All sessions About, safety and notes Goalside Plus Account
U11 · Receive and turn block · Week 1 of 6 · Introduce
Check, open, turn
Pass and Move Pair to start, check and receive, a turn tally, a turn-and-play game and a turning match.
- Check firstCheck away or towards the ball before it arrives.
- Open your bodyOpen up so you can see the pitch before you receive.
- Turn and goTurn with your first touch when there is space.
The session in five lines
ArrivePass and Move Pair while you set up (8 min)
Check firstTechnical · check before the ball comes (12 min)
Turn tallyChallenge · tally your clean turns (8 min)
Turn 1v1Opposed · turn, then play forward (12 min)
Turn 7sMatch · seven-a-side, turn and go forward (15 min)
812812155
Minutes per stage. The last block is the conditioned game or the closing game. The dashed block is for changeovers and water.
Kit
4 conesPlus 2 goals. Use small goals, or two cones for each goal. 5 ballsOne per group, plus a spare. BibsThree colours, for two teams and goalkeepers.
Different numbers?
| Players | Groups | Who plays |
|---|
| 6 | 1 | One group of six: 3v3 |
| 7 | 2 | 4 and 3 |
| 8 | 2 | 4 and 4 |
| 9 | 2 | 5 and 4 |
| 10 | 2 | 5 and 5 |
| 11 | 2 | 6 and 5 |
| 12 | 2 | 6 and 6 |
No more than eight players per adult. With nine or more, make a third group rather than leaving players waiting.
1Arrive
Pass and Move Pair while you set up
8 min
KitA ball per pair
As the first children arrive, they pair up with a ball, pass, count their passes in a row and move to a new space after each pass.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: How many passes in a row?
2Check and receive
Technical · check before the ball comes
12 min
CheckOpenTurn
KitA ball per group
Groups of three. The receiver checks towards the ball before it arrives, opens their body and passes on. Rotate roles.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: When did you check?
3Receive-and-turn tally
Challenge · tally your clean turns
8 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball per pair
Receive, turn with your first touch and take the ball forward past the defender. Tally the clean turns. There is no timer.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: How many clean turns?
4Turn and play
Opposed · turn, then play forward
12 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit1 goalA ball per pairA bib for the defender
1v1 with a goal. Check, open up, turn, then shoot or pass to the target. If there is no space, play back. Swap each go.
SafetyBalls only go toward the goal. Keep the area behind and beside it clear, and ask children to wait while others fetch.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: Was there space to turn?
5Turning match
Match · seven-a-side, turn and go forward
15 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
7v7, with goalkeepers. A goal after a turn with the first touch counts double. Rotate players in goal.
SafetyBalls only go toward the goal. Keep the area behind and beside it clear, and ask children to wait while others fetch.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: Who turned?
Go deeper
Optional. The detail behind the three coaching points, for when you want more. Draft 1: starting points for a coach to adjust, not rules.
Check, open, turn
Check before the ball arrives, open the body, and play forward.
Most useful in stage 5.
What good looks like
- Check away or towards the ball, so you arrive free.
- Open the body to the pitch before the ball arrives.
- Turn with the first touch when there is space, and play forward.
If you see this, try this
- Receives with the back to the pitch and cannot turnCheck your shoulder, open your body, and use the far foot.
- Turns when a defender is right behindShield, play a safe pass, and go again.
More detail
- Scan teammates and opponents before the ball arrives. Then you know whether to turn, shield or pass.
- Approach at an angle to set up on a half-turn.
Ask the players
- How many opponents did you see before you received?
Change it
Easier: No defender, or a passive one.
Harder: The defender presses from behind as the pass is played.
Turning with the ball
Turn away from the defender, then take a touch and go.
Most useful in stages 3, 4, 5.
What good looks like
- Inside, outside and drag-back turns all keep the ball close.
- Turn away from the defender and use the body to shield the ball.
- Accelerate out of the turn with a bigger touch.
If you see this, try this
- Turns into the defenderCheck where the defender is first, and turn the other way.
- Turns slowly and gets caughtThe turn is quick, and the touch after it is the big one.
More detail
- Look before you receive. The best turn is the one you decided on before the ball arrived.
- Sometimes the best turn is no turn: pass back or shield and wait.
Ask the players
- Why did you turn that way?
Change it
Easier: No defender, then a defender who only stands.
Harder: A defender who closes from behind as the pass arrives.