is without changing their stride pattern or setting their body Practice 2 Pass & Move II The coach should stop the group and instruct them to sit in front of him/her. They will then take this opportunity to explain and demonstrate to the group a wall pass (give and go)(the technique is detailed below). Having seen the demonstration the group should continue to pass and move as they did during practice 1, however the coach instructs the players that every fourth pass should be a wall pass (give and go). As this occurs the coach observes the players and gives each group individual help in necessary, if common mistakes are being made or the coach wishes to draw all of the players attention to certain points then he should speak to everyone together. The coach should also draw the players attention to the suitability of the front foot passes learned in session 3 as part of a give and go. This is due to the fact that it will allow the player on the ball to pass with disguise to his/her supporting player before continuing to accelerate pas the defender.

Coaching Points 1. Watch as the players perform their wall passes taking notes of the coachable moments that arise. 2. The wall pass - A player in possession of the ball dribble towards a defender. Just as the defender reaches out to make a tackle the ball is played with disguise to a supporting teammate (approx. 10-12ft away). As the ball rolls one side of the defender the player having played the initial pass continues his run around the other side of the pass. The supporting player back into the path of the original players run plays the ball first time. Practice 3 2v1 The team is divided into groups of three. Each player within the group is given a number 1,2 or 3. The groups begin passing and moving in half a field. The coach randomly calls out one of the numbers. When a number is called that player becomes the defender. The game is now 2v1, this continues until either the coach shouts rest or the defender wins possession of the ball. If either occurs the players resume passing and moving as a three. The coach should ensure each defender works for up to one minute and their should be thirty seconds play between the end of one defenders attempt and the start of another. Within the 2v1 situation that is created the players should be encouraged to attempt the wall passes they have been practicing against the pressure of a defender. However the coach should be aware that if they attempt to use this combination every time they have the ball their play will become very predictable. As such the players should on occasion fake the wall pass and continue to dribble past the defender (especially if the defender over commits in their attempt to block the pass).

Coaching Points 1. Encourage the players to attack the defenders and play wall passes around them. 2. As the defenders over commit to intercept the wall pass instruct the attackers to fake as though they will pass and then continue their dribble past the defender. Practice 4 2v2 to a ball. The players are placed in pairs. Each pair is going to compete against one other group. Instead of each group defending and attacking a goal they place a Football ball at each end of their field (20 x 30 yards). The two teams then compete over another ball in order to get possession and score. A goal is scored each time a player touches the other teams goal ball with the free ball. In keeping with the focus of the session the players are encouraged to use the wall pass to play through the other team, while sometimes faking to pass and taking on a defender with the ball at their feet. Within this game there are many techniques that the coach could work on, such as weight of pass, passing with disguise, movement off the ball and acceleration when taking on a defender.

SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK FIVE TURNING AN OPPONENT Practice 1 Dribbling and Turning Inside the penalty box each player dribbles around with a ball. When the coach says turn the players have to turn 180 degrees and explode away in the opposite direction. The players should take lots of touches on the ball and move very quickly through and after the turn. The coach should also assess they types of turns that the players are using.

Coaching Points 1. Encourage lots of touches and sharp movement off the turn. 2. Assess the type of turns that they do. Practice 2 Dribbling, Turning and Teaching The set up for this next practice is exactly the same as in practice 1. However the coach is going to teach each of the players a specific turn e.g. chopping the ball backward with the outside of the foot. So that when the instruction is given all of the players perform the same move. Coaching Points 1 .Encourage lots of touches and sharp movement off the turn. 2. Assess the type of turns that they do. 3. Encourage the players to keep their center of gravity low as they turn so that they can turn quickly.

Practice 3 Pass, Move & Turn The team is divided into threes. Encourage, in turn, each player to try and check back to the ball and perform a turn as they receive the ball and then pass the ball in the direction they moved into.

Coaching Points 1. Encourage lots of touches and sharp movement off the ball as soon as they release the pass. 2. Encourage a sharp turn as they receive the ball and explain to the players why they should turn their body sidewise as they receive. Practice 4 Pass, Move, Turn & Teach The teams is divided into groups of three and pass and move with one ball. The main focus of this practice is to encourage each player to try and check back to the ball and perform a turn as they receive the ball. To explain, as one player has the ball and is preparing to pass to a second player, the third member of the group makes a run away from the second player, as if they were taking a defender away. Then as the second player receives the ball the third player checks back towards the ball (which is at the second players feet), the player on the ball then passes the ball towards the feet of the third player (imagining there is a defender at his back) and the third player receives the ball and turns and dribbles in the new direction. This process should be repeated as many times as the players can set it up.

