From: The Myers Family [myer@sgi.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 3:30 PM
To: board@pleasanthillssoccer.org
Subject: Suggested U8 Practice for our third week of indoor
Pleasant Hills Soccer Association
Winter Session 3, January 20 - 26, 2003
 
 

Dribbling Introduction (Under 8)

Suggested Winter session for week 3 of the Under 8s. The theme of the Winter session is dribbling and shooting as described in the introduction.  As with all the Winter sessions, we will begin with the introductory dribbling skills associated with this session.  This is our third session indoors. Much of the material from week 3 will be geared toward making cuts with the ball. In addition, we will be moving more toward more competitive games of 1 vs 1.

Up to this point, most of our individual activities have been group type activities and more "soccer like" than soccer. We are moving more toward to 1 vs 1 for two reason; the players are now much more comfortable with the ball on the quick indoor surface, and we want to encourage them to take responsibility for moving the ball forward in directional soccer play.
 

Warm-up: Introductory Dribbling Session and Some Bridge Activities

Go over each of the dribbling skills with the players having their own ball.

After a brief introduction, set up two teams.  It is not necessary for the players to have pennies or playing vests since the teams will have minimal contact with each other. You will need cones to mark off a 30 by 20 yard field. You will need flags or different size cones to mark off the bridges. The games were taken from Success in Soccer, Vol. 5, March 02.

Single Bridge Game

Set up the field as indicated below for this progression. Each player has a ball. These games involve simple control with the ball in traffic and some pressure.

   __________________________________________
  |                                          |
  |                                          |
  |                                          |
  |       y             O                    |
  |                     |       x            |
  |            y        |             x      |
  |      y              |                    |
  |              y      |         x          |
  |                     |             x      |
  |        y            |      x             |
  |                     O                    |
  |                                          |
  |                                          |
  |__________________________________________|

Here is the possible progression to follow:

   __________________________________________
  |                                          |
  |                                          |
  |                                          |
  |       y        O        O                |
  |                |        |   x            |
  |            y   |        |         x      |
  |      y         |        |                |
  |              y |        |     x          |
  |                |        |         x      |
  |        y       |        |  x             |
  |                O        O                |
  |                                          |
  |                                          |
  |__________________________________________|
 

Double Bridge Game

Quickly set up the field as indicated below for this progression. Notice that there are now two bridges and each team will attempt to go back and forth across their respective bridge. Place an opposition player on the bridge. Each of the other players has a ball. The games are much more challenging to the dribbler. Here they faces multiple 1 v 1 situations.

   __________________________________________
  |                     O                    |
  |                     |    x               |
  |                     Y          x         |
  |                     |            x       |
  |                     O       x            |
  |                                   x      |
  |                O  O  O  O                |
  |                                          |
  |                     O                    |
  |        y     Y      |                    |
  |             Y       X                    |
  |    Y                |                    |
  |        Y            O                    |
  |__________________________________________|

Here is the possible progression to follow:

  • The opposition players must stay on their very short (line) bridge. As a group, each team must get across their bridge. The first team across wins. If any of the players are having difficulty crossing the bridge, you may want to make the bridge wider. Repeat and change out opposition players.
  • Repeat the above game, except now, only one player is allowed on  the bridge at a time; ie, only one player attempts to cross the bridge at a time.  However, the players may attempt to cross as quickly as possible, one after the other.

    • One vs One In Directional Multi-Goals

    Set up a rectangular field which is wider than it is longer and place three or more goals on the longer sides of the field as pictured below. Have the players pair up according to ability with one ball between them.  We will put playing vests on the players not so much because it is necessary, but because we will want to make teams later. Give each pair a ball and indicate to the players that one color, say red, will try to score on ANY of the goals on one side of the field while the other color players, say blue, attempt to score on ANY of the goals on the other side of the field.

    Have the players begin and you will often see that the players only attempt to score on the goal directly in front of them.  If they do not figure it out after a while, freeze play, and give the players some instructions on getting their head up, using the newly acquired dribbling skills, and changing direction with the ball so as to go to ANY goal which looks easiest to score on.
     
     
     

    Game: Dutch Four Goal Game

    The Dutch Four Goal Game is typically a 4 v 4 game played on a rectangular field that is wider than it is long.  There are two goals on each of the longer sides and distanced apart from each other.  One team will attempt to score on either of the goals on one side while the other team attempts to score on the other side.

    Here we want the players to attempt to get their heads up while dribbling and look for the goal which is most easiest to score.  With the older players, they will usually spread themselves out and pass across the field in order to change the point of attack.  However, with U8 players this typically will not happen.  Since passing is not usually their first decision, the usually will first choose to dribble to the open goal and this is exactly what we want them to do with their newly acquired skills.
     

                                     __________                                           __________
             ____|       |________________|       |_____
            |                                           |
            |                                           |
            |                                           |
            |                                           |
            |                       Y                   |
            |      X                               Y    |
            |                                           |
            |                                           |
            |    Yo         X                           |
            |                                           |
            |                                           |
            |                                           |
            |                                      X    |
            |                                           |
            |               X          Y                |
            |____         ________________         _____|
                                    |___________|                                       |___________|
     

    Warn Down: Homework Dribbling

    Review the inside-outside snake with the ball and encourage them to practice this at home.