Soccer Practice Plan
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	THEME: SHOOTING AND GOALKEEPING ===FIRST 30 MINUTES=== Inform players that theme is shooting and goalkeeping. Shooter-Keeper pairs: Players pair up with one ball, about 15 yards apart. They take turns shooting the ball at their partner, who tries to catch the ball. Hints Hint 1: Hands behind ball in a W or M Hint 2: Strike ball with laces Hint 3: Keep head down and knee over the ball when shooting Shooter-Keeper trios: For each trio, create a long thin rectangle about 8 yards wide and 24 yards long. A shooter stands on each of the narrow ends. A goal is placed in the middle (same orientation as a net on a tennis court). The third player is the goalkeeper. One ball. One shooter shoots at the goal. If the keeper save it, he throws it to the other shooter, who receives and shoots. If the shooter misses or the goalkeeper fails to save, the other shooter should collect the miss. Have 1-2 extra balls so that they aren't wasting time chasing. Goals must score below shoulder height. ===SECOND 30 MINUTES=== Remind players that the theme is shooting and goalkeeping. Perhaps shorten this segment to 20 minutes, use extra time for the three variants in the scrimmage. Target: (a "target striker" is a forward who receives a pass and dishes it off to a teammate to create a scoring chance; typically, target strikers receive somewhat long passes from the midfield). This is an offense versus defense game, includes a goalkeeper, uses half of the full field. Game needs 7-8 players, use the rest as subs, or have them do continue the shooter-keeper-pairs-trios drills, then sub them in. Three attackers and one defender are outside the penalty area. A goalkeeper, an attacker, and one defender (add a second defender as a progression) are in the penalt area. The three "outside" attackers pass the ball around, then pass in to the "inside" attacker. As soon as the inside attacker has the ball, ONE of the outside attackers joins him inside the penalty area to create a 2v1 and receive a pass. Try to score. ===THIRD 30 MINUTES=== Remind players that the theme is shooting and goalkeeping. To encourage the former, consider getting to Progression 1 early--limit to 3 touches. Scrimmage: "Freeze" to stop play occasionally to make coaching observations. Full field if possible, 5v5 with no goalkeepers, full size goals. Small rectangles for keepaway are great for improving skills, but at this age, sometimes the spaces are too small. Going full field (or nearly so if you only have enough for 4v4) gives them more time like they often have in games. Set up two cones within the goal mouth, roughly 2 feet from each post. Goals (worth 2 points) only count if the ball goes between the post and the cone, not up the middle. Have them focus on passing, but also defensive positioning. Progressions Progression 1: First 10 minutes, limit to 3 touches Progression 2: Second 10 minutes, use "wing gates" (see below) Progression 3: Third 10 minutes, use "tri-goals" (see below) "Wing gates" are cone pairs that the attacking team has to pass or dribble through before they can advance on goal. There are 4 wing gates in all. Each wing gate goes near a sideline half way between the goal line and the midfield stripe. Sort of like the outside wickets in a game of croquet. Tri-goals: Remove the wing gates and add two cone pairs on each endline, one on either side of the goal, a bit closer to the sideline than the goal. Offense can score in any of the three goals: the real one and the two cone pairs.
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