Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 1
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Soccer Rules
A. TEACH: Review of Soccer Rules (6 minutes)
Note: This is only a high level overview. Children will learn the game as they play more.
1. Game objectives:
a. Keep the ball away from other team
b. Shoot only on the other team’s goal
2. Referee: Stop and listen when you hear the whistle.
3. Use your feet, head, body but no hands (except for throw-ins)
4. Out of Bounds: Ball must completely be over any of the lines to be out of bounds
a. Out of bounds on side lines – throw in (explain)
b. Out of bounds on goal lines – corner kick or goal kick (explain both)
5. Positions:
a. Basic Formation: 3 forwards, 2 Defenders
b. Emphasize staying spread out on the field to this age group
c. Defenders: Always stay between the ball and the goal
B. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drills (4 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling: Front-to-Back, Alternate Feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling: Side to Side, Alternate Feet (2 minutes)
1
C. Practice Time: Fundamental – Throw-ins (5 minutes)
1) TEACH: Throw-ins
A throw-in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball before it went out of bounds.
a. Throw using both hands on ball, from behind and over the head
b. As ball is released, part of each foot must be on ground behind the side line
2) DRILL: Practice throw-ins with a partner
2
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 2
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Kicking/Passing
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Front-to-Back, Alternate Feet (1 minute)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Side to Side, Alternate Feet (2 minutes)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Ping Pong (2 minutes)
3
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Passing/Kicking (10 minutes total)
Note: There is little difference in technique between passing the ball and shooting on goal.
Two most common ways to pass or kick the ball:
a) Using the inside of your feet
b) Using the laces on your shoes
1. TEACH: Pass/Kick using the the inside of your feet
a. Place non-kicking foot next to ball
b. Lock kicking ankle into “L” position
c. Keep toe higher than heel of kicking foot
d. Strike the ball with inside of foot and finish picking up knee
2. DRILL: Extension passing using inside of feet (alternate feet: right-left-right)
4
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 3
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Receiving/Trapping
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstrations, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Side to Side, Alternate feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Ping Pong (1 minute)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Toe Touches (2 minutes)
5
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Receiving/Trapping (10 minutes total, 4 minutes for each foot)
Receiving – Bringing the ball under control as quickly as possible (Let the players know they can use
their body, feet, chest, thigh or head to stop or slow down a moving ball).
a) Receiving a ball moving to you on the ground (inside or sole of feet)
b) Receiving a ball moving to you from the air
1. TEACH: Receive a ground service using the inside of your feet
a. Most common and most effective for quick control of ball
b. Square ankle to ball
c. Ankle in “L” position
d. Soften, or “deaden,” ankle and leg on contact with ball
Note: Encouraging the players to develop a soft first touch that leaves the ball about one step away
from their bodies. Most kids are very stiff when they receive the ball and it bounces away from them.
The other mistake is to stop the ball right at their feet. Then they have to make more touches to get into
position to pass.
2. DRILL: Receiving a ground service using inside of feet (alternate feet)
a. 2 players per group, 1 ball per group
b. Each layer passes back and forth to each other on the ground
c. Soften ankle/leg on contact to receive
d. Alternate which foot receives after the first five minutes
6
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 4
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Dribbling
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Front to Back, Alternate feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Toe Touches (1 minute)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Pull-Push (2 minutes)
7
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Dribbling (10 minutes total)
Dribbling – Moving the ball on the ground using your feet
a) Can use inside of feet, outside of feet and/or laces
b) Controlled dribbling – Emphasis on keeping ball close with soft/frequent touches
c) Speed dribbling – Emphasis on moving quickly downfield when no defenders near
1. TEACH: Controlled Dribbling (10 minutes)
a. Controlled dribbling – Emphasis on keeping ball close with soft/frequent touches
b. Dribbling can be thought of as pushing ball with either inside or outside of foot
c. Key point: keeping control of the ball at all times
d. Players should learn to keep head up to see field and other players
2. DRILL: Dribble through cones using outside/inside of both feet
Note: Start with Weave. You can move on to the Change of Direction variation if time allows.
