free footie skills station guide

8/12/2019 Free Footie Skills Station Guide

1/23

FUNdamentals SOCCER FESTIVAL

STATION GUIDE FOR TECHNICAL LEADERS

AND COACHES


2/23

2FUNdamentals Soccer Festival: Festival Formats, Tools and Session Plans

FREE FOOTIE PROGRAM OUTLINE:

Time Activity Location

8.30-10.30AM INTRODUCTION AND THEORY MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM

10.30-NOON SKILL STATION DEVELOPMENT FIELD HOUSE

1.00-3.00 FESTIVAL PROGRAM FIELD HOUSE

Draft School Program for Six Weeks of Themed Sessions

***Three Stations per Week with an 8-10 Minute Rotation.

Topic Theme

Week 1 Ball Familiarity Self Expression

a. Ball Taps b. Traffic Lights (moves) c. Obstacle Course

Week 2 Running Ball and Dribbling Intuition

a. Run relay b. Baked Beanz c. King of the Ring

Week 3 Turns Decision making

a.Four Houses b. Turn n Burn c. Technique: Cruyff

Stop, Step, Flip

Week 4 Passing Sharing

a. Crazy golf b. Bingo Bango Bong c. Knock the Coach Off the Bench

Week 5 Shooting Confidence

a. Dribbling to shoot b. Shooting tech c. Penalty shoot out (US)

Week 6 Players choice Live with a free spirit: Fun

a. King of the Ring b. One goal - numbers c. Skills Square

Develop teacher/coach feedback form.


3/23

APPENDIX: COACHING TOOLS TO ASSIST THE PLANNING OF

YOUR EVENT

PLAYER TO STATION RATIO

The following tables present a calculation of the player:station ratio for planning your event

These calculations reflect each of the three festival formats (skill stations, games or a combined festival)

and accommodate eight players per station (based upon a 4 v 4 game format) within a weekly or twice

weekly program.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY FORMATS FOR AN 8 WEEK PROGRAM

FESTIVAL FORMAT (GAME-ACTIVITY COMBINATION)

Time Activity Comments

0 mins Player Arrival Dispersal to groups

5 mins Warm-Up At Stations with Coaches

10 mins Rotation Activity One

20 mins Rotation Activity Two

30 mins Rotation Activity Three40 mins Break Player Refreshments and

change stations to game fields

42 mins Game One

48 mins Game Two

54 mins Group Thanks and session dispersal

60 mins

Number of Players Number of Stations (8

Players per Station)

25 3

50 6

75 9

100 12

125 15

150 18

200 25


4/23

Festival Formats, Tools and Session Plans

TOURNAMENT FORMAT (GAMES ONLY)

TIME ACTIVITY COMMENTS

0 mins Player Arrival Dispersal to groups

5 mins Warm-Up At Stations with Coaches

10 mins Game One

20 mins Game Two

30 mins Game Three

40 mins Game Four

50 mins Cool Down Ball related skill based activity


60 mins

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FORMAT

TIME ACTIVITY COMMENTS

0 mins Player Arrival Dispersal to groups5 mins Warm-Up At Stations with Coaches

10 mins Rotation Activity One

20 mins Rotation Activity Two

30 mins Skills Challenge Penalty Challenge, Juggling

competition, etc.

40 mins Rotation Activity Three

50 mins Rotation Activity Four


60 mins

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM FOR AN 8 WEEK PROGRAM (REFER TO ACTIVITY GUIDE FOR

MORE DETAILS)

WEEK TOPIC COMMENTS

One Ball Familiarity Physical Literacy, Ball Taps

Two Dribbling Slalom Dribbling, King of the

Ring

Three Receiving & Passing Knock the Coach Off The bench,

Through the Gate

Four Turning with the ball Turning Relays, Spook Night

Five Striking and shooting the ball Breakaway, Goalie Goalie

Six Dealing with aerial balls Goalkeeping and Volley Control

Seven Tricks and flicks Turns and spins

Eight Players picks Player choose their favorite

games and moves


5/23


TOOLS FOR THE TECHNICAL LEADERS

YOU ARE THE COACH

You are going to the field and the key is to relax and play. Everyone has experienced good as well as

poor coaches, so use your experience and reflect on the qualities of a good coach, in order to support

the coach you wish to be.

