CALEDON SOCCER CLUB COACHING MANUAL 2011
(For 8, 9 year olds)
Welcome to the new 2011 soccer season!
First I would like to thank you on behalf of the club for donating your
time to help the kids develop and enjoy their soccer season.
This manual has been developed to help you with making the kid’s
experience fun and, at the same time, help them develop their soccer
skills.
Whether you are coaching for the first time or you are an experienced
coach, I believe you will find this manual will give you some ideas and
practice sessions to use during the season.
This manual supplies you with drills and complete practice sessions
specifically for the 8, and 9 year old age groups.
For some kids, this is their first experience with soccer, others have
played for a few years, the key is to make it FUN, and have them fall in
love with this great sport.
I hope you enjoy the manual.
Terry Maddison
Caledon Soccer Club Head Coach
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CHARACTERISTICS U8, & U9
1. Beginning to develope physical co-ordination.
2. Still enjoy running, jumping, climbing and rolling.
3. Still very sensitive (dislike personal failure in front of peers).
4. Inclined more toward group activities.
5. Still lack sense of pace.
Keys to a good practice
• make the practice fun
• half the practice should be mini games
• duration of practice 45 minutes to 1 hour
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KEY FACTORS OF SOCCER
Receiving The Ball
Shooting
Passing
a) body behind the ball
a) accuracy before power
a) accuracy/Eye on ball
b) attack the ball
b) eye on ball head steady
b) pacing/timing/weighting
c) 1st Touch (decision)
c) part of foot & ball
c) part of foot & ball
Dribbling
a) ball close to body – see
ball peripherally
b) change of speed,
change
of direction
Heading
a) eyes open
b) attack the ball
c) part of the head
c) attack defender straight
on
Defending
Support
a) angle of support (front
&
behind ball)
b) near far & wide
c) communication – eye
contact
Defensive (heading)
Goal Keeping
a) goal side
a) high / wide
a) eye on the ball
b) speed of approach
b) meet the ball at the
highest point
b) body behind the ball
c) angle of approach
d) see the ball
c) attack the ball
c) one foot take off
d) decision
KEY FACTORS TO CONCENTRATE ON FOR U8, & U9
Passing the Ball
Receiving the Ball
Shooting the Ball
Dribbling the Ball
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Drills and games for U8, & U9
Warm Up Drills
Musical Ball
Passing and Receiving
Touches
Practice Drills
3 Man Passing and Receiving
Two Touch Game
Dribble/Pass Line Drill
Crossfire
One Goal Dog Fight
Dribble Turn and Shoot
Quick Pass
Mini Games
Numbers Game
3v3
4v4
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PRACTICE SESSIONS
Practice Session # 1
Touches
3 Man Passing & Receiving
Crossfire
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 2
Musical Ball
Two Touch Game
Dribble Turn & Shoot
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 3
Passing & Receiving
Dribble Pass Line Drill
Quick Pass
Numbers Game
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 4
Touches
3 Man Passing & Receiving
Two Touch Game
One Goal Dog Fight
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 5
Musical Ball
Two Touch Game
Crossfire
Dribble Turn & Shoot
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 6
Passing & Receiving
Quick Pas
Numbers Game
3 Man Passing & Receiving
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 7
Touches
3 Man Passing & Receiving
Crossfire
One Goal Dog Fight
Game 3 v 3
Practice Session # 8
Musical Ball
Quick Pass
Two Touch Game
Dribble/Pass Line Drill
Game 3 v 3
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Warm Up Drills
Touches
Mark out a square (20 yds x 20 yds)
Have players dribble a ball inside the coned area and listen to commands
from coach

Instructions are given to the players inside the square
STOP
- put foot on top of ball
- change direction – player pulls ball back with the
bottom of their foot, turn and go in opposite
direction
TURN (right) - using outside of foot
TURN (left)
- using inside of foot
Change of speed - 1st gear (jogging with ball)
2nd gear(Half speed)
3rd gear( full out)
Players Choice – Any moves the player wants to practice
Coaching Points
Encourage players to keep ball close to their feet
Encourage players to keep head up so they know where they are going
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Musical Ball
Mark off a coned grid 10 yds by 10 yds
All players have a ball and start the game inside the grid.
On the coach’s command, all the players in the grid begin slowly dribbling
around the grid.
After 10 – 15 seconds of dribbling the coach blows the whistle, each
player has to leave his ball and go find another ball. Continue blowing the
whistle every 15 seconds.
Coaching Points
Players should dribble so the ball stays very close to their feet, preferably
should touch the ball with every step.
While dribbling, the players should change direction and change speed,
dribble with inside and outside of foot and change direction with both
feet.
Variations
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After the coach has had the players dribble and change balls several times,
have the competition begin.
In the competition, the last player to find and gain possession of a ball and
starts dribbling, faces consequences (ex. 3 jumping jacks, 3 push ups, 3
sits ups, etc)
Passing & Receiving Warm Up
Half the players in a coned area with a ball. The other half of the players
are outside the grid without a ball.
The players inside the coned area dribble with the ball and pass to a
player outside the area. The player that receives the ball passes it back to
the same player. Player with the ball then dribbles and finds another
open player outside the area and does the same thing.
Switch players inside and outside the coned area every 2 minutes.
Coaching Points
Dribbling – keep ball close, head up.
Receiving the Ball – move to the ball, body behind the ball, first touch.
Passing – accuracy, the weight of the pass.
Variations
Players on the outside with the ball in their hands. Players inside run to a
player on the outside and lobs the ball for the player to head it back.
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Keep going for two minutes running to different players. Switch players
inside and outside of grid.
3 Man Passing & Receiving
Three players in a straight line, each player 10 yds apart.
