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Coaching Lesson Plans

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Have a written lesson plan for each training session or practice. You cannot have a good practice if you do not have an idea of what you want to accomplish during that practice. The plan may be written out in detail on a practice planning form (see sample Lesson Plan Form). Writing down your plan will help you think through the equipment and setup you will need for the topics to be covered.

Below are sample lesson plans written by various coaches involved in youth soccer.  No commercial reproduction, adaptation, distribution or transmission of any part or parts of lesson plan or any information contained, herein by any means whatsoever is permitted without the prior written permission of Indiana Soccer. 

If you have questions about any of these lesson plans, please contact Steve@soccerindiana.org .
 
Warm Up

Warm Up Activities
Motivational Warm Up Activities 

Attacking & Shooting

Attacking Heading
Attacking Wide Play 
Bunkering in to Create the Counter Attack
Changing Point of Attack 
Counter Attacking from Defensive Set Plays
Crossing & Finishing
Direct Counter Attacking
Developing a Goal Scoring Predato
Free Kicks in Wide Positions
Finishing - Shooting
Patterns of Play to Incorporate Flank Players
Principles of Attack
Shooting Activities for Younger Players 
Transition to Attack
Technique of Striking a Ball for Accuracy
When to Dribble and When to Pass

Defending

Coaching a Back 3 and a Goalkeeper
Defending as a Midfield Unit (NEW)
Defending in the Attacking Third 
Defending in Small Groups
Defending - Marking
Defensive Heading
High Pressure Defending
Principles of Defending
Pressure
Pressure, Cover, Balance 
Transition to Defending 
Winning Possession of the Ball 
 
Dribbling

Creating 1v1 Opportunites
Dribbling 1v1
Fun Dribbling Activities
How to Coach Quick & Deceptive Movement
Individual Dribbling Activities for Younger Players
Positive & Creative Dribbling
Dribbling & Turning for Beginners
Dribbling for Possession
Footskills Homework
U6 Dribbling and Passing  

Fitness/Psychological

Fitness - Support Play
Improving Technical Speed and Agilty by Derek Smith, Elite Preformance Trainer
Technical Fitness – Session I
Technical Fitness – Session II
Technical Fitness – Running with the Ball
U11 - U14 Recovery Training
U15 and Older Receivery Training

Formations/Systems of Play

8v8 (2-3-2)
8v8 (3-2-2)
8v8 (3-3-1)
8v8 (4-3-0)
Full Sided (3-5-2)
Full Sided (4-3-3)
Full Sided (4-4-2) - Flat Midfield
Full Sided (3-4-3)
Full Sided (4-4-2) - Diamond Midfield

Set Plays

Free Kicks in Wide Positions
Indirect Free Kicks
In-Swinging Corners 
Kick Offs 
Out – Swinging Corners
Short Corners
Throw-Ins Within a Game Enviroment 
Zonal Defending Corners  

Goalkeeping

Agility and Reaction Training for Goalkeepers by Jeremy Proud, former Goalkeeper Coach, University of Louisville (NEW) 
Clearing Crosses – Punching
Coaching a Keeper within the Game
Dealing with the Back Pass
Goalkeeping - Changing the Point of Attack by Derek Willis, Head Men's Coach, Georgetown College
Goalkeeping – Dealing with 1v1 Situations by Chris Hershey, New York State West ODP Head GK Coach
Goalkeeping – Distribution
Goalkeeping – Improving Agility by Leah Castleman, Head Women’s Coach, Georgetown College
Goalkeeping – Improving Strength by Jacob Sither, Kentucky Youth Soccer ODP Head GK Coach

Passing/Receiving

Backyard Activities to Improve Your First Touch
Combination Play
Dynamic First Touch
Fun Passing Activities
Dealing with Bouncing Balls
Introducing Passing 
Passing Activities for Pre Game Warm Ups 
Passing – Possession
Penetrating Passes 
Possession Through the Thirds 
Receiving
Receiving & Turning with the Ball
Receiving the Ball with Your Back to the Goal
Short Passing
U8 Passing Connections 

Possession

Combination Play
Developing Field Awareness to Improve Possession
Developing Support Play to Improve Possession
Passing and Dribbling to Maintain Possession
Playing Forward Back and Through
Possession with a Purpose

Tactical

Building out of the Back
Building out of the Back in a 4-3-3 System (NEW) 
Coach Fullbacks to Join into the Attack
Improving Team Shape from the Middle to the Attacking Third
Improving Width Out of the Defensive Third
Movement off the Ball
Patterns of Player for Playing with a Front Three
Playing with Split Strikers
Retaining Possession to Penetrate (NEW)
Speed of Play 1
Speed of Play 2 by John Ellinger, FC Dallas Coach
Technical Evaluations & Small Sided Games (NEW)

Tryouts

Small Sided Game Assessment
Tryout Player Evaluations
Technical Assessment Charts
Tryout - Technical Assessments


