Sessions for young players should be no longer than 40 minutes, focusing on play-based learning of a few skills like dribbling followed by short games to practice the skills. The space used should start small and increase over the season as skills develop to keep errors low and time on task high. Coaches should plan to introduce 3-4 skills in short periods rather than 1-2 for long periods to keep players engaged and moving.

1. *

2. * Concentration – players of this age will only be able
to handle a 40 min session – even shorter session in
early season.
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3. * Make the session play based. Teach a skill then
make a game up e.g. for dribbling ‘Pirates’ or
‘Rob the Nest’.
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4. * Start in a small space and as the season
progresses keep increasing the space the
players have to run in.
* Skill level low - a bigger space just means more
errors and less time performing the skill.
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5. * Plan to do 3 or 4 skills for short periods rather
than 1 or 2 for long periods of time. Players of
this age need the skills to be changed regularly
– keep them moving.
* E.g. Skill – Dribbling & Tapping
* Introduce skills
* Move in to dribbling relays and tapping relays
* Play a game of ‘Pirates’ or ‘Rob the Nest’ increasing
the grid size depending on the ability of the group.
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