All sessions About, safety and notes Goalside Plus Account
U11 · Receive and turn block · Week 5 of 6 · Challenge
Receive and turn at pace
Keep It Close to start, turn at pace, a streak, a 6v4 receive game and a final 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
ArriveKeep It Close while you set up (8 min)
Pace turnTechnical · receive, turn and go quickly (12 min)
Turn streakChallenge · the longest turn streak (8 min)
Turn 6v4Opposed · six against four (12 min)
Last turnMatch · seven-a-side, receive and 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
8 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
Keep It Close while you set up
8 min
KitA ball each4 lines or 8 cones
As each child arrives, they take a ball and dribble so that their body stays between the ball and everyone they pass.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: What did you notice?
2Turn at pace
Technical · receive, turn and go quickly
12 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball per pair
Receive on the move and turn quickly. Do not stop the ball. Keep your head up and go forward.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: Did the ball stop?
3Turn streak
Challenge · the longest turn streak
8 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit4 cones for the corners of the areaA ball per group
Count your longest streak where every receiver turns before passing. There is no timer.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: What was your streak?
4Receive six-four
Opposed · six against four
12 min
CheckOpenTurn
KitA space about 28 by 20 mA ball per groupBibs, two colours
6v4. Receive, turn and play forward through the middle. Defenders swap when they win it.
Keep calling the same three points: check first; open your body; turn and go.
Ask: Who played forward?
5Final turn match
Match · seven-a-side, receive and turn
15 min
CheckOpenTurn
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
7v7, with goalkeepers. The coach tallies the turns into space. 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 into space?
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 stages 2, 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 2, 3, 4.
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.