Week 25

Outcomes

• ✓Players can combine multiple skills seamlessly in a live keep-away context
• ✓Players can self-organise positions and triangles without coach instruction
• ✓Players can maintain possession for extended periods under match-level pressure
• ✓Players can identify and communicate the right moment to play forward

Equipment

• 12 size-4 balls
• 24 disc cones
• 4 small goals
• bibs

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: One ball each, free grid.

   How to run it: Complete freestyle: any skill the players want — juggling, dribbling, tricks. Coach circulates and names the skills they see. Energy and joy are the focus of this opening.

   • ›Express yourself — all skills learnt this quarter are yours now
   • ›Quality touches, even in free play

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Groups of 4, one ball.

   How to run it: Moving keep-away 3v1 as a warm-up. Players choose their own formation and angles. No coaching — players self-organise. After 5 minutes, coach asks groups: 'What shape did you find worked best?'

   • ›Players lead — coach observes
   • ›Triangle support and half-turn body shape should appear naturally

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: 6v3 keep-away, 20×20 yd.

   How to run it: Six attackers vs three defenders. Attackers have free choice of all techniques. Challenge: complete 15 consecutive passes. When 15 is achieved, the group celebrates and defenders change. Track team records across the session.

   • ›Mix short and long passes — vary to move defenders
   • ›Use width to stretch — use triangles to keep close
   • ›The half-turn enables instant forward play — use it

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 4v4 keep-away with a central gate (2 yards wide) in the middle of the box.

   How to run it: Teams keep possession and earn 1 point per 5 consecutive passes. Earn a bonus 2 points each time the ball passes through the central gate and is received on the other side. The gate forces deliberate combination play to earn bonus points.

   • ›The gate is your forward pass target — play through it
   • ›Set up the gate pass with support angle and half-turn
   • ›Defenders: block the gate lane — it's the high-value option

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 5v5 on 30×22 yd, small goals.

   How to run it: Full intensity match — players bring everything from Q2. Coach does not introduce new constraints. Just calls encouragement and names the skills as they appear: 'Half-turn Hearts! Triangle play! Great switch!'

   • ›This is the test — all skills combined, no prompting needed
   • ›Play what you see, trust what you've learned
   • ›Celebrate every Q2 skill you see a teammate use

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Circle.

   How to run it: Group cool-down stretch. Each player names ONE skill from Q2 they feel most confident in now versus Week 14. Coach validates every answer. Clap for each player.

   • ›Growth is real — you have all improved since week 14
   • ›Keep practising the skill you named

Outcomes

• ✓Players can apply push-pass, first touch, half-turn, triangles, and width naturally in a match
• ✓Players can make quick, correct decisions under match pressure
• ✓Players can encourage teammates and communicate effectively throughout
• ✓Players can self-reflect on their own performance using Q2 language

Equipment

• 10 size-4 balls
• 24 disc cones
• 2 larger goals or 4 small goals
• bibs
• scoreboard cones

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: Free choice — players select their own warm-up skill.

   How to run it: Players choose any passing or receiving skill from Q2 to warm up individually or in pairs. Coach celebrates the self-direction and names the skills being used around the grid.

   • ›Self-managed warm-up is a coaching skill you're building
   • ›Push the quality — even in freestyle, technique matters

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Team vs team across full width.

   How to run it: Passing warm-up game: two teams pass across the full pitch width, trying to complete 10 passes before the other team does from a standing start. Three rounds. Then transition into positional stretching.

   • ›Compete — this is the attitude for match day
   • ›Quality passes win — not rushed passes

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: Q2 skills circuit — three stations of 5 minutes each: (1) 4v2 rondo, (2) 3v1 half-turn receive and play forward, (3) pairs one-two passing moving through gates.

   How to run it: Groups rotate through the three stations. At each station, a nominated 'captain' leads the warm-up and calls the coaching cues. Coach observes and praises the captains.

   • ›Captains: use the coaching language from the quarter
   • ›Each station is a Q2 skill — own it
   • ›High quality — this is a showcase

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: Round-robin mini tournament: 3 teams of 3–4, rotating every 5 minutes. Small goals.

   How to run it: Teams compete in 5-minute matches. Each goal scored earns 1 point. Every 'Q2 skill goal' (coach identifies: half-turn, wall pass, switch, line-breaker) earns 2 points. Keep a public scoreboard with cones. End with a final score celebration.

   • ›Play with quality and fun — both matter equally
   • ›Cheer your teammates' Q2 moments
   • ›Compete with respect — Hearts way

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: Grand Final: top two teams from round-robin play 5v5 (or include all players), 30×22 yd.

   How to run it: Full match — the best game of the quarter. Q2 scoring bonuses still apply. Third team supports as linesperson. Enthusiastic commentary from the coach. After full time, shake hands and three cheers for both teams.

   • ›Play freely — trust all the work done since week 14
   • ›Every pass is a chance to show what you know
   • ›The Hearts way: skill, passion, and teamwork

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Full team circle.

   How to run it: Cool-down stretches. Coach gives one specific positive observation for each player. Players clap for each teammate. End with the Austin Hearts FC chant and a team huddle.

   • ›Every player has grown this quarter — celebrate that together
   • ›Next quarter we build on this foundation