U9 5V5 PRACTICE

When we build a training session for the youngest children (perhaps ages six through nine), it is important to let them play the game. It may seem insignificant, but we want the children to go home with stories of glorious goals they scored and be eager to come back the next day. We want to encourage the exciting part of the game and not drill them to boredom.

How do we build training sessions for the youngest kids? Front-load the Training Game.

Because with players of this age we do not have the same physical load concerns we will have to consider as they enter the growth phase, we have the liberty to jump into small-sided training games without the same activation process of older athletes.

Quite simply, set up small training games to let the players start as they arrive to training. You can use 3v3 and 4v4 pitches to get them right into a training game.

Let’s say your session is for 1 hour at the youngest ages. It may look like this…

SAMPLE TRAINING SESSION U8

Tuesday

Technical activity (Skills square - ball mastery) (15 minutes)

Position Play (2v2+2) (25 minutes) - a position play/rondo game is REQUIRED EVERY PRACTICE

Training Game (2v2+2 to goals) (20 minutes)

Thursday

Technical activity (Turns Relay) (10 minutes)

Position Play (2v2+2) (25 minutes) - a position play/rondo game is REQUIRED EVERY PRACTICE

Training Game (4v0 - add defenders or 1v1s/5v5s - once all defenders on you must try to score) (20 minutes)

You can always play a CONTROLLED game with the other team on the field for the last 10 minutes. However please work on something, don’t just let them run around.  If you have 7 players, just do 3 defenders. limit them in some way if it is too difficult. 

Technical Activities

For activities that focus on dribbling, every player must have a ball. For a passing activity it can be more, but the Number one rule of all activities is NO LINES. When kids are placed in lines to do an activity, they spend more time standing in a line rather than touching a ball which is boring and counterproductive.

The main dribbling skills all players need to master are:

1.    Dribbling with laces

2.    Lunge move.

3.    Hook Turn

4.    Using the bottom of their foot to change the direction of the ball.

The main passing skills they need are:

1.    Passing with the inside of their foot

2.    Receiving with the inside of their foot, not stepping on the ball.

3.    Receiving with their back foot (foot furthest away from the ball.)

RONDOS - 10 minutes

Keep it simple with numerical advantage (4v1) and adequate space for successful passing. The idea is to teach the players that they will always be able to find a solution if they look for it. Defenders are a challenge, but nothing more. There is always a solution. Scan (perceive), see passing options (conceive), choose one (decide), and pass (execute).

RONDO ADAPTATIONS

If children are struggling, you can try these solutions. Neither of these adaptations robs a child of the cognitive process we want them to develop. They still will need to perceive, conceive, decide, deceive, execute, and assess (cognition). They will need to pass and receive to hone their technical skills(competence). They will cooperate and compete (character).

1. Defender with a ball: Do your rondo but have the defender have their own ball. They must dribble it as they try and stop the attacker’s ball. They are not allowed to leave their ball. The easiest way to do this is say for the defender to dribble towards whoever has the ball.

2. Lion’s Cage: Put a defender in a “Lion’s Cage” by placing an internal square (within the larger Rondo dimensions) from which the “lion” (defender) cannot escape. In this way, the attacking players do not panic and can find a passing lane without immediate pressure on them personally.

3. Locked Hands: You can place two defenders in a 4v2 Rondo but restrict them by having them defend holding hands.

4. I Skills: If you need to pull a child out for individualized and isolated instruction, do so for a minute or two to give them a technical pointer and immediately place that player back in the rondo to put the passing skill back into context. Applaud them immediately when they make that pass successfully. An assistant coach comes in handy to keep the activity going while you are engaged with I Skill instruction.

Note on Space:

In the rondos and position play exercises, we suggest you set up the space and any additional restrictions (i.e., two-touch), so that players target 10 consecutive passes as a rule of thumb. If they can consistently accomplish that or more, reduce the space of the exercises accordingly.

 Attacking and Defending Points

Here are the vocabulary words you may typically hear at a TOVO Rondo. Repeating simple words and phrases as needed triggers a response. No long-winded explanations are needed after each player understands what the vocabulary refers to in this context.

Vocabulary and Main principles for Attackers

●       “Check Teammates.” Look to see where your teammates positioning is off the ball. Check every two seconds and every pass.

●       “Hips Open.” Body positioned to see defenders and teammates.

●       “Receive with Back foot.” Pass to and receive with far leg to allow recipient to keep hips open.

●       “Check Defenders.” Check to see where the defender is in relation to the ball.