COMMUNICATE

The essence of the Festival Format is interactions and communication. Use the diagram below to remind

you what level is your communication targeted at. When coaching players, you should communicate as

if you are player. If you are required to discipline a player then do so as a coach. Problems occur when

individuals cross-communicate.

Good

Coaches

PresenceKnowsSubject

Looks thePart

Communication

Skills

Observation

SkillsInspires

Challenging

Accountable

Organized

Rapport


6/23


WHY DO PLAYERS DISENGAGE

There are two basic reasons why children switch off from a task or drill. They are bored (it is too easy) or

they are frustrated (the task is too difficult).

The task of the technical leader is to recognize and address these. Simplify the task or provide a further

challenge within the session to the group.


7/23


SKILL STATION SESSION PLANS

Each FUNdamentals Skill Station Festival should incorporate stations that focus upon developing

certain components of play. Enclosed are some specific session plans to get technical leaders started.

REGISTRAR The Registrar should have a clear indication of how many players are anticipated to

attend an event. Every event should include a registration process regardless if there is

a fee to register or not. It is then the Registrar's responsibility to contact and allocate

sufficient staff members to support the event.

TIME KEEPER The Time Keeper should manage the station rotations. They will have to adjust the

schedule on the go if there are delays or changes. They will hold responsibility for

indicating the start or conclusion of each rotation and consequential transitions. All

Technical staff must follow the time-keeper's lead.

DIRECTOR OF COACHING This should be a suitably qualified coach who understands the age appropriate

technical aspects of play. Their role will be to observe the organization and

operation of the various stations. They should then offer support and guidance to

each technical leader at the stations.

GROUP MANAGER The Group Manager should meet with the players and allocate them to suitable

groups upon their arrival. If the festival is part of an ongoing program, group selections

will become important as your seek to ensure the players are encouraged to mix andmatch within the group selections in order to challenge their personal development.

The Group Manager should also manage any group changes, if one group appears to

have stronger players, or a player is required to leave the event early.

TECHNICAL LEADERS ie. the Coaches. Support and instruct within your station. Strive to be engaging and

allow players maximal playing time, by avoiding periods of "over instruction".

CHAPERONES Chaperones will support the event by assisting young players in need of refreshment

breaks or who are getting lost on the field. They should also be ready to support any

parents and technical leaders in the delivery of the program.

Thank you for your commitment to support your Grassroots Program!

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


8/23

Category:Warm-upsDifficulty:Beginner

Alberta Soccer Association

FUNdamentals Festivals Session Plans

Ball Taps

Description

ORGANIZATION

A simple warm-up activity that reinforces the virtues of physicalliteracy: agility, balance and coordination.

Players line up on the first line and are instructed to perform agiven number of ball taps (tapping the top of the ball with thebottom of the foot softly). Here the players should ens ure the ballis just in front of their body and they remain balanced throughout,alternating between left and right feet.

FOCUS

Players should focus upon finding balance and rhythm wi thinperforming all the requested task sequences.

PROGRESSIONS

Progressions are to maneuver the ball forwards, (with a sequenceof roll with the bottom of one foot, stop: with the bottom of theother). Once players are able to move forward encouragebackwards and sideways movements.

Further progress ions include:Push with the top of one foot and stop with the same foot (bottom).

Push with the top of one foot and stop with the bottom of the opposite foot.

Ball Taps


9/23




Traffic Lights

Description

ORGANIZATION

All the players play within a square that allows them s ufficientspace to dribble the ball freely and practice moves within thesquare.This is a coach led ses sion to encourage dribbling andobservation.

