Martin Bathke

Youth Sports Supervisor

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Soccer Lesson Plans

Pee-Wee (1st - 3rd)

• Develop basic control of the soccer ball with both feet
• Become comfortable with dribbling while moving in different directions
• Learn basic technique for passing with the inside of the foot
• Develop confidence receiving and stopping the ball
• Learn basic shooting technique
• Understand when to dribble, pass or shoot
• Learn simple defensive concepts
• Develop basic understanding of spacing and working with teammates
• Demonstrate teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence while playing

Seasonal Goals

• Week 1
• Primary Skill: Dribbling & Ball Control
• Secondary Skill: Movement
• Week 2
• Primary Skill: Passing & Receiving
• Secondary Skill: Dribbling movement
• Week 3
• Primary Skill: Shooting
• Secondary Skill: Dribbling passing
• Week 4
• Primary Skill: Basic Defense
• Secondary Skills: 1v1 & Transition
• Week 5
• Primary Skill: Ball Control & Teamwork
• Secondary Skills: Passing spacing
• Week 6
• Primary Skill: Skill Review
• Secondary Skills: All Skills

• Coaching Emphasis:
• Biggest priority is on fun, confidence, and lots of touches on the ball
• Focus on the season progression of Individual Ball Control to Passing to Shooting to Defending to Teamwork to Game Play

Weekly Skill Progression & Coaching Tips

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Players dribbling in a designated area
• Coach Calls out: stop the ball, go, turn, change direction etc.
• Red Light, Green Light
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Basic Dribbling
• Keep the ball close, use small touches, changing speed while dribbling, and have players use their right, left and inside of their feet.
• Skill Drill (20 minutes)
• Cone Dribbling Course and Dribble & Turn
• Game (10 minutes)
• Sharks and minnows
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• 3v3 or 4v4
• Players should dribble when they have open space
• Finish with light stretching and a quick review
• Game Focus
• Encourage dribbling
• No emphasis on positions
• Praise players for new skills

Week 1 - Dribbling & Ball Control

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Partner passing & moving
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Inside of the foot passing
• Teach them how to pass with their inside foot and how to properly receive the ball with the inside foot.
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Partner Passing and Passing Gates
• Game (10 minutes)
• Passing Challenge
• Teams attempt to complete as many as passes as possible
• Players move to a new space after passing
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• 3v3 or 4v4
• Encourage players to pass when a teammate is open
• Game Focus
• Look for teammates
• Pass when someone is open
• Encourage players to move after passing

Week 2 - Passing & Receiving

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Dribble around the field, on command players stop the ball and perform a simple move
• Dribble and shoot races
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Basic Shooting
• Teach players how to properly shoot with their laces while emphasizing control over power
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Shoot Through the Gates, Dribble & Shoot, and Pass & Shoot
• Game (10 minutes)
• Shooting Competition
• Award points for shots on target
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• 3v3 or 4v4
• Encourage players to shoot when they have a good opportunity
• Game Focus
• Shoot when close enough to the goal
• Don’t be afraid to take a shot
• Follow the ball for rebounds

Week 3 - Shooting & Finishing

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Dribbling Warm-up
• Mirror movement game
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Defensive Positioning
• Teach players to stay between the attacker and the goal, keep a good defensive stance, and to watch the ball & the hips of the attacker
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• 1v1 Defending and Defend the Goal
• Game (15 minutes)
• Numbers game
• Coach calls numbers, players who have that number will play 1v1 or 2v2
• Cool Down (5 minutes)
• 3v3 or 4v4
• Encourage players to recover and defend after losing the ball
• Game Focus
• Stay between the opponent and the goal
• Work hard to win the ball back
• Encourage players to help teammates

Week 4 - Basic Defense

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Free Dribbling
• Change of direction and speed on command, add turns and simple moves
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• First Touch
• Introduce: Stop and control, Control and dribble, Control and pass
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Pass, Move Receive and Keep-Away
• Game (10 minutes)
• Team Passing Challenge
• Complete consecutive passes while being spread out and communicating
• Scrimmage (5 minutes)
• 4v4 or 5v5
• Encourage passing, movement and dribbling
• Game Focus
• Spread out
• Look for open teammates
• Move after passing
• Help teammates who have the ball

Week 5 - Ball Control & Teamwork

• Practice
• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
• Dynamic Stretching
• Team’s favorite game
• Players vote
• Skill Development (15 minutes)
• Review:
• Dribbling, Passing, Receiving, Shooting, Defending
• Allow players to practice each skill for a few minutes
• Skill Drills (20 minutes)
• Stations
• Dribbling - Cone Course
• Passing - Passing through cone gates
• Shooting - Shoot at small goals
• 1v1s
• Game (10 minutes)
• World Cup - Mini Tournament
• Split team into small-sided sides and play a a quick tournament
• Scrimmage (5 Minutes)
• Finish with a fun scrimmage and celebrate improve & effort throughout the season
• Game Focus
• Having fun
• Trying learned skills
• Passing to teammates & Dribbling into open space
• Shooting opportunities
• Playing defense
• Good sportsmanship

Week 6 - Putting It All Together