All sessions About, safety and notes Goalside Plus Account
U8 · Pass and receive block · Week 3 of 6 · Look first
Open body
Touch Counter to start, open body, pass at a cone, 2v2 pass first, three against two keep ball and a two-threes match.
- Pass to feetUse the inside of your foot and pass to your teammate's feet.
- Eyes upLook before the ball arrives, so you know where to go next.
- Soft first touchCushion the ball and take it into space.
The session in five lines
ArriveTouch Counter while you set up (8 min)
Open bodyTechnical · open up to see the pitch (10 min)
Hit the coneChallenge · pass to hit the cone (8 min)
First 2v2Opposed · pass before you dribble (8 min)
Keep twoOpposed · three keep it from two (8 min)
Two threesMatch · two games of 3v3 (14 min)
810888144
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. BibsTwo colours for the two teams.
Different numbers?
| Players | Groups | Who plays |
|---|
| 6 | 1 | Two teams of three, with every child taking a turn in goal |
| 7 | 2 | 4 and 3, one adult with each |
| 8 | 2 | 4 and 4 |
| 9 | 2 | 5 and 4 |
| 10 | 1 or 2 | 5v5 on one pitch, or two groups of five |
| 11 | 2 | 6 and 5, with rotating players |
| 12 | 2 | 6 and 6, or two games of 3v3 |
No more than six children per adult. In 5v5 every child takes a turn in goal. Nobody waits: a child who is not playing has a job, such as defender, counter or collector.
1Arrive
Touch Counter while you set up
8 min
KitA ball each4 lines or 8 cones
As each child arrives, they take a ball and count their own touches in a minute. Beat last time's count, without hurrying.
While the children play, set up the area for the next game.
Ask: Did you beat your count?
2Open body
Technical · open up to see the pitch
10 min
PassLookTouch
KitA ball per group
Stand side-on so you can see the passer and the next player. Receive with the back foot and pass with the other. Open up before the ball arrives.
Keep calling the same three points: pass to feet, eyes up and soft first touch.
Ask: Which foot did you receive with?
3Hit the cone
Challenge · pass to hit the cone
8 min
PassLookTouch
KitA cone per pairA ball per pair
Hit the cone in the middle with your pass. Tally your hits. Keep the pass on the ground. There is no timer.
Easier: a bigger target such as a ball. Harder: weaker foot only.
Ask: How many hits did you tally?
4Pass-first 2v2
Opposed · pass before you dribble
8 min
PassLookTouch
Kit2 goalsA ball per groupBibs, two colours
2v2 with a goal at each end. A team must make one pass before it can shoot. The teammate must be in a position to receive.
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: pass to feet, eyes up and soft first touch.
Ask: Who was the free player?
5Keep from two
Opposed · three keep it from two
8 min
PassLookTouch
KitA space about 16 by 16 mA ball per groupBibs, two colours
3v2 in a bigger square. The attackers must move after passing. The defenders swap with the player who loses it.
Keep calling the same three points: pass to feet, eyes up and soft first touch.
Ask: Who moved after passing?
6Two threes
Match · two games of 3v3
14 min
PassLookTouch
Kit2 goalsBibs, two coloursA ball
Two 3v3 games, with a goal at each end. Rotate teams and the goalkeeper every three minutes so everyone plays the same amount.
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: pass to feet, eyes up and soft first touch.
Ask: Who looked before the ball came?
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.
Passing: the inside-foot pass
Stand beside the ball, strike through the middle, and follow through.
What good looks like
- Standing foot beside the ball and pointing at the target.
- The ankle is firm and the strike goes through the middle of the ball.
- Follow through towards the target.
If you see this, try this
- The ball bobbles or liftsHit the middle, keep the ankle firm, and stay over the ball.
- Too hard for the receiverPass to the feet at a speed they can control.
More detail
- Look at the receiver, then the ball, then pass. Think about what the receiver wants to do next.
- Mix the passes: ask for a different pass each time, short and longer.
Ask the players
- Could your teammate control that easily?
Change it
Easier: Shorter passes, and a bigger target.
Harder: A defender who tries to intercept, or a smaller area.
Look before you receive
Know where the defenders, teammates and space are before the ball arrives.
What good looks like
- A quick look before the ball arrives: where are the defenders, teammates and space?
- Look again after the first touch, before the next decision.
If you see this, try this
- Only looks once the ball is at their feetAsk "what did you see?" before the ball comes.
- Looks up but does not use itGive a job: count the defenders, or find the free teammate.
More detail
- Teach it as a habit: look, receive, look, play.
- Players can practise looking in warm-ups, with no ball.
Ask the players
- What did you see before the ball came?
Change it
Easier: No defender, so the look is easy.
Harder: A defender who closes down, so the look must be quick.
Stopping and receiving
Take the ball under control so the next action is easy.
Most useful in stages 2, 4.
What good looks like
- The foot gives back as the ball arrives, so it does not bounce away.
- The first touch goes where you want to go next, not just anywhere.
- Looks before the ball arrives, so the touch has a plan.
If you see this, try this
- The ball bounces awayRelax the ankle and pull the foot back a little on contact.
- The ball dies, then the player starts againTake it into the space with the first touch.
More detail
- A good first touch is one that makes the next action easy.
- Receive on the move when you can. Standing still gives defenders time.
Ask the players
- Where did your first touch take you? Was that the best space?
Change it
Easier: Softer, slower passes, with no defender.
Harder: Add a defender who closes down once the pass is played.