FAI

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FAI Coach Education Department

National Sports Campus
Abbotstown
Dublin 15
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Contents
Development V Winning 2
Characteristics of the 7-9 year old football player 3
Why change to small-sided games? 4
Session Organisation 4
Planning your Training -
Structured Building Blocks! 5
How do we Coach Technique? 5
Sessions V Game /Activity 6
APPENDIX 1 - Session Plans 8
Layout Options - Full Size / Half Pitch 9
Line Ball Game (4v4) 10
Small Goal Game (4v4 + 1 Floater) 11
Skittles 12
Shooting Game 13
Shooting Game with Scoring Zones 14
Floater Game 15
4 Goal Game 16
4 Goal Game (12 players) 17

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Development V Winning Characteristics of the
Define Success? 7-9 year old football player
What is your Philosophy' • Inclined to chase and follow the ball.
DEVELOPMENT WINNING • Cannot concentrate for long periods of time; they just want to play!
• Build Character & Self Esteem. • Cups/Medals. • Easily bruised psychologically. They will remember negative comments for a
long time. Shout praise. Give "hints".
• Let Them Play. • Recognition.
• They have mixed ability.
• Learning new Skills / Habits. • Efforts you put in.
• They have not mastered the ball yet.
• FUN! • At all costs?
• Starting to imitate older players and play in their positions.
• Values you teach.
• They will look for role models.

4v4 Coaches Handbook

Why change to small-sided games? Planning your Training -
Structured Building Blocks!
Players get -
• More Touches of the Ball
• Time frame - Approx 4 Weeks on each theme
• More Shots on Goal
• Keep it challenging but not too difficult
• More Dribbles at Opposition Players (1v1 situations)
• Base your session on age & ability
• More Time on the Ball
• Keep to the objective of your session
• To Move Between and Experience All Positions

• Simple Set Up • Plan well in advance of your session times

• Different Problems to Solve (Games are dynamic) • Consider all factors when planning, i.e. facility, players, equipment, first aid
etc
• Different Types of Games
Plan sessions in a logical sequence

Session Organisation
How do we Coach Technique?

FUN Objectives • Technical Game (Unopposed)

• Easy/hard • Repetitions
• Progressions • Game Related Practices (Semi Opposed)

SMALL SIDED GAMES

Planning Involvement
• Equipment • All Players
• Structured • Maximize Participation

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Sessions V Game /Activity

Sessions Game / Activity Children's Experiences Coaches Manner

• Static • All Moving & Involved at all times • Fun • Child Centred

• Military • Dynamic • Enjoyment • Appearance

• Boring • Free Movement • Q & A response • Coaching Skills

• No Thought • Fun • Learning • Coaching Qualities

• Age Inappropriate • Constant Decision Making • Improvement • Coaching Style

• Lines ('Bus Queues') • Age Appropriate • Always involved

• Enjoyable • Making game related decisions

• Rewarding • Solving different problems

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APPENDIX 1 - Session Plans Layout Options - Full Size / Half Pitch

Organisational Factors
• Varied Pitch Sizes
Topic / Theme
• Balls, Bibs & Cones
Coaching in the Game
• Players Referee Themselves

Key Factors • Assigned Coaches to Area

• Games Start at the Same Time

• Let play flow freely, not too much stop and start wwv* SoccerSpeclfic.com

• Head Coach Controls Session

• Emphasize getting diamond shape to create 1v1 situations
Notes
• Encourage creative play, and good play • Full Pitch layout can accommodate 80
players on 8 SSG pitches.
• Give players time to solve problems themselves. Ask questions frequently
• Use centre pitch aisle for observing
games and giving coaching tips
Notes • Layout of pitches can be adjusted to
• Rotate players in different positions suit your coaching topics (Passing /
Dribbling etc)
• Let kids play without the pressure of failure
• Rotate teams on a regular basis
• Allow adequate time at the end of your session to play the SSG depending on your time constraints

• Stick to the objective of your session when coaching the SSG

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 Line Ball Game (4v4) Small Goal Game (4v4 +1 Floater)
1. Dribbling Floater plays with the team that is in Possession.
2. Change of Direction 1. Creating Space
2. Passing

