Placement Shooting
(Youth 8 and Up)
Warm-up: 30 minutes
Groups of three-Pass and move along with other groups of three in an area dependent on the number of players you have.(You do not want too much traffic in the grid) Concentration should be placed on inside/outside of the foot and the laces. This is a great time to correct poor technique at one on one level. Stretch 2 Minutes
Technique Tips:
Inside-surface area and hips square to target; body over the ball; strike thru the middle of the ball; proper pace for distances.
Outside-point toes inward like someone who's pigeon toed; strike thru middle of the ball; surface area used should be between the joint of the piggy toe and the mid-part of the foot; body over the ball.
Laces-same technique as shooting; concentrate on accuracy not power.
Groups of three-Pass thru cone gates (3 yards wide) to one of your partners. Pass must be cleanly made thru the gate. Give points for clean passes and for the type of pass your wanting to see. Stretch 2 Minutes
Groups of six-Pass and move in order. Label players 1 thru 6. Player 1 passes to player 2 and so on…. Passes must go clean thru the gate…. Mid-way thru, reverse the order to mentally challenge the players. Final Stretch 3 Minutes
Technical Activity: 30 Minutes
Shooting 10 Yards Out-Place two cone ten yards from each goalpost and place half the balls at each post. Place a server or a coach at each post with the rest of the players split in half at the two cones. Also, place a cone 3 yards of each post on the goal line to simulate the target areas you wish your players to finish the ball thru.
Exercise 1: Rolling ball from post directly in front of line; player must finish with the inside of the foot directly back towards that post.
Exercise 2: Rolling ball on a diagonal from opposite post; player must finish with the inside of the foot towards the side where the ball came from.
Exercise 3: Rolling ball from post directly in front of line; player must finish with the inside of the foot towards the opposite post.
Exercise 4: Rolling ball on a diagonal from opposite post; player must open up their body and finish with the inside of the foot towards the opposite side the ball came from.
Exercise 5-8: Players use the outside of the foot and/or the laces. Be creative! Let them work on bending if their more advanced… You can even let them do placement heading and volleys.
Coaching Tips:
Framing the Goal: Using the correct foot for any situation of placement. Ex: On the right side of the goal ten yards out on a diagonal, you want your player to use their right foot to place the ball near post and use their left to place the ball far post. Exact opposite from the left side. When bending, you want the ball to bend out the keepers range back toward the goal not bend in toward the keeper and back out away from the goal.
Tactical Game: 30 Minutes
3 vs 3: Set field 30 yards wide and 25 yards with two full size goals at each end of the field. Place a midfield mark and limit the distance he players can shoot beyond. (Ex: Can only shoot on their offensive half of the field) Play for two minutes or up to three goals. Winners stay on; losers switch off.
Warm down: 5 minutes
Light jog and 5 minutes of stretching.