Practice 12 - Ball Control

I wanted to work on Ball control. I wanted to show the girls the different parts of the body you can control the ball with and how it can be done. A lot of the times the girls control the ball with their shins or turn their back on the ball. I had 10 players.

Fun Game. 10 Min

I marked out a suitable size circle. I planned on working in this circle for the majority of the session.

·        3 players wore a pinnie, these were the taggers.

·        2 players hold a soccer ball.

·        The 3 taggers run around the area tagging the remaining 7 players. They cannot tag a player who is holding a soccer ball.

·        Once a player is tagged they freeze. To be released a ball is thrown to them, they catch it and then rejoin the game.

·        Switch Taggers…

Focus on:

Fun

Awareness of what is going on around you

When throwing the ball, each player makes eye contact

Communication
Co-ordination - 10 Minutes
I want to stay on co-ordination topics, I feel this is so important to add to your sessions. I just added a quick 10 minute fun game.

Staying inside the circle having to girls as 'IT', the rest of the girls have a soccer ball.

  • The girls with the ball move around the area bouncing the soccer ball. The ball has to keep bouncing (like a basketball dribble), the girls cannot hold the ball.
  • The girls who are it move around trying to slap the balls away.
  • Switch the girls who are 'IT'

Focus On:

Fun

Shielding

Co-ordination
Ball Control - 15 Min
Each Player holds their a soccer ball. They jog around the area and perform these skills:
  • Drop the ball on their thigh and then catch it.
  • Throw the ball in the air, cushion it with their foot (laces), dribble for a few steps then pick the ball up and repeat.
  • Throw the ball up, let it bounce once. on the second bounce trap it while still moving. (Show the girls how to trap the ball while touching it away from them. As the ball hits the floor, the foot makes contact with the ball.) Show them how to do this with their inside / outside of both feet.
  • Attempt the above skill without allowing for one bounce.
  • Drop on thigh then foot.
  • One bounce then a complete trap, were the ball stops.
20 Minutes - Ball Control Cont....

With 4 balls on the outside. Place 3 players in the middle of the circle without a ball.

The girls on the outside who have a ball hold them in their hands. They serve the ball in the air for the girls to control.

·        The middle player calls for a ball, controls and passes to another player who has no ball.

·        They cannot pass back to the player they received from.

·        Once they have made their pass, they call for another ball, from another player.

Focus On:

Ball control, as quickly as possible. don't allow the ball to come to a stand still.

Decision Making - Before receiving the ball

First touch

Pass

 

Variation

Outside players can practice throw ins when serving the balls in.

 
20 Minutes - Ball Control with Shot

Set up as above. Split the teams in two groups. One group stands with the balls 10 yards away from the side of the goal. The other half stand at the cone 25 yards from goal.

  • The group with the balls start. They dribble and then pass through the gate to the waiting player.
  • Once they pass they have to touch the red cone and chase that player.
  • Player with the ball has to try and get a shot off before getting caught.
  • The player who shoots joins the chasing group, and the chaser joins the shooting group.

Variation:

Switch so the girls work their left foot also.

Focus on:

First touch

Less touches when running with the ball

Shot

 
15 Minutes - Scrimmage
 

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