Session #20: Continued Change of Game Dynamics – Let the Player Solve the Problem of Scoring

pdf of Session #20: U9-U12 L2T Player Development Sessions #20

Relay Races Time: Max 10 minutes.

• Three – Four (max) players per team.
• Players are finished when all sitting in straight line.
• Players can go through each activity once or twice (coaches choice)

Variations:
• Run to specific cone/ball and return to line (High Five or go between next person’s legs before the next person in line can begin)
• Dribble to a specific cone and return.
• Player self-pass to a specific cone, if doesn’t make it must start again. Dribble ball back.

3v3 Dribble Across Line to Score
Area: 15×15 or smaller

• Depending on numbers play 3v3, 3v3 with Neutral, 4v4, 4v4w Neutral maximum.
• Keep area small, 24×20 would work well.
• Dribble across end line (you can build an end zone if you feel there may be debate on how close player was to end line).

Variations:
• Must attempt overlap before scoring.
• Must open up three times with 1st touch before scoring
• If win possession must START OVER by player dropping off the back.

3v3 Dribble through Small Goals to Score
Area: 15×15 or smaller

• Depending on numbers play 3v3, 3v3 with Neutral, 4v4, 4v4w Neutral maximum.
• Must find LEAST PROTECTED SPACE/GOAL.
• Player in the position to START OVER can see the entire field, “Who can see every player on the field and assess which goal is least protected?”

3v3 Dribble through Small Goal or Shoot into PUGG
Area: 15×15 or smaller

• Within the 10-12 minutes the players can score in both ways, OR, you can switch every few minutes which objective they must complete. See variations below.

Variations:
• Dribble through cone goal only.
• Shoot on PUGG goal only.
• Both goals.
• You can use a whistle (i.e. two whistles = both goals; one short whistle = cone goal; long whistle=PUGG only) or you can create word that are TRIGGERS for the players.

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3v3 Shoot into PUGG
Area: 15×15 or smaller

• Least protected space/goal.
• Look for open goal for shot from distance.
• First look upon receiving the ball is toward goal.

Variations:
• Attempt an overlap before scoring.
• Complete an overlap before scoring.
• Complete a 1-2 back to a platform player before scoring.
• Complete a reverse or no-look pass before scoring.

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3v3 Central goal with Keeper (or you can open to bigger numbers for Final Game)
Area: 15×15 or smaller

• One point for wide goals, two for goal on goalkeeper.

As we have introduced LANGUAGE throughout the year, and we have introduced principles of combination play, we can make brief coaching points…..No longer than 20 seconds can be a goal….but present in a games environment. Above we will progress through five games progressions in approximately 60 minutes after warm up relays (a change every 10-12 minutes). Within each exercise you may add changing objectives (i.e. must attempt an overlap before you score, your team must open up with their first touch three times before you score, you must Start Over by playing it back behind your end line or to your GK before you score), and with each Progression the players will have to figure out how to score. As coaches, we can reinforce the Language and Principles in our brief coaching interventions, but let’s allow the players the opportunity to figure out how to score. Having said that, if you see them do something that results in a goal, stop it and rewind it for that group or for your entire group, thus reinforcing the solution that THEY found. We can provide with the tools but let them put those tools to work now within an environment of discovery.

I often run two of these games side by side with spare players in the middle. Each of the two games will have a different way of scoring goals. Team that scores stays on and other is off. Players must enter the side that is needed. They get changing objective (way to score) with every game that they enter, thus figuring out the solutions and the dynamic quickly. On the streets/parks we would have had a tree for a goal at one end, but a fence at the other, or one day the trees, the next the garbage cans, the next dribble over the ‘Hog Line’ before turning and coming back toward the garbage can. We would create games daily with differing dynamics and we would adapt our problem solving.