Coaching players during COVID-19: working with individuals

Session 2: dribbling and ball mastery

Organisation

• Mark out an area 20x20 yards, with four corner grids and one central grid all measuring 5x5 yards, as illustrated above.
• Five players with a ball each.
• One grid and one ball per player.
• Each grid has a designated task for players to perform (e.g. four scissors moves, four turns with inside of foot, four turns with outside of foot, four kick-ups etc).
• The coach designates a player who, on completing their task, triggers all groups to dribble to next corner or the next free grid.
• Coach to determine the movement of the group around the practice area (e.g. clockwise, diagonally etc.).

Session information

• Establish social distancing conditions to ensure no misunderstanding.
• Area size to relate to ability of players and can be adapted to suit individuals where necessary.
• This activity will develop players’ ability to move quickly with the ball under control as well as assess and respond to practice demands.

Coaching points

• Encourage competition between individuals: be the first to dribble to each corner grid.
• Players should work clockwise and anti-clockwise.
• Encourage ball familiarity by including a variety of moves, lifts and balances can be called-for.
• Ensure players use both feet and all surfaces with their heads up, knees bent and arms out for balance.
• Players should concentrate on skills, but also be aware of the need to react and move-on, triggered by the designated player.

Adaptations

• Mix-up the movement of the group (e.g. individual players swap diagonally whilst others rotate clockwise/anti-clockwise).
• Introduce passing players in each corner who pass and move within the dribbling traffic.

Session 3: dribbling and turning

Organisation

• Mark out an area 10x10 yards, with two ‘home gates’ and two ‘target gates’ for each team as illustrated above.
• Two players, each with a ball, start in their respective ‘home gates’.
• Players start by facing each another separated by an imaginary line that neither player can cross.
• Players attempt to dribble at pace to the opposition ‘home gate’.
• Players try to complete a turn between this gate before sprinting to their target gate and stopping their ball dead.
• The winning team is the first that completes all actions and stops the ball dead between their target gate.

Session information

• Establish social distancing conditions to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Ensure area size is appropriate to ability of players. Adapt to suit individuals if necessary.
• Quick changes of direction and pace are required to get away from partner.
• Unopposed work allows the player with the ball to practice under regulated pressure.

Coaching points

• Players need to look up to assess situation and capitalise on opportunities that appear before making the turn.
• Immediately before making the turn, players must check their shoulders and accelerate into the space once complete.
• Emphasise foot-speed and clean contacts on the ball to change direction.
• Ensure players decelerate at the appropriate time to stop the ball on the line.

Adaptations

• Condition the type of turn to be practised including a Cruyff, drag-back, step-over etc.
• Include a goal rather than a target gate and use a goalkeeper.

Session 4: skills corridor

Organisation

• One player with a ball.
• One ‘corridor' per player.
• Mark a zone at the end of each ‘corridor’ to assign start/end points.
• Duplicate the set-up for each player, ensuring a minimum of 2 metres between each ‘corridor’.

Session information

• Establish social distancing conditions to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Each player travels with the ball from one end zone to the other – a point is given for reaching each end.

Coaching points

• Encourage players to use different parts of their feet to manoeuvre the ball: inside, outside, sole.
• Each player could be challenged on number of touches, beat your last score, number of tricks/skills etc.
• Ask players: “when will you travel quickly with the ball?” “When will you need to keep it close to you?”.

Adaptations

• Play to a time limit: how many can they score in 30 seconds?
• Add some interference: cones, bibs, other footballs.
• Add two players on the outside of the corridor, 2 metres away from each side, who try to pass a ball between each other.

If you’re back out on the grass and want to find more safe sessions, head to our playlist by clicking here.

The FA’s Diversity & Inclusion team are aware of additional concerns and anxiety that members of the BAME community may have regarding returning to football. We fully support these concerns and care about the welfare of coaches and volunteers when carrying out football related activities. We also recognise that early research and insight in relation to the impact of COVID-19 on the BAME community is complex and still not fully understood.

If you have any health concerns regarding returning to coaching for yourself, your players or parents/carers etc you can contact The FA at D&Isupport@theFA.com for advice. We must follow the latest government advice and ensure that we do not feel pressured to return to coaching. You can find some additional support below:

• https://www.gmcvo.org.uk/Coronavirus/BAMESupport
• https://www.mind.org.uk/