Spring Training 2010
Turns – Part I:
Last week we learned that protecting the ball is the key to success in soccer. You can only run straight
away with the ball for so long; the same is true for your ability to protect a ball without moving it.
This session is dedicated to moving the ball in ways that help you protect the ball and buy you time of
possession. We will do this by introducing basic turns that use of the outside and bottom of the foot to
make directional changes.
White shirt
Rookies: For all players brand new to soccer.
Objective: Basic ball movement with turns plus the simplest game of keep away.
Program completion requirements covered:
Inside of the foot navigation through cones while protecting the ball
Can shadow and take the ball away from another player.
Controls and protects the ball when passed to them
Modified Warm Up: 15 minutes
Introduction to soccer: Show them a soccer trick. These are little kids and simple demonstrations of
coordination are still fascinating to them. Balance the ball on your foot, head or thigh. See what tricks
they can do with the ball without picking it up.
Dribble follow the leader as best as they naturally can. Add red light/green light to the game stopping
with the bottom of their foot.
Introduce them to step ups, push ups and sit ups. Do some basic stretches.
Technical Session: 15 minutes
Protect the ball review and introduction to the outside-of-the-foot 90° hook turn.
Demonstration: represent proper positioning with two players and a ball ( defender – me – ball ). Put
your bottom towards the person and keep them away from the ball. Show how you turn to keep a
moving defender away. Move the ball to keep it in front of you. Today we add the hook turn. Show
the kids how to turn the ball with the outside of the foot. This is usually a coordination challenge, get
down and move their foot for them. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Turn in circles, turn left then right, etc.
Drill 1: Make a few squares of cones. Use one to do left 90° hook turns, use the other to do right.
Drill 2: Perform keep away in open space or line them up. Let the kids wander where they may. Do
this for 5-7 minutes after the demonstration. Encourage hook turns. Help as necessary.
Drink break
Applied Play: 15 minutes
Create a grid of squares with the cones (5yds x 5 yds). Players navigate cone to cone in any order to
get to each base (cone). They get 1 point for each hook turn they do around a base. Play 2 minutes,
see who gets to the most bases without losing the ball. One coach wanders around as the shark
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Spring Training 2010
encouraging turns. Take a tally, declare a winner, do it again. It’s a modified game of sharks and
minnows.
Drink break
Scrimmage: 30 minutes
Introduce “Where’s the goal”
With one coach/parent as a defender, move generally in front of the player forcing them to change
directions as they make it towards the goal. Ask them “Where’s the goal” to make them pick up their
head and look and redirect themselves and the ball towards the goal.
Let them Play
Build one or two 10 yd x 10 yd fields with goals. Explain the objective again of scoring goals. Play
2v2 or 3v3 and let them loose. Celebrate every goal enthusiastically.
Fitness training: 5 push ups, 5 sit ups, 10 step ups
Hand out homework sheets when complete.
All Experienced Players will do warm ups and fitness training with Erik.
Warm Up: 15 minutes
Everyone should have a ball.
Demonstrate and perform side step ups (2x20), eggs and bunnies (2x10), scissors w/ twist (2x20), roll
forward/back (2x10), sit ups (2x10), push ups(2x10).
Stretch then talk about protect the ball adding basic turns: 90° hook turn, 180° stop turn and roll back.
- separate kids by # of years played (1-3 years,4+ years) and keepers.
Send off with 3 coaching groups, break up a group if necessary.
Fitness Training: 15 minutes
Plyometric exercises across 20 yd span.
Ask questions about ‘protect the ball’
Hand out homework sheets.
White + Yellow shirt
Experienced Players: For all players who’ve played in a league once before.
Objective: Basic ball movement with turns in the simplest game of keep away.
Program completion requirements covered:
Dynamic dribbling control with the inside and outside of the foot
Can shadow and take the ball away from another player.
Consistent demonstration of 3 basic turns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQc2HVWoLn4
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Spring Training 2010
90° hook turns, right and left
Stop turn
Pull back 180
Technical Session: 15 minutes
Protect the ball with basic turns
Demonstration: Gather players, demonstrate each move done properly and describe in depth. Explain
the utility of the technique in game play. Have a junior player try to demonstrate and point out areas
for improvement.
Drill 1: 180° stop turns
All players side-by-side, spread apart facing another line 5 yards away. Dribble 5 yards. Stop turn, go
to line repeat. Use both right and left foot.
Drill 2: 90° hook turns
Create squares with cones about 5yds x 5yds. Players start clockwise make 3 turns, then switch
direction for 3 turns. Two or four players per square depending on space available.
Better players should increase speed.
Drink break
Applied Play: 15 minutes
Protect the ball with turns
Create a grid of squares with the cones (10 yds x 10 yds). 8 players, 2v2 possession game. Team gets
1 point for each turn performed under control after receiving a pass. A steal or ball that leaves the box
goes to the other team. Player with initial possession declares the start of play again. Switch up pairs.
Demonstration: represent proper positioning with four players and a ball ( defender – me – ball ). Put
your bottom towards the person and keep them away from the ball. Add basic turns turn to keep a
moving defender away. Coach can stop play to fix technique or instruct when/how to use better.
Describe the importance of body position with turns in a way suitable for the group of kids.
1 Year Players
Drill here should be done at walking speed.
Swap competing teams between grids after the first team to reach 3 points gets there.
2-3 Year Players
Drill here should be done at practice speed.
Swap competing teams between grids after the first team to reach 3 points gets there.
4+ Year Players
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Spring Training 2010
Drill here should be done at game speed.
Up the number of seconds to 5 seconds if they are too good.
Swap competing teams between grids after the first team to reach 3 points gets there.
Drink break
Scrimmage: 30 minutes
Build enough 20 yd x 20 yd fields with goals. Make 3 even teams per field, use yourself as an extra
where necessary. Play round robin scrimmages. Winner stays on after a goal is scored.
Rule of play: Player may shoot if they receive a pass from a teammate and demonstrate a turn prior to
the shot.
Winners do 1 pushup. Losers do 10 pushups.
Coaches make notes on players after the scrimmage assessing level of play. Turn in these evaluations
to Erik.
Players do Fitness training with Erik
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