●       “Bump” Pass back to where it came from due to receival with front foot (unopened hips) or defensive pressure.

●       “Simple Passes” Play the easiest pass.

●       “Check Lines” make sure you are not on the same line as a teammate.

Vocabulary for Defenders

●       “Relationship.” Connect with your defending partner.

●       “Pressure.” Take away numerical advantage of the attackers by closing space and passing lanes.

●       “Cover” Be at a 45-degree angle behind your teammate who is pressing.

Coaching Points we hope they have learned from Rising Stars prior to this.

●     Encourage kids to dribble and try to beat the opponent when there is 1 defender in front of them. However, if there are 2 or more, encourage them to pass or switch the field.

●     We want all kids to be able to change directions quickly.

●     We want kids to be able to weave left and right quickly and not only dribble in a straight line.

●     We want to encourage defenders to get between the ball and the goal to defend. We hope they back up and wait for a mistake to win it versus just going to stand in front of the goal.

Coaching points to add this season in Pre-Academy:

●     Still encourage kids to take defenders on 1v1, but when more than 1 defender, encourage them to pass.

●     Encourage kids to find space to run to receive a pass, rather than run to wherever the ball is.

●     We want kids to understand basic shape and positioning in pre academy. We always want a diamond shape, but that shape can move around.

●     We want kids to understand that when there is space in front of them and they have the ball, we want them to dribble, not pass. The same goes for the opposite.

●     We want teams to have structure on resets, such as goal kicks, kick ins etc. and to build from the back to go forward.

●     We want kids to understand the concept of “go back to go forward” or “drop and reset”. This means you can pass backwards and switch the field or pass backwards and get your diamond shape back and go forward.

●     We want kids to understand that when your team has the ball, a goalkeeper is another field player to pass to, not just someone who stands in the goal.

POSITION PLAY EXERCISES - 20 minutes

You will begin to do activities that look like their actual game formation such as a 4v2 transition. You would always focus on creating a diamond with your attacking players to show them the architecture they want to keep throughout the game. You will also start utilizing the dotted vertical lines on the field to help teach them width.

TRAINING GAMES (+- 15 minutes)

When doing 3v3 and 4v4 at the end of practice use the following structure for 3v3 and 4v4 matches. This architecture will be critically important as they grow to understand the why behind their positioning. (You can play to small goals or score by dribbling in position across a line.)

3v3

Set up a triangle formation with one player behind and two in front. All that we construct will be using triangles and diamonds, so it is a good start to teach these spatial relationships.

4v4

Set up a diamond formation with one player behind, two wide and one in front. Again, introducing structure here will pay great dividends later. All you need to do is to say the trigger word “diamond” and the kids will reset their position accordingly.

Gameplay

●     All teams must play in a diamond formation. This looks like one deeper defender, one high attacker, and 2 wide players.

●     Absolutely NO keeping defenders back near your goal. If your team is transitioning to score, your deep player must push up to at least midfield.

●     When your team has the ball, wide players transition to outside the dotted lines. When the other team has the ball, they come inside the dotted lines. Try to keep all players in a diamond formation throughout the game.

●     Encourage drop and switch. if they get in trouble and cannot go forward, encourage them to pass it back to the deep player, and that player switch it to the other wide player.

●     DEVELOPMENT focus, not winning focus. Do what is best for their development, not what it takes to win the game. Never sacrifice playing the right way to score a goal.

●     The coaches split the field, and manage the game together as a team, not as opponents. They are still very young. We want both teams to play good soccer. There are no referees at this age.

●     Encourage your deep player to play with his/her back to your own goal. Encourage wide players to play with hips open to the field and back to the sideline. Encourage your striker to play with their back to the goal you are trying to score on.

WATER BREAKS (+- 3 minutes each break)

Technical Activity - Water

Rondos– Water

Position Play Exercises – Water

Training Games – Water

Allow for water breaks after rondos, position play exercises and perhaps half of the training games. That is our common policy. Of Course, this may vary depending upon the weather. We tell the players that this is the only time of training that they can turn off their brain for a moment. All other training moments require cognitive commitment. We ask that they come back from the water fully focused on the next exercise.

SUGGESTIONS

Among other things, here are a few pertinent suggestions to consider for this age group.

●       Shake each player’s hand as they arrive at training.

●       Get them active right away.

●       Paint the picture structurally (triangles for 3v3 and diamonds for 4v4).

●       Demonstrate a technical point as needed to struggling players.

●       Reinforce the positive by coaching them to do things well.