The players are instructed to dribble the ball under control withinthe square. The coach starts the session by giving instructions ofstop, go, and turn; to which the players mus t react to the call andperform the requested task. The coach may specify specificactions (i.e. stop the ball with a foot, knee or butt) or methods ofturning with the ball.

FOCUS

The focus of the drill is dibbling and movement with the ball, butalso observation while in possession.

PROGRESSIONS

A progression is to implement coloured markers ins tead of calls

to initiate an action, so now the players need to push the ballsl ightly further out of their control, in order to observe the coachand his actions. For example a red cone - stop, blue cone - Cryuff turn, yellow cone - Maradona s pin.

This format may be used to introduce any numbers of new moves, but focus on no more than three moves per sess ion.

Traffic Lights


10/23




Obstacle Course

Description

ORGANIZATION

This is an organic drill and has few guidelines except imagination.Coaches should utilize any spare equipment they have andpos ition it to form an obs tacle course to challenge the players.

The equipment could be used to present a relay race challenge(see above), or sim ply spread within a square so all the playersare active and their abi lity is challenged throughout thesess ion. The key is to lay the equipm ent out in a manner thatchallenges the players to use of both feet and a broader range ofmovements, stop, start, short long, fast, slow movements?

FOCUS

The focus should be to encourage players to be inventive and findtheir own way around the course. This may be to implem ent henumber and method (technique) of touches on the ball.

PROGRESSIONS

Players could be challenged to compete individually or as part of a

team. The obstacle course m ay even have challenges to lift theball over or push under obs tacles, such as hurdles?

Obstacle Course


11/23


AAlberta Soccer AssociationFUNdamentals Festivals Session Plans

Running Ball Relays

Description

ORGANIZATION

Players are grouped into threes and placed with two players onone s ide and one on the other of a sufficient divide thatencourages them to run at speed with the ball. Running the ball isto push the ball ahead of your stride with the top of the shoe.Players should seek to cover as m uch ground as possible with thefewest amount of touches.

FOCUS

Players should seek to run the ball smoothly in the sequence withefficiency, their touch should al low them adequate time to lift theirhead and make a clear observation of the game between touches.

PROGRESSIONS

Two suggested progress ions

1. Include a slalom (figure of 8) dribble to encourage the players torecognize the importance of close control (dribble), loose control(running the ball).

2. Run with sudden turn station in the middle, so again the playersare required to maintain control of the ball whi le executing twosharp turns and then exiting the final turn with speed...

Running Ball Relays


12/23


Alberta Soccer AssociationFUNdamentals Festivals Session Plans

Baked Beanz

Description

ORGANIZATION

Players are placed in pairs and stand before two positionedcones. Then for this simple yet effective drill they are encouragedto maintain close dribbling on both feet whils t dribbling aroundand between the cones n a figure of 8 formation. Each pair isrequired to complete a two figure of 8 combination before passingthe ball to their partner to repeat.

FOCUS

The obvious focus is upon close dribbling, but coaches shouldobserve the players body shape as they move the ball and that thetouches are gentle nudges to move the ball along.

PROGRESSIONS

The first condition is to allow the players to dribble through thesequence without any conditions , so they find their own waythrough.

Once the players have executed this sequence hey should be

challenged with the following conditions1. Right foot only (inside and outside of the foot)

2. Left foot only (inside and outside of the foot)

3. Inside of both feet (left foot around one cone and right foot around the other)

4. Outside of both feet (left foot around one cone and right foot around the other)

5. Drag through - no conditions except when passing between the cones the player mus t drag the ball with the bottom of the shoe.

The key is to change feet whenever pass ing between the two cones.

A further challenge maybe to place a s pare ball on the two cones and the players are condi tioned to avoid knocking these off.

