Week 1, Practice A

First touches

1. 1Arrival play

   Warm-up · 8 min

   Setup

   1. Field and goals set up before players arrive.
   2. Balls out. Whoever is here plays right away, teams even as kids arrive.
   3. No coaching, no lines: the game starts the practice.

   Coaching points

   • Greet every player by name as they join.
   • Watch who is confident with the ball today.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: smaller area so touches come fast. Harder: nothing, it is play.

2. 2Body Parts

   Warm-up · 10 min

   Setup

   1. Every player dribbles slowly inside a 15x15 grid.
   2. Coach calls a body part: foot, knee, elbow, ear.
   3. Players stop the ball on that body part, then dribble on.
   4. Last to stop does 2 jumping jacks, keep going.

   Coaching points

   • Little touches, ball close, head up between touches.
   • Say what you see: "Leo stopped it dead, great sole."

   Easier or harder

   Easier: foot only for round one. Harder: add "both knees", players must stop within 3 seconds.

3. 3Red Light, Green Light

   Warm-up · 12 min

   Setup

   1. Every player has a ball on one end line.
   2. Green light: dribble forward. Red light: stop the ball dead with the sole.
   3. A player who dribbles on red or rolls on red goes back 3 steps.
   4. First player to the coach line wins.

   Coaching points

   • Soft touches: the ball should stay inside one arm length.
   • Sole of the boot on top of the ball to stop it dead.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: call only green and red. Harder: add yellow light, turn and dribble back.

4. 4Small-sided game, 4v4

   Match · 20 min

   Setup

   1. Split the team into equal 4v4 teams with bibs.
   2. Small field with a small goal at each end. Balls behind every goal.
   3. Theme condition: dribble instead of passing if you can.
   4. Roll new balls in when one goes out. Keep the game flowing.

   Coaching points

   • Praise the theme when you see it, once, briefly.
   • Let the game teach: no stoppages for coaching lectures.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: bigger goals, no goalkeepers. Harder: winners stay on, or a two-touch rule for a round.