Organisational Factors
• Pitch 30m x 25m
• Balls, Bibs & Cones Organisational Factors
• No Offside • Pitch 30m x 20m
• When Ball Leaves Play, restart options are - • Balls, Bibs & Cones
- Dribble into play - Pass into play - Throw into play • No Offside
• When Ball Leaves Play, restart options are -
The team in possession tries to score by dribbling over the end line and stopping the ball while - Dribble into play - Pass into play • Throw into play
opposition team become defenders and play together to win the ball back.
The team in possession tries to score by passing the ball into the opposition's goal, whilst opposition
Notes team become defenders and play together to win the ball back.
• Progression - Do a trick to score a point. If team scores, keep possession and attack the
opposite end. Man stays in end zone and changes when player dribbles in. Notes
• Focus on the area of the foot to pass with. Accuracy and weight of pass.

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Skittles Shooting Game
1. Creating Space 1. Creating Space
2. Passing 2. Control, Dribbling, or Shooting

)rganisational Factors Organisational Factors

• Pitch - 30m x 20m • Pitch - 40m x 30m
• Balls, Bibs & Cones • Balls, Bibs & Cones
• No Offside • No Offside
• When Ball Leaves Play, restart options are - • When Ball Leaves Play, options are -
- Dribble into play - Pass into play • Throw into play - Dribble, pass or throw into play

The team in possession tries to score by passing the ball into the opposition's goal, whilst opposition The team in possession tries to score by taking as many shots as possible into the opposition's goal,
team become defenders and play together to win the ball back. while opposition team become defenders and play together to win the ball back.

Notes Notes
• Progression - Only score in oppositions half. Extend pitch dimensions. Create larger spaces • Progressions - 3v2 in each half. Extend pitch dimensions. If a player dribbles past another,
between targets. Score with one touch pass = 2 goals. If knock down, rob the ball and first gets a free shot. If team scores they keep possession.
one with all balls on one side wins. Put balls on sidelines for more targets.

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Shooting Game with Scoring Zones Floater Game
1. Creating Space 1. Creating Space
2. Control, Dribbling, or Shooting 2. Change of Direction

Organisational Factors Organisational Factors

• Pitch 30m x 20m • Pitch 30m x 20m
• Balls, Bibs & Cones • Balls, Bibs & Cones
• No Offside • No Offside
• When Ball Leaves Play, restart options are - • When Ball Leaves Play, restart options are -
- Dribble into play - Pass into play - Throw into play - Dribble into play - Pass into play - Throw into play

The team in possession tries to score by taking as many shots as possible into the opposition's goal, The team in possession tries to score by passing the ball into the opposition's goal, whilst opposition
while opposition team become defenders and play together to win the ball back. team become defenders and play together to win the ball back.

Notes Notes
• Progressions - Extend pitch dimensions. When dribble in end zone, get a free shot. If a team • Progressions - 2v2 in each half with floater playing. Extend pitch dimensions. Floater allowed
scores, they keep possession. Let 1 v1, 2v1, 2v2 develop in end zone. to receive outside pitch to find space. Floater plays with 1 team only.

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4 Goal Game 4 Goal Game (12 players)
1. Dribbling & Change of Direction 1. Control, Dribbling or Passing
2. Forward Passing 2. Shooting

Organisational Factors janisational Factors

• Pitch - Dribbling 25x30m / Passing 30x20m • Pitch - Dribbling 40x30m / Passing 40x30m
• Balls, Bibs & Cones • Balls, Bibs & Cones
• No Offside • No Offside
• When Ball Leaves Play, options are - • When Ball Leaves Play, options are -
- Dribble, pass or throw into play. - Dribble or pass into play.

The team in possession tries to score in either of the opposition's goals, while opposition team The team in possession tries to score in either of the opposition's goals, while opposition team
become defenders and play together to win the ball back. become defenders and play together to win the ball back.

Notes Notes
• Progressions - 1 defender to go behind goals and defend them. If team scores, keep • Progressions - 2 Teams, team in possession can swap with outfield players from a pass or
possession and attack the opposite end. dribble. Keep 2v2 in each half. Swap men on outside everyminute. Score only after using
outside man.

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Notes

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