AGE APPROPRIATE LESSON PLANS

U6 Lessons
Principles of U6's Part I
Principles Of U6's Part II
Balance
Coordination
Dribbling With The Head Up
Dribbling To "Get Away"
Dribbling In A Crowd
Dribbling-Sam Snow
Striking A Ball
U6 Variety Of Lesson Plans
U6-U8 Movement
"HD" Lesson for Responsibility

New-Video Lesson Plans

Dribbling Practice Plan

Dribbling With The Head Up (Warm-up)
Dribbling With The Head Up (First Activity)
Dribbling With The Head Up (Second Activity)
Dribbling With The Head Up (Final Game)

U8 Lessons

Principles of U8's 
Dribbling To Keep Possession
Dribbling To Set Up The Pass
Passing
Cooperation
Cooperatively Competing
Making Connections
Receiving
Striking A Ball
U8 Variety Of Lesson Plans
PE in the soccer environment

New-Video Lesson Plans

Striking The Ball Practice Plan

Striking The Ball (Warm Up)
Striking The Ball (First Activity)
Striking The Ball (First Activity variation)
Striking The Ball (Second Activity)
Striking The Ball (Third Activity)
Striking The Ball (Final 4v4 Game)

U10 Lessons

Dribbling-Taking Players On
Dribbling To Beat An Opponent using the Whole-Part-Whole Method
Dribbling-Finding Space
Dribbling To Keep Possession
Improving Individual Possession
Dribbling-Keeping The Head Up
Dribbling To Keep Possession using the Whole-Part-Whole Method
Ball Wizards
Passing
Passing and Receiving using the Whole-Part-Whole Method
Turning and Receiving using the Whole-Part-Whole Method
Heading
Attack Oriented Training
Possession
Spatial Awareness
Striking A Ball-Finishing (Academy Style)
Tackling
Winning The Ball Back
Sample U9-10 Academy Curriculum
Circuit Training for U9-10 Academy
Considerations for the U10-12 Player (6 week program)

U12 Lessons 

"Managing The Game" (U10 and up)
Laps Not Required (U8 and U12 Lesson Plan)
Dribbling
When To Dribble-When To Pass
Running With The Ball
Passing using the Whole-Part-Whole Method
Spatial Awareness
Spatial Awareness-Sam Snow
Movement Without The Ball
Passing To Keep Possession
Teamwork-Shape
Finishing
Finishing (GABOO)
Finishing-Sam Snow
Shooting To Score
Combination Play
Block Tackling
First Defender
Defending Principles (Pressure and Cover)
Goalkeeper Included (session for finishing and goalkeepers)

U13 and Up  

Current Trends and how to apply them in the youth environment
Getting Ready For 11v11 (pre-season training)
Passing using the Whole-Part-Whole Method
Possession-Jeftich
Possession
Passing To Penetrate-Sam Snow
Vision and Support Play
Changing The Point Of Attack
Speed of Play
Combination Play
Teaching the Overlap and Takeover 
Volleying Techniques
Finishing
Team Building Sessions
First Defender for U14 and up
Wing Play
High Pressure Defending
Introduction to Zonal Defending
Zonal Defending
Training Three Central Midfielders Defensively
"Smart" Pressure
Going from the Defensive 1/3 to the Middle 1/3 
Transition
Transition from Attack to Defense
Incorporating the GK Into The Attack
Goalkeeping-"Boxing"
Goalkeeping-"Distribution and Attack Play"
Goalkeeping-Dealing With Crosses
Goalkeeping-U16 Developmental Academy
Goalkeeping-U18 Developmental Academy

Sessions from International Clubs, Conventions, and Workshops

Manchester United 4v4
The Everton Way
Scottish FA Developmental 4's Program
Scottish FA Youth Lesson Plans 12-18
Houllier Session from NSCAA Convention
Condition To Transition-George Perry
MLS Training Session-Kansas City Wizards from NSCAA Convention
New Trends for Warming Up and Cooling Down
Possession Activities from Dr. Lew Atkinson
Ross County Fitness and Technical Session
US Women's National Team Field Testing of Fitness
Newcastle United First Team Training
Sunderland U17's
UEFA Small Sided Games

ODP Sessions

District Training-Dribbling With The Head Up
District Training-Passing To Keep Possession
Pool Training 11-14 age groups Combination Play
Pool Training 11-14 age groups Defending
Pool Training 95 Boys November 2009-Possession to penetrate
Pool Training 96 Girls November 2009-Possession with a purpose
Pool Training 97 Boys-November 2009-Possession with a purpose
Region 2 Defending Training Session
Region 2 Speed of Play Training Session
Region 2 Training Sessions-Disney Event 2007
Region 2 Training Sessions-Decatur, Alabama Event 2009
Region 2 96 Girls Camp Curriculum 2009
Region 2 98 Boys Camp Curriculum 2010
 
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