This document provides coaching plans and tips for two soccer coaching sessions for U8 players focusing on ball mastery. The plans include warm up, unopposed practice, opposed practice and conditioned game sections. The warm ups involve dribbling exercises, the unopposed practices are individual ball skills work, the opposed practices are 1v1 and small sided games, and the conditioned games incorporate penalty shots. The coaching points emphasize changing pace and direction, individual ball skills, creating space, and teaching positions. The document also includes self-evaluation forms and tips for coaching youth soccer effectively.

1. Coaching U8
Session Plan 1&2
COACH Giuseppe TOPIC Ball Mastery DATE
Activity Set up Coaching points
WARM UP (10/15 min) Area 20x20yds, with 4 corner grids,
measuring 8x8yds, as illustrated.
• 16 players, ball each.
• Players work in 4 groups of 4. Coach
designates a player who when he/she
has completed task, triggers all groups
to dribble to next corner grid.
• Groups stick around practice area
• As a ball familiarization
activity: a variety of moves lifts
& balances can be called-for.
• Players need to concentrate on
skills, but also be aware of need
to react & move-on, triggered
by designated player.
- Launch a challenge between
players to make the game more
interesting
UNOPPOSED PRACTICE (10/15
min)
Each player has a ball and cone
(imaginary defender).
The players must complete various
skills of their choice
In order to get ½ yard and dribble into
space. (step over, drop shoulders etc)
Progress/ 1/ Create some gates and
make players dribble through gates as
quick as possible, so they get as many
gates as possible. Time it and cheer a
winner at the end.
2/ Place defenders in cones. Their job
is steal the ball whilst dribblers are
crossing, however, dfs can’t move
around the pitch.
- change pace &
direction
- 1v1 moves (encourage
players to try some
skills)
- creativity
- positive attitude
OPPOSED PRACTICE (30 min) Two teams of two. Pitch divided in 4
grids, two per each half. Place 2 players
per each side. Mark the pitch with a
cross. If DFS play to an attacker, they
can join him in the grid, so it becomes a
2v1.
- Teach players to observe their
positions.
CONDITIONED GAME
PENALTY SHOTS GAME
10 minutes of penalty shots to make
kids relax.

2. Coaching Session Self-Evaluation
Learner Coach: Session Date:
Was the organisation
and arrangements of
the session
appropriate?
(facilities, equipment
Resources, etc)
Was the Health and
Safety of the
environment and
session maintained?
Did the session
deliver the outcomes
of the FA LTPD 4-
corner Model?
Did the session
content meet the
player’s needs and
expectations?
Was your coaching
style and
communication
appropriate to the
players?
Did the player’s
performance improve
as expected?
What feedback have
you had from other
people involved in the
session?
If you were to coach
again, what might you
change?
The aim of the next
session might be:
LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes
Personal Action Plan
Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions:

3. TECHNICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL
BALL MASTERY FOCUS
OBSERVATION
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
ABCs COMMUNICATION
Development of the session
Some players are
struggling to cope
with the session.
Describe how you
would adapt the
session to make it
more achievable for
them:
I show them skills slower. Emphasize lots of repetitions and give them
encouragement.
Some players are
finding the session too
easy. Describe how
you would adapt the
session to make it
more demanding for
them:
I make them practice sessions by moving.
Identify what session
you would ideally
have coached prior to
this session:
Dribbling through the cones
Identify what the
content of the next
session might be:
Ball mastery

4. Session Plan 3&4
COACH Giuseppe TOPIC Ball mastery DATE
Activity Set up Coaching points
WARM UP (10 min) The player in the centre returns the ball
to team-mates at the side of the pitch.
Alternating rapidly from
one side to the other. The player uses
both feet. Every 20 passes a player from
the side changes places
with the player in the center. The player
at the side, after passing the ball to the
centre, changes places with another
team-mate at the side in order to
alternate participation.
• Start with a short
distance (5 yards),
moving on to
medium distance
(10 yards) and
finally long distance
(20 yards).
• Improved
accuracy and
speed of passing.
• Watch the position of
the body when the
player strikes the ball
• Make sure that the
strike of the ball is crisp,
not prolonged.
• Make sure that the
player who is going to
make the pass looks left
and right to get used to
gathering information
UNOPPOSED PRACTICE (15 min) The players perform different dribbling
movements through the cones. The
players should do four repetitions of
best foot, weak foot, insides of both,
outside of both, sole drags, toe
touches on the ball etc.
Progressions/ make cones large or
narrow.
- Teamwork: players split in two
queues, one player per time dribbles.
The team which firstly complete the
series WINS.
- Change Pace & Direction
- Inside/Outside Cuts
- Body Shape To Control The
Ball
- Close Control
- Head Up
OPPOSED PRACTICE ( 30 min) Two teams of two. Pitch divided in 4
grids, two per each half. Place 2 players
per each side. Mark the pitch with a
cross. If DFS play to their attacker
teammate, they can join him/her in the
grid, so it becomes a 2v1.
- Teach Players To Observe
Their Positions.
CONDITIONED GAME
PENALTY SHOTS GAME
10 minutes of penalty shots to make
kids relax.