8
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 5
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Shooting
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Side to Side, Alternate Feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Ping Pong (1 minute)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Triangle (2 minutes)
9
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Shooting (10 minutes)
Shooting on goal – most shots on goal should be taken with the instep (laces). Best chances to score
are when the shot is hard and low to the ground.
1. TEACH: Shooting a ball that is not moving
a. Non-kicking foot next to the ball
b. Point toe of kicking foot down and in direction of goal and lock ankle
c. Player’s chest and knee should be over the ball and head looking down at the striking foot as
it meets the ball
d. Strike center of ball with the laces of the shoe (instep)
e. Follow through by bringing the kicking knee up
2. DRILL: Shooting a still ball
Note: Have players take at least 5 shots with each foot.
10
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 6
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Heading
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Front to Back, Alternate Feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Toe Touches (1 minute)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Pull-Push (2 minutes)
11
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Heading (10 minutes total)
Heading – A head can be used as a pass, to control the ball, to score a goal, and/or to clear the ball
as a defensive play.
1. TEACH: Heading up to clear (6 minutes)
a. Eyes on the ball at all times
b. Close mouth and clench teeth with chin to chest
c. Flex at lower back
d. Snap forward at the waist
e. Hit the ball with the top of the forehead BELOW the center of the ball in order to drive the
ball up and away.
X
2. DRILL: Heading to clear
a. Two players per group, 1 ball
b. Each player tosses the ball up with an arc to the other’s head
c. The receiving player heads the ball over the head of the tosser
d. Switch after the first player heads the ball five times
Note: For younger children (5 & 6 year olds), the coaches may need to toss the ball to avoid
bad throws which could hurt the receiving player’s nose or face.
12
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 7
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Defense
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5 minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Side to Side, Alternating Feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Ping Pong (1 minute)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Triangle (2 minutes)
13
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Defense (10 minutes total)
Most basic principle of individual defense is that players MUST remember to keep their bodies
between the ball and the goal.
The second item of importance to teach and train young players is that ONLY one defensive person
pressures the ball (whoever gets there first is easiest to explain) while the other players remain a
short distance away in a supporting or helping position.
1. TEACH: First Defender
a. Whoever gets to the player with the ball first, becomes the First Defender
b. First defender is anyone who is currently defending the player with ball
c. Main job is DELAY the player with the ball
d. Again, stress to stay between the ball and the goal, not stealing ball
e. Attempts to steer player with ball to sideline
2. DRILL: First Defender Player Marking (1 versus 1)
Note: This drill can be done with 2 players rather than a coach and player.
14
Hilton Sparks: Practice Lesson Plan
Day 8
Ages 5 - 8
Topic/Theme for Day: Team Offense/Attacking
A. Practice Time: Warm-up/Ball Feeling (5minutes)
Note: All times listed include demonstration, organization and the drill itself.
1) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Front to Back, Alternate Feet (2 minutes)
2) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Toe Touches (1 minute)
3) Warm-up/Ball Feeling Drill: Pull-Push (2 minutes)
15
B. Practice Time: Fundamental – Offense/Attacking (10 minutes total)
The most dangerous and important player on the field is the player with the ball, also called the First
Attacker. Team Offense and Attack begins with him.
1. TEACH: First Attacker – Penetration
a. The player with the ball is called the First Attacker
b. The First Attacker’s job is to Penetrate or get behind the defenders by passing, dribbling or
shooting.
c. Most effective when works with other players
2. TEACH: Second Attacker – Support
a. Second Attacker focus is supporting/helping the First Attacker
b. Moves without the ball and gets open to make sure team keeps the ball
c. Must stay far enough away from ball so 1st Defender cannot guard both the 1st and 2nd
Attackers. Stay spread out.
3. TEACH/DRILL: Team Attack – Moving without ball, Passing to moving target
16