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U11 · Receive and turn block · Week 6 of 6 · Game day
Game day
A session that is all game. Change one condition at a time, tally what you see, and check whether the block has worked.
- 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)
Game 1No conditions · coach watches (12 min)
Game 2Condition 1 · the first rule (8 min)
Game 3Condition 2 · develop it (12 min)
Game 4No conditions · did it work? (15 min)
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Minutes per stage. The last block is the conditioned game or the closing game. The dashed block is for changeovers and water.
Kit
GoalsUse 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. Today the whole session is a game, and the coach tallies.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: How many passes in a row?
2Turn game 1: as it comes
No conditions · coach watches
12 min
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
Play 7v7 with no conditions and say nothing about scanning or turning. The coach tallies whether the player turns each time someone receives the ball. This is the baseline for the block.
Ask: What did you notice?
3Turn game 2: scan first
Condition 1 · the first rule
8 min
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
Play 7v7 where a goal after a scan and a turn with the first touch counts double. Tally in the same way.
Ask: What did you notice?
4Turn game 3: turn forward
Condition 2 · develop it
12 min
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
Play 7v7 where a goal after a turn and a forward pass counts double. Tally in the same way.
Ask: What did you notice?
5Turn game 4: free again
No conditions · did it work?
15 min
Compare the games
Did not turnTurned, went backTurned, went on
What did you see?
Kit2 goalsBibs, three coloursA ball
Back to a free game with no conditions, the same as game 1. Say nothing about scanning or turning and tally in the same way. If the summary shows a higher percentage than game 1, the block is working. This is a rule of thumb, not a test.
What the block is forBy week 6 children should scan before the ball arrives and turn when the space is there. If not, repeat week 3 or week 4 and play this session again.
Ask: Show me one thing you can do now.
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.
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.