Theme

Description

Warm-up

Players should be warmed up before stretching to prevent injury. You don't want to stretch cold muscles and ligaments. Best warm-ups are done with the soccer ball but if you’re in a real hurry a quick jog around the field will do.  Best if you can combine working on individual skills and the warm-up into one activity. Be sure that nothing is too abrupt at this point. The goal is to get the blood moving and the major muscle groups warmed up before stretching.

Stretch

Stretches should involve all the major muscle groups. Make sure to stretch the calves, groin, hamstrings etc.

 Individual skills

Many times done as part of the warm-up. Typical drills include dribbling and performing moves/cuts/feints etc. with the soccer ball. Dribble ‘obstacle’ courses, partner work for passing, volleys, headers etc. are all good. The objective here is to work on the players individual skill. These drills can evolve into more competitive 1v1 work but make sure to get a stretch in first. At this point coaches may start to transition the team towards the particular theme they want to focus on that day. 

Small Group Activities

Usually involves smaller groups of players in some sort of coordinated drill. 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3 etc. are common drill formations. Whatever theme the coach is focusing on for this practice begins to come into play here.

Controlled Scrimmage

As game like as possible while still focusing on the theme being taught for the day. Common exercises here include pitting your attacking group against your defensive unit in a controlled scrimmage. Controlled scrimmages involve the coach controlling how play takes place so they can continually encourage a particular situation to occur over and over again. How play continually restarts, rules around scoring (e.g. 3 passes before teams are allowed to go to goal) are all common things controlled here. Coaches may elect to stop play and focus on particular coaching points as they arise.

Scrimmage

Allow the play to continue without coach stoppage. Sit back and observe the action and see if the lessons for the day are starting to be displayed by the players without coach interference. Make mental notes for what needs to be addressed in the next practice session.

Cool Down and Stretch

Same as the warm-up and stretch but usually a little quicker. Good time to make team announcements and talk to the players about all the wonderful things you saw done out on the practice field that day. Send the kids off with encouragement.

* Physical Conditioning

We change where this occurs during the practice from practice to practice. Sometimes it’s right after the warm-up and stretch, other times after individual skills and other times at the end of practice. Other times the scrimmage portion of the practice will be sufficient enough exercise.