Competitive Off-season
3rd Session – February 25
U11/U12 – Individual Defending
When you get there
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Session will be Play (10-15minutes) – Work (30-40 minutes) – Play
(10-15 minutes)
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Take attendance by putting your initials next to players in your
group
If there is an NP next to a players name for team please give
an opinion on the level the player should be playing at (C1, C2,
C3)
Hand your attendance sheet at the end to Brian Kallman
Coaches will have groups of 6 to start and then will get players
added to their group – once you have 8 players start session
Focus on details the more detailed and specific you are with
your teaching and feedback the better our players will develop
– “I like how you used your laces and struck thru the center of the
ball” is better then “Nice hit of the that ball”
•
Some groups you will need to provide the energy so be
prepared with a few silly things mixed in but get back to
business ASAP
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Field Map
Key
• Coach
• Players
• Players
w/ball
• Cones
• Balls
• Pugg
• Goal
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Play – Hit ball off
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Split the players onto two teams
Play 3v3 to start and play no larger
then 5v5 with a few subs if
necessary. Make sure to adjust the
field a little more space is better
then too small
- Have a pile of balls near each end
line when you run out of balls go
collect
- Goals are scored by hitting cones
on end line
KEYS
 Look for opportunities to shoot
 Can players shoot on the move
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Activity 1 – Delay Game
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Break group into two teams
One team is defending, the other is
attacking
Attackers are trying to get across the field
by skipping
Defenders are trying to get in the way of
the attackers so they can’t get across
space easily
Absolutely no touching is allowed
No ball then add a ball – once players
have ball they should not be skipping
KEYS
 Move your feet and anticipate where
the attacker wants to go
 Can you get the attacker to go
sideways or backwards
 Can you and your teammates box a
player in?
 Body shape players have to have a
low center of gravity to be mobile
 Backsides can’t be high and weight
must be on balls of feet
Go
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Activity 2 – 1v1 to Goals
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Pair players up with one ball between 2
players
Adjust how to score so that defender has
a chance – good defender challenge them
with letting attacker pass to score
If attacker scores they spin and go the
other way
Defenders can’t tackle the ball they have
to wait for a big touch or poor touch and
then take the ball
KEYS
 Patience and composure
 Move your feet and let the attacker make
the error
 Pounce on the big or bad touch
 How do you use your body to win the ball
versus just feet – “stepping in”
 Low center of gravity
 Side on – Where are you showing the
attacker?
 Review foot work of when attacker cuts you
so that you drop front foot to get side on
again and are able to run
 Can’t get caught flat
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Activity 3 – 1v1 to Big and Counters
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Two teams one will attack big goal
others will attack two counter goals
- If defenders win the ball get them to
shot early
- Make sure to switch side of the
servers and defenders accordingly
KEYS
 Closing down speed on pass
 Get there as quickly as possible to
get shooters head down
 Touch tight
 Talk about distance that you defend
at. The closer to goal the closer to
the shooter you need to be
 Kicking the ball out of bounds is not
good enough – “win it build with it”
 Frustration for the attacker means
job well done
Toe poke/push pass zone
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Activity 4 – Play
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Split the players onto two teams
Play 3v3 to start and play no larger
then 5v5 with a few subs if necessary.
Make sure to adjust the field a little
more space is better then too small
- Have a pile of balls near each end line
when you run out of balls go collect
- One team could play to goal
w/sweeper/GK
KEYS
 Effort is number 1 priority if effort is
not sufficient pull player out and have
them watch until the are ready to give
effort
 Willingness to Defend and Attack
 Look for patience to pounce on “big or
bad” touch
 True success is winning it and starting
the attack
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment
Thanks
Have fun, be detailed, be
demanding!
U11/U12 Off-Season Session 3 – Feb 25
Play
• 3v3 up to 5v5
• Hit ball off cone to score
 Mentality
 Relate to theme of the
day
Activity 1 – Delay Game
• 2 teams; switch roles after a few rounds
• One team is trying to get to the other side of the field
the other is trying to prevent it
• Players can’t touch
• Defending team can box players in
• Keep score of the number of players that are stopped
 Composure
 Quick feet and low
center of gravity
 Anticipate
 This is really challenging
Activity 2 – 1v1 to Small Cone Goals
• Pair players up with one ball
• Attacker tries to dribble/pass thru cone goal to score
• No tackling only can take the ball on “big bad”
touches
• Change of possession change roles
• If attacker scores they stay on attack flip and go other
direction
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Activity 3 – 1v1 to big & Counter Goals
• 2 teams – keep score
• 1 team attacks big goal other team attacks 2 counter
goals
• Keep pace quick
• When group runs out of balls collect them
 Close ground quickly!
 Get shooters head down
 Composure win the ball
and score
 Kick it out of bounds not
good enough
• 3v3 up to 5v5 with subs if necessary
 Shooting mentality
 Mechanics specific to
individual
 Surface choice
Play
The Woodbury Way
- Decisions
- Ownership
Patience and composure
Foot work
Body posture
What should D look at?
A backwards or slow
attacker is success
- Technique
- Attacking
- Standards
- Enjoyment