Fremont YSC has a long term development plan, with an age appropriate curriculum for all age group. This week we returned to practice for the 2017/18 season, and below is a taster of what the Fremont teams worked on.
Younger age groups focused on the fundamental skills (not throwings, and kick-offs!), while the older players returning from High School season had a competitive team bonding session, with soccer specific fitness sessions to prepare for the first game of the season on March 11th.
U8 ADP Training Pool
Monday, Dribbling 3
Players work with a ball each in a grid set up with 2 different sized areas. The outer area for full practice area, and a smaller central area. Player begin by dribbling everywhere within the large area practicing skills performed on every third touch. To develop the sessions players are placed around the edge of the grid to work on coerver footwork, while the other half of the group must dribble around an outside player back to the middle grid to perform their own skill, and repeat. This competition increases the intensity of the session. Further, defenders are added to the middle to make the practice more game related.
- Small touches to change direction and keep control of the ball
- Larger touches to run with the ball in a straight direction
- Use the furthest foot from the defender to control the ball to provide protection in possession
- Keep the head up to be aware of space and pressure
Wednesday, SSG
Players work in a 3v3/4v4 scrimmage. This allows players to work on their skills and to get multiple touches in a game situation.
06 Boys Black
Monday, Dribbling 3
Players work with a ball each in a grid set up with 2 different sized areas. The outer area for full practice area, and a smaller central area. Player begin by dribbling everywhere within the large area practicing skills performed on every third touch. To develop the sessions players are placed around the edge of the grid to work on coerver footwork, while the other half of the group must dribble around an outside player back to the middle grid to perform their own skill, and repeat. This competition increases the intensity of the session. Further, defenders are added to the middle to make the practice more game related.
- Small touches to change direction and keep control of the ball
- Larger touches to run with the ball in a straight direction
- Use the furthest foot from the defender to control the ball to provide protection in possession
- Keep the head up to be aware of space and pressure
Wednesday, Passing 3
With a partner 1 player on the outside edge, and 1 in the inside grid, players use repetition of technique to keep the ball passing between the 2 players. First progression is for inside receiver to turn with the ball and perform a skill before returning to pass back to their partner, repeating for repetition. Further progressions involve player receiving the ball in the middle to find a new partner, then to adding defenders where players make a decision as to whether to pass back to a partner, or dribble in to space.
- Plant foot next to the ball, toe and knee pointing towards target player or area of pass
- Locked striking foot, pushing the ball with the instep through the middle of the ball
- Step through the ball for momentum of body movement and accuracy of the pass
Thursday, Shooting 3
Session set up with players working in pairs to strike the ball from the inside attacking player, to the outside goalkeeper. High repetition of the skill, with accuracy of hitting the goalkeeper being the focus. Progressions involve receiving the ball from the keeper for 1 touch then finish, trying to beat the keeper, and to the keepers playing the ball in the other to control
- Big step on to the planted foot
- Supporting leg has toes, knees and hips facing the target
- Striking foot has the ankle locked, and toes pointed down to strike the ball with the laces
- Strike through the middle of the ball and land first on to the striking foot, moving forward through the ball, ‘strike like Rooney’
02 Boys Black
Monday, Group Cohesion through Juggling Competition
First session back, practice consisted of tennis juggling competition, bringing some fun to the session as players return from their High School teams, and to break players back in from either intense running during High School season or the opposite from not playing for 4 weeks. Injury prevention is important so competitive low impact, minimal contact session, to prepare the body.
Wednesday, Fitness with the Ball, Shooting
Progressive session of groups of 4 attacking the goal at speed with a time challenge and all players needing to touch the ball. The sessions develops to having players making different runs through gates, and recovering within a certain time following the attack. Practice finishes with defenders being added to the practice for a fast paced attacking game with opposition. Practice is bulked in to 8 minute rounds of 8 to 15 seconds of work, for high intensity in short periods to stretch the players anaerobic capacity, explosive speed, and aerobic threshold.
Thursday, Fitness with the Ball, Passing
In groups of 4 passing within an area with angled sprints to the edge of the grid. A more game related approach is made by adding a defender for 3v1 with challenges to both attack and defense. 1 minute periods with short rest for a total of 4 minutes, further making it game related to the actual in game timing of play, with a pressure to think under fatigue. The final game of practice involves overloading attack for a fast paced possession game, opening up the field and building through possession.