The coach should use the opportunity to teach a move/turn which the checking player can use. An example of a move, which can be taught, is described below. Coaching Points 1.Check back towards the ball and turn your body sidewise as the ball approaches the weak foot. 2. Just as the ball is about to touch the outside of the weak foot slide the kicking foot in front of the ball. 3. Use the inside of the strong foot to drag the ball and turn with it attacking the space behind you as you received. Game Coaching Explain to the players that more often than not in a professional Football game the majority of the teams play a possession-based game consequently players often receive the ball facing away from the goal that they are attacking. This is because teams try to play through the midfield players to the forwards. Tell them you will be looking to see if any of them can collect a ball, turn and then play a forward pass. When this does happen congratulate the player who does this, thus motivating the rest of the players to do likewise. SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK SIX POSSESSION Practice 1 Passing & moving Inside half a field the team is divided into groups of four or five with one ball for each group. Players dribble the ball, taking as many touches of the ball as they want then pass to any other player in the group. After they have passed the ball they have to move in to a new space. Insist each group keep their passes short while covering as much of the half field as they can.

Practice 2 Passing & moving with numbers For the first progression the set up is the same, however in this practice each player within a group is given a number one through four (or five). When the coach calls out a number that player has to try and get the ball off the rest of his group. If the defender wins the ball the group simply pass and move again until the coach calls another number. At this stage the coach needs to evaluate the main reasons for the groups inability to keep possession of the ball, examples may be the timing of the pass, how technically proficient the

players are or how good the players control is. This will allow the coach to target the specific weaknesses of the players. Coaching Points 1. Encourage the players to keep sensible spacing and play only short passes when trying to keep the ball away from the defender. 2. Assess the main reasons for the groups inability to keep the ball - NOTE that they should restrict the space in which they work to approx. 8 yd. by 8yds. 3. Examine - a. When they pass b. How technically proficient they are - are the passes good ones. c. Where they control the ball? d. Do they make good decisions in their selection of who to pass to? Practice 3 Passing & moving with numbers II This set up for the final practice is the same as the previous one. However this time the coach should coach the players while the defender is trying to win the ball. The aim is to have the players possess the ball while using the techniques the coach has discussed. The coach should also explain to the players that they would be more effective if they move into a supporting position as the ball is rolling, rather than when the ball has reached its target. This will allow the next pass to be played quicker if necessary and the player on the ball to draw the defender towards them safe in the knowledge the next pass is available once the defender has been drawn in. Coaching Points 1.Stress that the player on the ball break pressure when they receive the ball and then attempt to draw the defender in before passing the ball. 2. Stress that the supporting players must work as the ball rolls to be available for the next pass.

SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK SEVEN OVERLAPPING RUNS Practice 1 Passing & moving Inside half a field the team is divided into pairs with one ball for each group. (One group of three is okay if there are an odd number of players in the group). Players dribble the ball, taking as many touches of the ball as they want then pass to their partner. After they have passed the ball to their partner they have to move in to a new space in time to receive a return pass. Encourage each pair to cover as much of the half field as they can while keeping the space between themselves sensible so that the passes will be short.

Coaching Points 1.Encourage the players to keep sensible spacing and play only short passes. 2.Insist that they cover every blade of grass within half the field. Practice 2 Passing & moving - Playing into space The same set up as above but this time the coach puts the emphasis upon the players passes with pace for their partners to accelerate at top speed and run onto.

Coaching Points 1.Encourage the players to keep sensible spacing and play only short passes. 2.Insist that they cover every blade of grass within half the field. 3.Encourage them to play passes with the correct weight and pace.

4. Players should be asked to show a tremendous acceleration onto passes played into space in front of them Practice 3 Passing & moving - Showing an overlap Having set the scene, now the coach will show the players an overlap. Using one group there should be a demonstration with the coach explaining how the overlap can be used in a game and how it could fit the way the team try to play.

