All sessions About, safety and notes Goalside Plus Account
U11 · Receive and turn block · Week 2 of 6 · New games
Open the body
Goal Rush to start, open the body, a scan tally, a 4v2 receive-and-turn and a scan 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
ArriveGoal Rush while you set up (8 min)
Open upTechnical · open up to see the pitch (12 min)
Scan tallyChallenge · tally your scans (8 min)
Turn 4v2Opposed · receive and turn under pressure (12 min)
Scan matchMatch · seven-a-side, scan then turn (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
6 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
Goal Rush while you set up
8 min
Kit2 goalsA ballBibs
As children arrive, they join a quick game with goals at both ends, first to five. Any goal counts.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: Who looked before the ball came?
2Open the body
Technical · open up to see the pitch
12 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit6 cones, three for each triangleA ball per group
Receive side-on so you can see both teammates. Receive with the back foot and pass with the other. Look before the ball comes.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: Which foot did you receive with?
3Scan tally
Challenge · tally your scans
8 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball per group
Tally each time you look over your shoulder before the pass arrives. A teammate calls out what they saw. There is no timer.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: How many scans?
4Receive against two
Opposed · receive and turn under pressure
12 min
CheckOpenTurn
KitA space about 18 by 14 mA ball per groupBibs, two colours
4v2. Receive with an open body and turn away from the pressure. Defenders swap when they win it.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: Which way did you turn?
5Scanning match
Match · seven-a-side, scan then turn
15 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
7v7, with goalkeepers. The coach tallies the scans before receiving. 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 scanned?
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 4.
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 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.