Coaching at the Grass Roots
IT S PRACTICE TIME!
8-9 year olds
PART V
Ball Control
Objective: Receiving a moving ball and bringing it under control
while encountering opposition.
Key Factors:
1. Get in line with the ball.
2. Select the controlling surface.
3. Wedge or cushion to control the ball.
LET S PRACTICE!
8-9 year olds
EQUIPMENT CHECK: Balls, cones, and bibs
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Warm-Up (5 minutes)
Work in pairs with one ball per pair. One pair per 10m x 10m grid.
Receiver:
1. Gets behind the ball as the ball is moving towards him.
2. Uses WEDGE (sole of foot) or CUSHION (inside of foot).
3. Controls on first touch (low pass, therefore, foot control).
4. Passes the ball back to partner. Repeat.
5. Alternates feet when controlling the ball.
Coach, look for the first touch to be away from the player so that one
step will allow a pass back.
Stretching (5 minutes)
Slow Stretching
Skills (10 minutes)
Work in a 10m x 20m grid, 3 vs 1.
Emphasize OPEN body position (facing, or square, to the ball) when
receiving the ball and good quality FIRST TOUCH (away from the
defender).
To set up a pass, defender in the middle starts off as passive.
Use ground passes to keep possession.
Coach, make sure that the players have a passing channel to the
other two players in the grid. Don t  hide behind the defender.)
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Skills (5 minutes)
Work in a 20m x 20m grid, 4 vs 2.
Control ball into space AWAY from defenders. Encourage passing in
between the two defenders.
Encourage longer passes. Use throw-in to provide control of higher
balls.
Coach, if the players have difficulty completing the passes, you have
the following options:
1. play 4 vs 1
2. go back to 3 vs 1
3. have the defenders walk
Mini-Game (10 minutes)
5 vs 5 on a 40m x 30m field.
Small-sided game (condition to three or two touch).
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Stress good control:
1. Body position to receive the ball
2. Quality of first touch.
3. Control into available space.
Warm-Down (5 minutes)
Light run.
Slow Stretching.
Game Day Goals:
Coach, you should start to see the players control the ball with their
first or second touch.
Practice is over!
Coach, remember the most developmental stage for a young soccer
player is between the ages of 8 to 12 years.
Fun is the most important factor.
If practice is fun, your players will develop surprisingly fast!
Did you all have FUN?
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PART VI
Heading
Objective: Striking the ball with the forehead.
Key Factors:
1. Watch the ball.
2. Head on the hairline.
3. Attack the ball.
4. Try and use a small or soft ball for young players.
LET S PRACTICE!
8-9 year olds
EQUIPMENT CHECK: Balls, bibs and cones.
Warm-Up (5 minutes)
Work in pairs with one ball for each pair. Two pairs per 10m x 10m
grid.
Bring ball towards forehead with hands. Stand with one foot in front
of the other so that head and shoulders can be drawn back so that
the head can be moved forward with strength. Head ball on hairline,
keeping eyes open and mouth shut. Stiffen neck and head through
ball. Step toward partner as ball is contacted.
Vary the activities:
A. Head the ball out of hands to partner.
B. Have partner throw ball underhand to player who is heading.
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C. Keep the ball up between the partners.
Coach, you should emphasize that the ball is directed forward rather
than up in the air. In other words,  head through the ball .
Stretching (5 minutes)
Slow Stretching
Skills (10 minutes)
Work in groups of three with one ball per group in a 10m x 10m grid.
Check proper heading technique. Contact ball on hairline and turn to
face partner.
A. Throw  head  catch.
B. Keep the ball up between partners.
Challenge players to complete more consecutive head balls.
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Mini-Game (10 minutes)
5 vs 5 plus goalkeepers on a 40m x 30m field.
Stress good control:
1. Body position to receive the ball
2. Quality of first touch.
3. Control into available space.
Small-sided game (condition to three or two touch). Between the
control touch and the passing touch, there should be no more than 3
and, less than 2, touches. Really emphasize the controlling touch,
then the passing touch.
Usually at this level, if the player just uses one touch for everything,
he s just getting rid of the ball - not controlling it. He needs to
develop more confidence on the ball. The coach can help develop
this by providing practice in non-threatening situations. If not
developed, the player will just  kick the ball away during a game.
Warm-Down (5 minutes)
Light run.
Slow stretching
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Game day Goals:
Coach, you should start to see the players head the ball with more
power.
Practice is over!
Coach, were the players challenged?
Did they have fun?
 If they are smiling, they are learning!
If you have any questions, comments or feedback about this document, or anything
involving the Coaching Centre, please send an email to: [e-mail]
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