5. Coaching Session Self-Evaluation
Learner Coach: Session Date:
Was the organisation
and arrangements of
the session
appropriate?
(facilities, equipment
Resources, etc)
Was the Health and
Safety of the
environment and
session maintained?
Did the session
deliver the outcomes
of the FA LTPD 4-
corner Model?
Did the session
content meet the
player’s needs and
expectations?
Was your coaching
style and
communication
appropriate to the
players?
Did the player’s
performance improve
as expected?
What feedback have
you had from other
people involved in the
session?
If you were to coach
again, what might you
change?
The aim of the next
session might be:
Personal Action Plan
Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions:

6. LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes
TECHNCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL
BALL MASTERY FOCUS
PASSING OBSERVATION
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
ABCs TEAMWORK
COMMUNICATION
Development of the session
Some players are
struggling to cope with the
session. Describe how
you would adapt the
session to make it more
achievable for them:
Passing/ reduce distance between players. Ball mastery/
enlarge/strict cones
Some players are finding
the session too easy.
Describe how you would
adapt the session to make
it more demanding for
them:
Passing/ reduce touches: 1 touch or give a touch limit eg 2 touches
maximum. Ball mastery/ enlarge cones. make players work with
their weak foot
Identify what session you
would ideally have
coached prior to this
session:
Dribbling through cones
Identify what the content
of the next session might
be:
Passing through the cones

7. Session Plan 5&6
COACH Giuseppe TOPIC Ball mastery DATE
Activity Set up Coaching points
WARM UP (15 min) 4 groups of players. The players must
dribble to the cone and then perform a
turn of their choice. The coach should
Show some examples but allow the
players freedom of choice on the turn
they use.
- Change pace &
direction
- Skills (Step over & U
Turn)
- Head up
- Creativity
OPPOSED PRACTICE (15 min) The defender passes to the attacker
and then races to defend. The attacker
must use disguise to beat the defender
and pass into one of the target goals.
- Passing & receiving
( address of pass
‘mate’, type of pass
‘short & long, foot side
‘inside’)
- Skills ( feints, Step
over, U Turn. Give
players freedom of
choice when executing
moves.)
OPPOSED PRACTICE (30 min) Two teams. The game is played 3v3
in the central zone. The aim of this
game is for a player to dribble out of
the central zone and into the
attacking zone. When inside the
attacking zone it’s a 1v1 to score.
- Creating space
( players without must
move wide to get in the
defender’s area)
- Possession game
- 1v1 skills (Transfer
skills of previous
session to this one)
CONDITIONED GAME
PENALTY SHOTS GAME
10 minutes of penalty shots to make
kids relax.

8. Coaching Session Self-Evaluation
Learner Coach:
Session
Date:
Was the
organisation and
arrangements of the
session appropriate?
(facilities,
equipment
Resources, etc)
Was the Health and
Safety of the
environment and
session maintained?
Did the session
deliver the outcomes
of the FA LTPD 4-
corner Model?
Did the session
content meet the
player’s needs and
expectations?
Was your coaching
style and
communication
appropriate to the
players?
Did the player’s
performance
improve as
expected?
What feedback have
you had from other
people involved in
the session?
If you were to coach
again, what might
you change?
The aim of the next
session might be:
Personal Action Plan
Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions:

9. LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes
TECHNCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL
Ball mastery Focus
Positions teaching Observation
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
ABCs Teamwork
Communication
Development of the session
Some players are
struggling to cope with
the session. Describe
how you would adapt
the session to make it
more achievable for
them:
Defenders & attackers ‘mark a grid where only attackers or
defenders are allowed to get in. If players struggle to serve the
ball, the coach does for them.
Some players are finding
the session too easy.
Describe how you would
adapt the session to
make it more demanding
for them:
2v1: Defenders/ stay in a grid where another is going to be.
The attacker will move around the grid to get the ball whilst
dribbler is getting closer to the grid. Defenders will need to
pay attention to both of them.
2v1: Attackers/ time limit. Time attacker to dribble and finish.
Add one defender every 20 seconds
Identify what session
you would ideally have
coached prior to this
session:
1v1 with ghost defenders
Identify what the content
of the next session might
be:
2v2