Baked Beanz


13/23




King/Queen of the Ring

Description

ORGANIZATION

Dependent upon the number of players, age and ability all theplayers are placed wi thin the ring (square). The playerscomm ence the activity by simply dribbling within the ring, with thecoach encouraging them to try new moves they may use within agame.

Once warmed up and on the coaches command the gamecommences and the players are required to maintain possess ionof their ball, whilst attempting to challenge and 'knock' theiropponents ball from the grid. If a player loses possess ion of theball but retrieves it before it leaves the ring, then they are stillpermi tted to play. The ball must be knocked from the ring, beforethe dis-possess ed player is eliminated from the game. Playersmus t maintain poss ess ion of the ball (shielding) and keep itmoving at all times . They are not permitted to keep it guardedwhils t standing statically in corners. The last player in the squareis declared the winner.

FOCUSThis game has everything important within soccer, dribbling,shielding, challenging, team work and observation.

PROGRESSIONS

A further progress ion to this game is to condition the players to use jus t one foot, their right or left?

The coach should challenge the winner to attempt to win a second game, this is very hard as the other players wi ll 'gang' up on theking or queen.

King/Queen of the Ring


14/23




Four Houses

Description

ORGANIZATION

This drill takes place within a field layout similar to the diagram, sowithin a large square there is s central square to hold the ballsand then four additional squares (houses ) within which the teamsare designated.

The team task upon the coaches command, is to retrieve as manyballs from the central zone to their home as quickly as poss ible.However only one player is permi tted to leave their house at anygiven time.

FOCUS

This is a great team-building drill with the technical focus uponspeed and many supplementary technical conditions,see Progress ions.

PROGRESSIONS

Dependent upon the ability of the players, specific tasks may beplaced upon the players whilst they retrieve the balls :.

Example conditions1. Carry the ball home (hands).

2. Dribble (feet) the ball home.

3. Perform ten ball taps before returning the ball home.

4. Perform 5 keep uppy's before returning the ball home.

5. Execute a specific turn before returning the ball home.

The team that retrieves the most balls home is declared the winner. Then in a repeat challenge the players in the same race format(one at a time) return the balls to the central zone. So the team that retrieved the least amount of balls s hould have a gameadvantage?

Four Houses


15/23

Category:Technical: TurningDifficulty:Beginner



Turn n Burn

Description

ORGANIZATION

The field is split into two equal halves with a dividing centre line.The players are pos ition in pair across the grid from their partner.One player has the ball and on the coaches command of go, theydribble toward the centre line.On the coaches command of turnthey mus t execute a turn of either the coaches choice or theirfavorite turn. The coach may reques t that players dribble out, turntowards the s tart and then turn back towards their opponent,several times over.

On the coaches command of burn, the opponent without the ballwill run across the field and challenge to win the ball before theball carrier returns to the safety line at the beginning.

The roles should be switched up to allow lots of repetitions

FOCUS

The focus of this fun drill is close control and dribbling with the ballunder control and pressure from an opponent.

PROGRESSIONSThe coach will control the tempo of this ses sion and may requestmany turns at the same time. A further organizational change is to have all the players performing the turns as commanded. Then toname the two teams with similar names (sharks and s parks). This time on the coaches command of one of the names, that teamshould leave their bal ls and try to s teal the ball from their partners before they return to their safety zone.

Turn n Burn


16/23

Category:Technical: TurningDifficulty:Beginner



Turning Technique

Description

ORGANIZATION

This drill takes place either between two lines (5 yards apart) orwithin a 5 yard square. Players s hould work in pairs to allowadequate recovery period between each set of repetitions. On thecoaches command the players s imply dribble the ball across thesquare, crossing the opposite line and the execute a designatedturn. This sequence is repeated for three turns, before the playerreturns to the start line, for their colleague to follow the same threeturn s equence.

FOCUS

Besides executing the requested turn, players should focus upongaining a low centre of gravity, letting the shoulders lead the turnand then enter the turn slowly before exiting with tempo.

