Sat. Aug. 23, 11:30AM, VMS2
In our first practice will be concentrating on the skills of:

Offense
touch
ball control
dribbling
passing
shooting
All our practices will be divided into sections for: individual skills, team skills, and game play.

The structure of the practice will be (approx.):

Ball Handling
Ball Roll - with the bottom of the foot: front and back; side to side; in a small circle
Tick Tock - pass the ball from the inside of the left foot to the inside of the right
Hat Dance - lightly touch the ball with the bottom of the left foot, then hop to touch the ball with the bottom of the right foot.
Juggling - bounce the ball off your knee as many times in a row as you can.
 Space - talk about our space/their space or good space/bad space

Square Dance - Everyone dribbles within one 15 yd. square.  Keep moving
and use all parts of the foot.  Try cut backs, pull backs, and different fakes against
imaginary opponents.  Keep your head up to not bump into teammates.  Don't
lose the ball.
1. Dribble to open space - try to stay spread out.
2. Move to open space - tap the ball into an open space, quickly follow and
continue dribbling.
3. Attack!: All players protect their ball while trying to kick others outside of the
square. If a player's ball is kicked out of the square they leave the square and wait
for the round to end.

180 dribbles - 4 lines around a small square, each player has a ball.  Go - the first player from each line dribbles until their ball just crosses inside the square, then executes a 180 by pulling back on the top of the ball with the bottom of their foot.  Dribble back to the end of their line.

Meatgrinder - same setup as 180s, except each player dribbles through the square and goes to the end of the opposite line.

 Rule of 3's - we always want to be aware of 2 other teammates - 1st and 2nd pass choice or 1st, 2nd and 3rd defender

Triangle keep away - groups of 3 players with one ball pass the ball among themselves while one D player tries to steal the ball.  If D steals, then last player to touch the ball is now in the middle.

Triangle passing drill - create 4 or 5 triangles around the field.  Partners pass back and forth but can only pass to their open partner in the triangle.  The ball and the player must arrive in the triangle at the same time.

Passing by numbers - Everyone inside the square with one ball.  Each player gets a unique number 1...  While moving around the ball must be passed from player 1 to 2 to 3,  etc.  Communication!  After one ball is mastered, add a second.

  3 Zone MitM - Divide rectangle into 3 zones (2 ends and a middle), with equal players in each zone.  The outside zone players try to pass the ball to the other outside zone while the inside zone players try to intercept the ball.  If the inside players get the ball they swtch with the group who had kicked it.  Keep the ball on the ground.
1) No instruction.
2) Can pass within zone as much as needed.
3) One player from the inside zone can invade an outside zone.

crossing passes and post-up - one line on one side of the field with the balls, two lines on the other.  Player from line 1 dribbles while first players sprint up the sideline and curl toward one of the posts (one each).  A single defender guards these two.  When the first player gets past the cone, execute a crossing pass to one of the two forwards.  Shoot when open.
Quick Shot and Give and Go - two lines behind the 18 yd line.  One coach on each side of penalty area.  (for Give and Go: Player first passes to coach)  Coach executes centering pass and player shoots directly from the pass (no dribbling).  Retrieve ball and go to other line. Rotate players to the coach position so they make the 1-touch pass.

Up the side, Center pass, Shoot - Explain throw-in.  Explain bringing the ball up the side. Two lines near midfield, cones diagonally toward corner.  From each line: 1st player goes to sideline and does a throw-in to 2nd player.  2nd player dribbles up the side, 1st player breaks to center.  When 2nd player clears the last cone, center pass to 1st player, who shoots as quickly as possible.  Retrieve ball and go to end of other line.
 Goalkeeper work - each player stands opposite their partner and rolls balls back and forth while partner saves.  First roll, then bounce, then throw.
  15 min. (or whatever works) 7 vs. 7 game, 2 goal keepers, 2 balls! (or scrimmage with another team)
Next Time: We will vote on our team name!

A trick to practice at home ... Hold the ball with both hands. Lift your knee, drop the ball and bounce it off your knee, then catch the ball. Try to do that ten times in a row. If you can do that, then try to bounce it twice off of your knee!

Other home practice ideas:

pass back and forth with your Father, Mother, or friend.
Try to shoot and hit a target like a cone or a tree. See how far away you can be and still hit the target.
 Next practice: Thurs. Aug 28, 6P, VMS1
 
< bc@bjb.org >