10. Session Plan 7&8
COACH Giuseppe TOPIC Ball mastery DATE
Activity Set up Coaching points
WARM UP (15 min) A 15 x 6 yard grid with a marker
cone in the middle."
Two teams with a ball to each players
on opposite end lines." The first player
from each team dribbles to the marker
cone and makes a double scissors
move with the Right foot and
goes Right then join the end of the
opposite line. "
The next two players in line repeat the
sequence."
- Encourage players to start
slowly and focus on good
technique."
- Then with mastery to take
only one touch before
making the feint move at
the cone."
- Head up
- Change pace & direction
- Skills ‘Drag Scissor &
Double Pass
OPPOSED PRACTICE (15 min) Player A passes the ball out to
Player B and runs to defend 1v1. once
this ball is complete, the coach passes
a 2nd
ball to the next one. Once players
have finished they invert positions, eg
defenders now become attackers,
attackers become defenders.
Progression/ add another attacker
(2v1), make defenders stay into a
marked grid, so attackers have time to
control and dribble.
- 1v1 skills
- Feints to kill defender
- Think about how cheat
defenders
- Accelerate once you
recognize space to go
in
OPPOSED PRACTICE (30 min) Each team attack three gates and
defend three gates. The pitch is short
in length but is very wide to encourage
quick switching of play, one-two’s and
overlaps in order to disrupt the
opponents defence.
- Teach positions
CONDITIONED GAME
PENALTY SHOTS GAME
10 minutes of penalty shots to make
kids relax.

11. Coaching Session Self-Evaluation
Learner Coach:
Session
Date:
Was the
organisation and
arrangements of the
session appropriate?
(facilities,
equipment
Resources, etc)
Was the Health and
Safety of the
environment and
session maintained?
Did the session
deliver the outcomes
of the FA LTPD 4-
corner Model?
Did the session
content meet the
player’s needs and
expectations?
Was your coaching
style and
communication
appropriate to the
players?
Did the player’s
performance
improve as
expected?
What feedback have
you had from other
people involved in
the session?
If you were to coach
again, what might
you change?
The aim of the next
session might be:
Personal Action Plan
Particular points that you think you should address at the next/future sessions:

12. LTPD 4-Corner Model Outcomes
TECHNCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL
Ball mastery Focus
Observation
PHYSICAL SOCIAL
ABCs Teamwork
Development of the session
Some players are
struggling to cope with
the session. Describe
how you would adapt
the session to make it
more achievable for
them:
Dribblers/ mark a line for defenders which they cannot cross.
Or mark a line for defenders which they can’t cross and add
another attacker who moves behind defender, so it becomes
more challenging for him/her but easier for the dribbler.
Defenders/ Close distance between dribbler and defender so
dribbler works more on decision-making.
Some players are finding
the session too easy.
Describe how you would
adapt the session to
make it more demanding
for them:
Dribblers / Close distance between dribbler and defender so
dribbler works more on decision-making.
Force them to execute a skill to make goal count.
Defenders/ add two more goals for defenders to protect.
Identify what session
you would ideally have
coached prior to this
session:
1v1 unopposed with defenders substituted by cones
Identify what the content
of the next session might
be:
1v1 and 2v2 in a small-sided game

13. Coaching Tips
Start and end the practice with fun
Ensure you have a ball to each player
Simple organization and lay out of the session
Simple communication/rules of the practice
No “bus queue” of players waiting to play/shoot
No set playing positions
Develop individuals, not teams
Lots of 1v1 practices with experiences of playing different types of player
(skill, speed, strengths etc)
As much as possible try to attack and defend the goals
Inspire players with the session, your personality, energy and enthusiasm
Don’t over coach, give the players “free” playing time in the session
Give the players questions to ask and choices in technique and decision making.
Involving
them in this process accelerates learning and development.
From time to time give the players a homework task (skills to master etc)
Encourage attacking football
Encourage players to work hard
References
Boanas. K. FunSessionGames5-8,pdf
Beale, M, Chelseadevelopmentbooklet,pdf
Cooke,C, Coach Great Soccer, “The Coerver Coaching Session Planner©2010. "
WashingtonYouthSoccerAcademy, Futsal Coaching Academy Program,pdf

14. Giuseppe Emma (Youth Soccer Coach)

15. Thank you