PROGRESSIONS

Potential turns to instruct upon are;

1. Stop turn

2. Drag back3. Outside hook

4. Inside hook

5. Stop, step and flip

6. Cruyff Turn

7. Step over turn

Encourage players to attempt all turns with both feet. Then once they are comfortable you may include a competitive relay toencourage mastery of quicker executions.

Turning Technique


17/23

Category:Technical: Passing & ReceivingDifficulty:Beginner



Crazy Golf

Description

ORGANIZATION

This drill can be made up random ly with any supportingequipment that is available. The equipment should be laid in arandom order to create many small s ized gates (again userandom s izes and angles when making the holes).

Players are then ins tructed to move around the golf course andputt as m any holes as poss ible and in the quickest time.

FOCUS

The focus of this drill is to encourage accuracy and the weightingof a pass . If players hi t their passes too hard they will do additionalrunning, which will als o s low down their times.

PROGRESSIONS

Coaching tip is to set the course out so the players are challengedto execute a wide variety of pass ing techniques (short/long anddifferent angles).

Players may also play as an individual or in pairs, so one player

passes through the hole and the other receives it on the oppositeside, before repeating the sequence.

The game winners could be determined by time (quickest around the course) or accuracy completion of course in fewest passes.

Crazy Golf


18/23

Category:Technical: Passing & ReceivingDifficulty:Beginner



Bingo Bango Bong

Description

ORGANIZATION This is a fun team drill that combines passingand shooting. The field dimensions should be adapted to meetthe needs and ability of the players and not reflective of theenclosed diagram.

The players line up in a zig-zag formation and pas s the ballacross and down the line to the last player who must shoot ontheir first touch. Once the sequence is complete the shootermoves to the top of the line, to re-start the sequence, with all theplayers moving their position down the line.

FOCUS The focus is one encouraging team play, passing andreceiving and then finishing.

PROGRESSIONS There are many conditions to challenge theplayers:

1. One touch

2. Two touch

3. Right/left foot only

4. For very good players a challenging condition is the ball mus t beplayed in the air only, hence aerial control.

Where poss ible a s ess ion could have two sets of players competing against each other, so the first team to score wins .

Bingo Bango Bong


19/23

Knock the Coach Off The BenchCategory: Technical: Passing & ReceivingDifficulty:Beginner



Description

ORGANIZATION

The players work in pairs with one ball between them, and playingwithin an area that is appropriate for their age and abil ity. A ball isplaced upon a cone between both players, where the theme is topass the ball and knock this ball (coach) off the cone. Playersscore one point for every time they successfully knock the ball offthe central cone. They should then replace the ball and repeat thesequence, until there is a winning team, within the time frame s etby the coach.

FOCUS

The focus of this drill is to encourage accuracy before power inpassing. If players rush they will not achieve an accurate aim. Theyshould also be encouraged to use the inside of their foot forgreater accuracy. Whils t considering how their body should bepositioned in order to make the successful pass.

PROGRESSIONS

Conditions can be applied to players once they have establishedthe game to challenge their development. Theeasiest progression is to vary the distance from the central ball. Other progressions include

1. Use inside of foot

2. Use right foot only

3. Use left foot only

This game may be played between pairs of players or a coach may position themselves to observe the whole group and keep countof the teams s cores as both teams compete against each other.

Knock the Coach Off The Bench


20/23

Category:Technical: ShootingDifficulty:Beginner



Shoot n Dribble

Description

ORGANIZATION

This drill is s et up with a number of goals and correspondingslalom course. The players are encouraged to race, dribbling theball between the cones and finishing a with a strike on goal.

Once a player has run through the dribble slalom and had theirstrike on goal, they should rotate positions with the goalkeeper, soevery player has a go playing in goal.

FOCUS

The focus is upon encouraging soft dribbling skills, composureand finishing in a 1 v1 situation with a goalkeeper.

