Week 33

Outcomes

• ✓Players can pass the ball into an open goal from close range.
• ✓Players can stay balanced and not rush when very close to goal.
• ✓Players can pick a target area in the goal before shooting.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 6 small flat-cone goals
• 16 cones
• pinnies

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Three goals at 3 yards away. Very close and very open — almost impossible to miss.

   How to run it: Players dribble up to within 2 yards and tap the ball into the goal. No big kicks — just guide it in. 'Pretend you're whispering the ball into the net.'

   • ›Tiny touches at this range — power is irrelevant.
   • ›Both feet equally welcome.
   • ›Make it feel easy and confidence-building.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game: Freeze Tag Football

   8m

   Set up: All players with a ball. Two taggers without a ball.

   How to run it: Taggers try to touch players. Tagged player must freeze with foot on ball. To unfreeze, a free teammate taps the frozen player's ball with their foot. Play two 3-minute rounds, swapping taggers.

   • ›Dribbling fast to avoid is fine — but staying near teammates is smart.
   • ›Encourage helping frozen teammates quickly.
   • ›High energy, constant movement.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game: Finishing Academy

   12m

   Set up: Four finishing stations. Each station: one small goal, cones marking a shooting spot 3, 5, and 8 yards away. One player per station.

   How to run it: Start at 3 yards — tap it in. Move to 5 yards — inside-foot placement. Move to 8 yards — full laces shot. Each distance = three attempts. Count how many go in. Rotate stations every 2 minutes.

   • ›At 3 yards: calm, no power — just guide.
   • ›At 5 yards: inside foot, aim for a corner.
   • ›At 8 yards: laces, follow through.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games: 3v3 Close-Range Finisher

   15m

   Set up: Two 3v3 games on small 12x8 yard pitches. Goals only 2 yards wide. No goalkeeper.

   How to run it: Goals are tiny — players must be accurate. No blast shooting within 4 yards — must be a placement shot. Let the players figure out the technique. Play normally otherwise.

   • ›Tiny goals reward placement over power — let the game teach.
   • ›Praise any composed finish, especially after a dribble.
   • ›Keep energy up despite smaller goals.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Players line up 3 yards from a big open goal.

   How to run it: One at a time, each player walks up and taps the ball gently into the empty goal. Coach announces in whisper voice: 'And the crowd goes wild...' then erupts in cheering. Every player goes twice.

   • ›Comedic, joyful end to the session.
   • ›Reinforce the feel of a calm, composed finish.

Outcomes

• ✓Players can slow down near goal to improve their finishing.
• ✓Players can create close-range chances for themselves and teammates.
• ✓Players can celebrate accurate finishes as much as powerful ones.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 8 small flat-cone goals (mix of sizes)
• 20 cones
• 2 sets of pinnies

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Small goals placed very close to the shooting area. All players with a ball.

   How to run it: Players practise walking-pace dribbling right up to the goal and tapping the ball in. No rush — slow and controlled. Coach whispers commentary.

   • ›Set the calm composure tone from the first minute.
   • ›Praise any inside-foot placement.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game: Sneak Attack

   8m

   Set up: All players with a ball. One or two 'sentinels' without balls.

   How to run it: Players dribble to sneak past the sentinels and reach a cone on the far side without being tagged. If tagged, do three toe-taps and try again. Sentinels swap every 2 minutes.

   • ›Stay calm and low — panic leads to loss of ball.
   • ›Wait for the sentinel to commit before moving past.
   • ›Translate to: stay calm near goal too.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game: Penalty Parade

   12m

   Set up: Set up one goal per pair of players, 5 yards from the shooting spot. Players take turns at a slow, calm 'penalty'.

   How to run it: Player places the ball 5 yards from goal. Takes two steps back. Walks up calmly and places it — inside foot, corner of the goal. Count accurate corners (not just goals, but which corner). Play 10 penalties each.

   • ›Slow run-up — this is composure training.
   • ›Pick a corner before walking up.
   • ›Celebrate hitting a corner even if it doesn't go in.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games: Mini-Match Festival

   15m

   Set up: Three 3v3 or 4v4 games with small goals. No goalkeepers.

   How to run it: Play three 5-minute games. Goals scored with an inside-foot placement get extra cheering from the coach — goals from a blast do not. Players quickly learn accuracy is rewarded.

   • ›Narrate every placement goal loudly.
   • ›Don't penalise blasts — just celebrate placements more.
   • ›Keep games fast and joyful.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Players sit in a star shape, feet pointing to the middle.

   How to run it: Roll the ball to each player's feet — they tap it back to the coach with one calm touch. Coach names something they did well today. Everyone gives that player a thumbs-up. Go around the whole circle.

   • ›Personal, specific praise for every player.
   • ›End on warmth and connection.