The player in the middle will do all the work.
The two players on the outside have a ball.
A
(10 yards)
B
(10 yards)
C
Player A passes to player B who moves towards the ball, controls it and
passes back to player A.
Player B then turns and receives a pass from player C, controls it and
passes back to player C.
Player B keeps going for 2 minutes then switches with player A or C.
Coaching Points
First touch – cushion the ball, set it up for the next touch, and then pass
back to the player.
Passing of all 3 players, accurate, weighted properly, part of foot used.
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Player in middle quick turns.
Progress to one touch passes for player in the middle.
Two Touch Game
Divide players into pairs standing approx 10-15 yds apart.
One ball per pair.
Place cones 2-3 steps apart (wider if needed) in the middle of the two
players.
The coach blows the whistle and each player plays 2 touch passing
between the cones.
Coaching Points
Players receiving the ball should get in the path of the ball before it
arrives.
The payer’s first touch should help position the ball so he/she can make
the pass to his/her partner with the second touch.
Do not stop the ball dead but touch to be just in front, or to the side, so
the player can pass the next touch.
Add a competition, time the players for 45 seconds and have then tell you
how many passes they completed.
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Dribble / Pass Line Drill
Two lines of players facing each other 15-20 yds apart.
Player dribbles ball half way to next line and then passes the ball to the
first player in line.
Player who passes ball goes to the back of the line he passed to.
(Only 3 players per lien so they do not stand around too long)
Coaching Points
Accuracy eye on ball.
Pacing / timing / weighting.
Part of foot, part of ball.
Dribbling
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Keep ball close.
Change of speed.
Crossfire
Shooting and finishing game.
Players are divided into 2 even teams and 4 groups.
Place a group by each of the goal posts (on the outside) and the other
half of each team behind 2 cones on either side of the 18 yd box just
outside the 18 yd box.
The players by the post have the balls.
Goalie in the net.
Play begins by the first player passing the ball diagonally (across the 18
yd box) to his/her team mate who runs in and hits the shot first time.
Immediately after player has shot the ball, the other team passes
diagonally (across the 18 yd box) to his or her team mate who runs in and
takes a short first time.
Play should be continuous and shots should be frequent. After player
passes or shoots, switch lines.
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Scoring System
1 point for a shot on goal; 2 points for a goal; 1 point for a shot wide of
the goal
First team to score 15 points wins.
Coaching Points
Players passing ball should make good firm passes weighted properly to
his/her team mate.
Players should be shooting the ball first time – accuracy before power –
keep head down.
Keep players and passes moving.
One Goal Dog Fight
Split players into two even teams.
Each team lines up on each side of a goal post and the balls are in the net
(for younger kids, coach can be the goalie).
Coach throws the ball out to the edge of the penalty area. When ball is
thrown, first player in each line runs to the ball and begins to play 1 v 1.
First player to the ball gains possession of the ball, turns with the ball and
tries to score.
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Second player to the ball defends and attempts to steal the ball.
If defender steals the ball, then he becomes the attacker.
Coaching Points
Attacking Players
Get to the ball quickly.
Gain possession, attack.
Make one quick move to get by defender and shoot.
Defending Players
Try and not let attacker turn.
If attacker is able to turn, channel the attacker away from the goal so
he/she has a bad angle to shoot.
Variations
2 v 2 – start to call out two numbers, encourage players to use their team
mate, pass the ball.
Dribble Turn and Shoot
Divide players into teams of 3, 4 or 5.
Each player has a ball (if possible).
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Use cones to make a goal for each team, the goal should be 3 or 4 steps
wide.
Line up each team beside their goal. Another cone should be placed 1520 feet from the goal.
The players dribble the ball from the goal up to the cone and go around
the cone. Dribble back towards the goal and shoot. Player can shoot as
soon as he thinks he can score.
The next player in line can go as soon as the player before him has taken
his shot. The player after shooting has to go get his ball and join the back
of the line.
One point per goal, first team to 10 points wins.
Coaching Points
Dribbling – keep the ball close, head up.
Shooting – accuracy before power; part of foot
After each game, have players start beside the other side of goal so one
game they turn to the left and the next game to the right.
Quick Pass
Split players into pairs in a defined area.
Ask players to make as many quick passes as they can.
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Set a time limit and repeat. Have them count their passes so they can try
to beat their record.
Coaching Points
Accuracy of the pass.
Pacing / timing / weighting of the pass.
Part of foot / part of ball.
Body behind the ball when receiving the pass.
Attack the ball – do not wait for it.
First touch (decision)
The Numbers Game
To develop good attacking and defending skills.
Split teams into two even sides and have them line up at opposite ends of
the field (mini field)
Use pylons to make a goal approx 20 yds apart.
All players stand on goal line and each player is given a number.
Coach calls out a number and throws ball into play.
Two opposing players run for the ball and compete for possession of the
ball and try to score.
Progress to call two numbers for each team and they compete 2 v 2.
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Coaching Points
If organization is working, let them play, enjoy the game and learn by
trial.
Encourage players to attack opponents and go for goal.
Defenders should stay on their feet.
Defenders must run back when beaten.
On 2 v 2, encourage passing.
Keep score, have fun and encourage players to cheer on their team
mates!
Mini Games
3 v 3 or 4 v 4
Depending on number of players, have two games going at one time.
Example, if you have 9 players at practice, have a 3 v 3 game, other 3
players could do a shooting drill with assistant coach then switch teams
each 5 minutes.
Games should be fun.
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Encourage passing.
Let the kids play; do not stop the game continually.
If you have any questions about the manual, any problems/questions throughout
the season, please feel free to contact me at.
[email protected]
Enjoy the season.
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