●       Have fun. This is a sport. They are young children.

●       Shake each player’s hand as they depart.

ACTIVITES

Technical Activities

●     Minefield

●     Dribbling Gates

●     Passing Gates (moving)

●     Passing triangle or square

●     Cut/Turn Relay

●     Ball Mastery

●     Passing circuit

●     Rings / colors activity

Rondos

●        4v1

●        4v2

●        3v1

●        4v3

Position Play

●        4v2 transition - different sizes and variations

●        4v0 – add defenders up to 4.

●        2v2+2

●        2v2+3 - add a CM - best activity for 5v5.

Training Games

●        Best one - 2v2+2

●        1v1 to 5v5

●        4v2 or 5v5 variations – from back or at midfield to goal. Focus on build up, defense in final third, or offensive in offensive half.

●        4v2 Breakaway / 5v2 breakaway

●        3v1 to 3v2 in front of the goal

Technical Activity explanations

 ●     Minefield - set up cones spread out on the field. Time them for 30 to 60 seconds. Give them a move they must complete such as lunge or hook turn. Players must run and do a move at as many cones as they can in the allotted time.

 ●     Dribbling gates or passing gates - same set up for each. Dribbling gates is basically a variation on minefield. They must dribble through as many gates as they can in a certain time. Passing gates is the same. Throw gates (2 cones a yard apart) all over the field. Each player with a partner runs around the field and tries to pass through as many gates as they can.

 ●     Passing triangle or square. Set up a 10x10 grid. Put a player on every cone. Put the extra players on the cone that starts with the ball. Players must pass to the next player at the next cone and rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. Receiving player focuses on receiving it with their back foot. All players follow their pass to go to the next cone.

 ●     Turns Relay - set up 2 cones 10 yards apart. Players run to the cone and do a move and repeat it back and forth. See how many you can get in the allotted time. You may add a cone in the center if you want them to attempt a 1 on 1 move such as the lunge.

 ●     Knockout - Players are in a grid, with a penny touched into their pants. Players must dribble around and try to pull other pinnies out without losing their ball. Do 2 pinnies per person. The winner will be whoever has the most pinnies. You count the ones in their hand and hips.

 ●     Skills Square - Everyone is inside a large square. They must dribble inside the square without leaving it and without running into each other. Ask the players to pick a color. Whenever you say that color, they must do the move of your choice. Continue and do as many moves as you can in your allotted time. Moves to do: Hook turn, pull turn, inside cut, outside cut, toe taps, toe taps backwards and forwards, Toe taps in a circle, Roll the ball both ways, push pull, Scissors.

 ●     Passing Circuit - Have the kids in 2 lines facing each other. Round 1 is they dribble the ball fast to the other line and leave the ball at their feet. Then that person does the same, back and forth. They follow their run and get a the end of the line. Round 2 - they run and then pass it to their teammate when they get halfway. - Round 3 - they must dribble through gates before they can pass. (Set up 1 gate to the side so they dribble at an angle then pass back. Please make 2 groups of 3, so there is basically no wait time in between. Do not make 1 line of 6-7 kids.

 ●     Rings - Colors activity - placed x number of rings in different places. Put a color in between each area. Whenever you say the color, the players must run and stop their ball inside the ring. Give them a certain number of seconds to keep pushing them. Progression would be to have one less ring than players and if you get a ring, you get a point.

Rondo Explanations

Rondos with a defender dribbling in the middle is the most recommended format.

●     4v1 - Set up the grid - 6 to 8 paces apart on all sides(square)

create a smaller square inside the main square the is about half the size. This is the lion’s den for the defender. Attackers are to pass and once they reach 5 passes, the defender is released from the den. Swap the defender with whoever they steal the ball from or if there is a bad pass. Gradually make the lion’s den bigger over time to continue challenging them. Eventually you want to take the den away if they can get 5 passes without it.

●     4v1 - Set up the grid - however far your players can pass. maybe 10 yards each side. Add a defender in the middle with the ball and have them dribble to whoever has the ball on the outside. Rotate the defender every 2 minutes.

 ●     3v1 - Create a triangle shape around 8 paces apart on all sides. Make it a little bigger if you need to. Create a lion’s den and follow the same concepts as a 4v1. 

●     3v1 Variation - create exact same grid as a 4v1 however attacks must always shift to be to the side of wherever the ball is. The backside of the square (opposite of where the ball is) should be empty.

●     3v1 - Defender in the middle with a ball - same set up as 4v1. Adjust grid size to however far the kids can pass.

