Under 12's Programme
Aims / Typical Sessions / Objectives / Technical and Tactical Themes / 12 month work programme
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To develop athletic players with natural ability, good technique and a sensible attitude |
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Players to be comfortable / competent with the ball at their feet. |
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To develop functional and positional work with individuals and units |
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To allow players to make decisions during gameplay |
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Players to show good all round technique and awareness during game play |
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All sessions should be enjoyable and players should have fun |
Continue to set high standards
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A themed warm up that is both lively and enjoyable as well as instructional |
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Challenging sessions from 1 v 1 to 3 v 3. |
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Lots of challenges 1 v 1 / 2 v 2 etc. Keeping players in motion and avoiding wherever possible them waiting in lines for a go. |
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Keeping players in motion and avoiding wherever possible them waiting in lines for a go. Lots of individual ball work with players stimulated to work alone at home |
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Lots of passing and control with players encouraged to play off 1 or 2 touch |
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Functional practices and small sided games with carefully applied conditions to improve 1 or a small number of players (not to be used as a soft option at the end of a coaching session - pitch size for 6 v 6 to be 60 x 40) |
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Dynamic not static drills |
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Develop good habits towards stretching, warming up and cooling down |
Match all players physically
and with players of a similar ability
Encourage players of this age
to
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Be open to play and capable of creating space for themselves |
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Work on and off the ball to support play |
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Work on the move |
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Goalkeepers to distribute the ball |
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Play a passing based game |
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Communicate with team mates |
| Technical Themes (unopposed and opposed drills) |
Detail |
| Footwork | Quick feet, Mobility of right and
left side Good pace to practice |
| Ball Manipulation | Fluid movement with both feet Good pace to practice |
| Turning | Mastery of basic techniques Right and left feet, unopposed and opposed - 1 v 1 / 2 v 2 etc Movement to create space to change direction Challenging drills at match pace |
| Dribbling | Mastery of basic techniques Right and left feet, unopposed and opposed - 1 v 1 / 2 v 2 etc Movement to create space to face up and attack opposition Challenging drills at match pace |
| Running with the Ball | Mastery of basic technique Right and left feet, unopposed and opposed Awareness to see space in front Conditioned games |
| Heading | Basic technique - unopposed and
semi -opposed Defensive and attacking headers |
| Short passing | Mastery of basic techniques Right and left feet, unopposed and opposed Awareness and decision making to play feet or space 1 and 2 touch play |
| Long passing | Basic techniques Right and left feet, unopposed and opposed. Awareness and decision making to play into feet or space Forward passes in conditioned games |
| Control and first touch | Basic techniques using all
surfaces unopposed and opposed. Awareness / decision making / taking the ball early / keep the ball rolling. |
| Defending | 1 v 1 - 3 v 3 techniques and
knowledge of work in units Pressure, forcing play, cover and compactness Communication |
| Shooting | Basic technique using right and
left feet unopposed and opposed. Challenging drills to encourage shooting on the move and 1 touch finishing. Seeing opportunities / taking opportunities |
| Tactical
Themes (conditioned small sided games and functional practices) |
Detail |
| Defensive Work towards an overload in the attacking team |
- Basic team shape and positioning away from ball - Working in units - defence, midfield and attack - Principles of pressure, cover, balance - Marking opponents - Pressurising and forcing play individuals and units - Communication and awareness |
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Attacking Passing and support Positive forward movement |
Practices involving long and short passing to develop: - Passing options - feet or space / long or short - Support in front of the ball - Receiving the ball under pressure - Movement to destroy cover - diagonal passes and runs /decoy runs / overlaps / 1-2's etc - 1 and 2 touch combination play in the attacking third - Switching play - Communication and general awareness Creating space: - as a team - As an individual to be able to turn / dribble shoot/ pass etc - 1 touch finishing and power shooting - team shape and positional awareness |
Suggested 12 month programme of work
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It is vitally important that players of this age group now master the basic techniques and begin to show some appreciation of their playing role |
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The coach is responsible for both observing and assessing progress |
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A pre-defined programme of work could be used to help development but it should not be strictly adhered to if players require more time to work on certain aspects |
| Core Techniques - Ongoing work | Specific Techniques | |
| Month 1 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Turning Functional practices and small sided games using turning conditions |
| Month 2 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Turning and dribbling Functional practices and small sided games using turning and dribbling conditions |
| Month 3 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Passing and Control Functional practices and small sided games using passing, turning and dribbling conditions |
| Month 4 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Passing and Control revision of previous 3 months Functional practices and small sided games using passing, turning and dribbling conditions |
| lMonth 5 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Passing and Control Functional practices and small sided games using passing conditions |
| Month 6 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Passing and Control, Running
with the Ball Functional practices and small sided games using passing and running with the ball conditions |
| Month 7 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Heading, Running with the Ball
Functional practices and small sided games using heading and running with the ball conditions |
| Month 8 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Shooting, dribbling and
turning Functional practices and small sided games using shooting conditions |
| Month 9 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Shooting and defending Functional practices and small sided games using defending conditions |
| Month 10 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Evaluation of all aspects of
programme Rest and assessment |
| Month 11 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Rest and assessment Planning for new season |
| Month 12 | Footwork, ball manipulation, first touch, receiving and controlling | Rest and assessment Planning for new season |