(the technique for an overlap is explained in detail below) Coaching Points 1. Encouage players on the ball to dribble aggressively to one side thus opening up the space for their partner to overlap into. 2. Players making the overlapping runs should be encouraged to think about the timing of their runs and the space that they run into. 3. Player releasing the pass should do so with the correct weight and pace so that their teammate is moving at top speed when they take the ball. 4. Players should be asked to show a tremendous acceleration onto passes played into space In front of them Practice 4 2v1 The team is divided into groups of three. Each player within the group is given a number 1,2 or 3. The groups begin passing and moving in half a field. The coach randomly calls out one of the numbers. When a number is called that player becomes the defender. . Initially the defender should be asked to simply stand still when their number is called. The stationary defender should now be attacked by his two teammates who perform an overlap around him. The defender should make no attempt to win the ball; once the overlap is completed the group pass and move until the coach calls another number.

Practice 5 2v2 to a ball. The players are placed in pairs. Each pair is going to compete against one other group. Instead of each group defending and attacking a goal they place a Football ball at each end of their field (20 x 30 yards). The two teams then compete over another ball in order to get possession and score. A goal is scored each time a player touches the other teams goal ball with the free ball. Emphasis is placed upon players making overlapping runs.

SKILL BASED CURRICULM - 7&UP WEEK EIGHT CREATING SPACE & SHOOTING Practice 1 Players dribble around in penalty area with a ball each. On command of switch from the coach, they stop their ball dead on any line, spin through 180 and go and collect another ball. On taking, the ball they have to again spin through 180 turning as quickly as they can. The players should be encouraged to increase the intensity level as they warm-up.

Coaching points 1.Opportunity to teach different turns 2.Turn with both strong and weak foot and turn both ways. Practice 2 As above, with players encouraged to score after turning, fetch their ball, and begin the sequence again. Coaching points 1. Discuss the different ways they can score pass the ball in, chip the ball in, curl the ball in, power the ball in. 2. Can they perform techniques with both feet? 3. Teach the different techniques. NB Best done with two goals with goalkeepers in dribbling in area in between goals Practice 3 Players work in pairs passing and moving in area between goals. Encourage all players to make quick one or two touch passes. As they pass and move when coach shouts goals, whoever has the ball may go to goal and attempt to score. Divide the group so that half the pairs are going to one goal and half are going to the other goal. Coaching Points 1. Make this an intense competition -attempt to replicate the intensity of a goal scoring opportunity in a game. 2. Assess the methods with which they try to score. 3. Encourage the players to analyze the problem the goalkeeper presents and the problem the defender provides.

Practice 4 Set up area as shown players work in pairs passing the ball back and forth between gate. Each gate has a number. The coach randomly calls the numbers of the gate releasing a 1v1 to goal. Sometimes the player facing the ball will be in possession when their gate is called and sometimes the player with their back to goal will be in possession of the ball. Both situations represent good finishing environments.

Coaching Points: 1. Concentrate the coaching on the attackers 2. Insist on high intensity. 3. Problems for the attacker to consider a. Are they quicker than the defender? b. What problem is the goalkeeper presenting? Practice 5 Set out area shown below. In each grid, place three players with one ball. The players within the grid simply pass and move until their grid letter is called. Each player within the grid is also given a number, one two or three. When the coach calls a letter followed by a number that group become active. The player whose number has been called retreats and becomes a central defender. Once the defender is set in a position on top of the 18-yard box the two players attack in an attempt to score.

Coaching points: 1. Utilizing two goals have two groups go to goal at the same time. 2. Run the practice at a fast pace always attempting to elevate the intensity with which the players work. 3. Show the players different ways in which they could combine and runs they could make. 4. Teach the players to frame the goal effectively following in all attempts to score. 5. Encourage them to get the defender to concede either the pass or the dribble.

6. Limit the time in which they have to score. Equipment list Seven and Eight Year old Skill Based Program All players should be encouraged to bring:

1. A size 4 football ball. 2. Football boots or trainers. 3. A light snack and drink. 4. Appropriate football clothing and their Club provided uniform. All coaches participating should bring: 1. A supply of extra balls. 2. Between 16-24 cones or discs. 3. A light snack and drink. Their practice plan written on an index card. Six to eight pinnies. The Head coach provided by KICK OFF SOCCER will bring the following items to the program each week: 1. A supply of extra balls. 2. Some extra cones to help the program run effectively.