 ●     4v2 - Set up the grid - 10-12 paces apart on all sides(square)

create a smaller square inside the main square the is about half the size. This is the lion’s den for the defender. Attackers are to pass and once they reach 5 passes, the defender is released from the den. There are 2 defenders inside the grid. They must always hold on to the pinnies until the attackers make 4 passes AFTER the lion’s den has already been broken out of.

Swap the defenders with whoever they steal the ball from or if there is a bad pass. Gradually make the lion’s den bigger over time to continue challenging them. Eventually you want to take the den away if they can get 5 passes without it.

●     4v2 - Defenders with the ball - same concept as other activities. Both defenders will have a ball and try to dribble to whoever has the ball on the outside

 ●     4v3 - This activity is the largest rondo you have. Make it maybe 12 yards by 12 if your players can pass that far. All 3 defenders have a ball and dribble towards someone on the outside. Players try to find the open man.

Position Play Explanations

 ●     2v2+2 Position Play. - Have a large square with 3 teams of 2. Have one group of 2 be all time offense. They are set up on the sides opposite of each other. The other 2 teams rotate. If they win the ball, they play it to a neutral (all time offensive player) and run to the unoccupied sides of the square to keep possessing. If they lose the ball, they must run into the grid and touch the cone in the center and then try to defend. The process repeats.

 ●     2v2+3 Position Play (for 5v5) same setup as above except now there is an all-time offensive player in the center of the activity as well (a neutral)

●     Good intro to the 2v2+2 activity - 4v2 transition - Create a rectangle that has 2 squares that are 6-8 paces long on all sides. Create lion’s den inside each square. Players are set up on each side (4 total players). The square where the ball is should have 3 attackers along the outside. After at least 3 passes, the outside players try to pass to the 4th attacker at the other end of the grid. The defenders cannot leave their den until they intercept a pass, a bad pass is played on the outside, or 2 minutes is up.

●     4v2 Transition Variation - grid size is a rectangle that has 2 squares that are 10 paces on all sides. Each square has a defender in it with a ball. The defender must dribble the ball to whoever on the outside has it. They are still limited to their square. Rotate defenders every 2 minutes.

●     4v2 Transition Variation - WIDE - Grid size is a rectangle that is 24 yards long (12 yards for each square) and 15-20 yards wide. The activity is run the same way, however with this larger grid it looks more games like.

●     4v2 Transition Final Variation - 4th attacker rotates from inside line to far line. In this variation, the 4th attacker is on the middle inside line allowing for a 4v1 on one side of the rectangle. After at least 3 passes you want the 4th attacker to play an angled ball to the outside attacker and every run to transition to the next square. That 4th attacker now is on the outside and becomes the 1st attacker. The previous 1st attacker moves up to the center line and becomes the new 4th attacker.

●     4v0 - Players set up in a diamond like they would if playing. They possess and every 5 passes a new defender enters until all are on. Once all are on, they try to score on goal, or reach the target you have set. (such as an endzone etc.)

Training Games explained.

●     Best one - 2v2+2 - Have two players on each side on separate teams. Red and Blue. On the outside (near the dotted lines) there will be a neutral on each side. Yellow. Yellow is all time offense so whoever has the ball, they are on their team. Players work to possess and score. It is basically a 4v2.

4v2 build from the back variation. Simply use the full field and start with a goal kick. Have all your attackers set up in a diamond. Have 2 defenders waiting to defend once the ball is played. Have the boys advance towards their goal. If it is too easy and they are just dribbling the entire way, then limit them to 5 touches. This forces them to pass. Another limitation could be everyone has to touch the ball before you can score, or you must switch the field before you can score, or simply say you must switch the field x amounts of time before you can score.

●     4v2 start a midfield variation - same thing as building from the back except start at midfield. The breakaway version is best. Have 2 defenders set up past midfield. Start with the deepest attacker playing the top of the diamond (striker). The striker must play it back to the deep attacker. From there, the attacker can play anyone. The defenders are released when the striker touches the ball. This encourages the striker to also play it back. It also encourages the deep attacker to play to wherever the open space is.
 

●     3v1 or 3v2 to goal. - This activity is simple and more of a finishing activity. Set up the attackers in a triangle formation outside the goal box. The central attacker must make at least one pass before anyone can score. The defenders start from the goal and run out to defend. The play is started by a defender or coach passing it to the central attacker. This activity is designed to switch the field to wherever the open space is away from the defender.
 

●     Basic 1v1 up to 5v5 games.