PROGRESSIONS

There are lots of conditions to consider when planning thissession.

1. Straight race against an opponent.

2. Dribble with left/right foot

3. Shoot with left/right foot

4. Evade a pursuing defender

Shoot n Dribble


21/23




Shooting Technique

Description

ORGANIZATION

This drill is set up as illustrated within the diagram, with a set oftwo cones marking a central goal and the two strikers positionedon either side of the goal. Dimensions should be appropriate tothe age and ability of all the players. When the players s hoot theservice should be al ternated on either side of the goal. Thisorganization allows for a shot to be collected and shot fromopposing ends if a goal is s cored (avoiding unnecessary ballretrieval). If a goalkeeper m akes a save they should seek to servethe ball to the opposite end.

FOCUS

The coach should be conversant with the correct shootingtechnique and as k the players to focus upon accuracy beforepower. Encourage good habits to drive the ball low and to thecorners of the goal. Players should also regularly rotate pos itions,one supportive rule is the first player to score three goals wins andso must go in goal.

PROGRESSIONS

Players m ay initially start the drill will a s tatic ball but they should be encouraged to challenge their development by implementing thefollowing conditions:

Roll the ball forward and strike while it is moving.

Roll the ball across your body and shoot on an angle.

Goalkeepers serves the ball on the floor for a first time shot

Goalkeeper serves the ball in the air for an aerial control and s hot, or first time volley.

Strike the ball with alternate feet

A supporting server maybe added to each end to serve the bal l to the s triker who s tarts with his back towards the goal, or to the side,the focus here is to encourage the striker to play a first time shot with a moving ball.

Shooting Technique


22/23




US Penalty Shoot-Out

Description

ORGANIZATION

This is a shooting drill and the field should reflect the template,with the dimens ions being adapted to meet the needs and abilityof the players.

The game is set up with two goal-keepers and oppos ing strikers.You will need sufficient balls to keep the drill flowing. The strikersstart by standing at their start (blue) line wi th the ball positioned onthe centre line. On the coaches command the strikers racetowards their ball and attempt to score in the oppos ing goal beforetheir opponent.

FOCUS

The focus for the strikers is upon speed and decision making,should they choose to shoot first time or dribble to the goal. Aninitial stage of the drill may be to play with smaller goals and nogoal-keepers to challenge the players accuracy on goal.

PROGRESSIONS

Further progressions may be to start the strikers in variouspos itions to challenge their speed and agili ty - for example, theymay start by laying on their fonts or backs, or perform a s omersaul t before racing towards the ball?

The drill may also offer a greater challenge if one of the balls is taken out, so now the players must compete for just one ball.

US Penalty Shoot-Out


23/23




One Goal Numbers

Description

ORGANIZATION. This is a competitive shooting drill that is basedaround a goal and penalty area. The dimens ions though shouldbe adapted to meet the age and ability of the players

The two teams are lined on the edge of the playing area and eachplayer is designated a number (in this case 1-4). If poss ible matchthe players sizes and abilities with a corresponding player numberon the opposite team. On the coaches call of a random num ber,the designated number from each team wi ll then race from theirstarting position, around the cones and in through the centralchannel, where there is a ball wai ting. The players then challengeeach other and elect as to dribble or shoot on the goalkeeper.Once a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, that gameconcludes and the sess ion is reset for the next game (coach tocall another number).

FOCUS The obvious focus is upon shooting, but could also beupon speed, changing direction and also shielding the ball. Thekey focus is accuracy before power in the execution.

PROGRESSIONS There are various adaptations to make this drillmore fun and challenging, some examples are:

Reques t the players perform a novel (somersault) action before starting their run.

Coach serves the ball into play with an aerial ball.

Players m ust shoot with the opposite foot from the s ide they run, so if approaching the bal l from the right, they should shoot with theirleft foot.

The field maybe lengthened and more than one number may be called at a time.

One Goal Numbers

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