U9/U10 Curriculum

Rickie Powers
U9/U10 Main Points

Technical/Tactical
• High emphasis on individual tactics & ball possession
• Ability to connect and combine with teammates in small groups
• Begin to introduce game model principles
• High focus on SSGs

Social
• Develop a positive team atmosphere and environment
• Engagement of parents within the process

Psychological
• Develop a love and passion for the game
• Culture of self play and practice
Individual Possession
 Individual Tactics & Possession Principles
1. Ball manipulation – core moves & turns – developing a connection with the ball
2. Ability to turn, change direction, and change speed in a variety of ways – ‘staying on the ball’
3. Playing with disguise
4. Awareness – ‘look’
5. 1vs1 practices in a variety of scenarios
6. Staying on the ball with a purpose
7. Carry and travel with the ball under varying degrees of time and space
8. Receiving the ball under pressure from varying angles
9. Dominating the opponent without the ball – ability to ‘lose your man’
10. Before, during, and after
11. Variety of receiving skills and aerial control
12. Creative, confidence, and composed behavior
 Individual Tactics & Possession Activities

• 1vs1 + 1 support player in each grid • Grid setup as in diagram with two goals • 1vs1 + 2
• Aim is to stay on the ball for as long as and gates setup throughout. • Play from target player to target
possible • 1vs1 game with each player trying to player
• Swap roles periodically score in the goal.
• Number of gates dribbled through before
scoring = # of goals
Progressions: • Have to be in end zone before you can
• Progress to 2vs1 score.
 Individual Tactics & Possession Activities

• 1vs1 dribbling over end line under • Grid setup as in diagram with • Reds pass ball across to yellows, who then have to score in
control to score gates spread throughout either mini goal
• 1vs1 having to dribble through as • Reds try to recover ball and go to goals themselves
Progression: many gates as possible without • Have to be in end zone before you can score
• Panna rules the ball being recovered by
defender
 Individual Tactics & Possession Activities

• 1vs1 escape game • 1vs1 protect and escape game

• In pairs, players have a ball each. • Players with a ball each in pairs
• One player is the tagger, and one • One player with the ball in their
player escapes hands and one player with the ball
• If tagged, switch roles. at their feet
• The player with the ball in their
hands has to tag the other players
ball.
Individual Tactics & Possession Example Session

Arrival Activity – PLAY (Tactical PRACTICE Activity #1 PRACTICE Activity #2 TRAINING GAME
SSG)
Small Group Possession
Small Group Tactics & Possession Principles
1. Support – the provision of passing options
2. Numerical advantages
3. Recognize, understand, and dominate an opponent in a 2vs1
4. Width/depth
5. If a pass is not available, then do not pass it
6. Movement to lose a marker
7. Penetration – ‘playing through gaps’
8. Dribbling and passing to attract
9. Body orientation
10. Changing the speed and rhythm of the game
11. Composure and patience when in possession of the ball
12. Intent and purpose when performing an action
13. Connect and combine with teammates
14. Awareness and perception – ‘look’
15. Forethought and anticipation
16. Before, during, and after
17. Creativity and improvisation
Small Group Tactics & Possession Activities

• 2vs1 where players have to • 2vs1+1 • 2vs2 + 2

continually try to bypass • Same as left but now have • Play from end to end
defender and dribble over to bypass two defenders. continually.
end line to score • Use the half way line as a
reference for positioning and
space. E.g. when in
possession, have to occupy
both halves, but can move
and rotate.
Small Group Tactics & Possession Activities

• Same as on previous page, • Unopposed technical • 1vs1 +1

but now 3vs3 +2 practice working on • 1vs1 game with GKs and a
combining as a pair forward player for each
attacker.
• Have to combine with
attacker before you can go
to goal.
 Small Group Tactics & Possession Activities

• 2vs1 repetition circuit • 2vs1 to goal • 2vs1 combining with a

• Dribble over end line to • Have to perform overlap teammate
score before you can score • Attackers in each half, with
• Remove restrictions after a defender defending the line
certain amount of time (bottom).
• (Top) – 2vs2 with one
defender pressuring ball
 Small Group Tactics & Possession Example
Session

Arrival Activity – PLAY (Tactical PRACTICE Activity #1 PRACTICE Activity #2 TRAINING GAME
SSG)
Rondos and Position Games
 Rondos

• 4vs1 • 3vs1 • 4vs2

 Position Games

• 2vs1 + 2 • 3vs2 + 2 • 2vs2 + 2

 Position Games

• 3vs3 + 2 • 5vs3 • 3vs3 + 4

• Reds possess ball vs. blues who
try to recover and go to goal
Position Games

• 7vs4
• Reds possess ball from GK to GK
• Blues aim to recover ball and go to
goal.
Small Sided Games
 Small Sided Games

• 2vs2 (2vs1) • 3vs3 (3vs2) • 4vs4 (4vs3)

 Small Sided Games

• 5vs5 SSG
• 2vs2 in each half + GKS
• Defenders can join in attacking
half when ball goes in.
• When GK has the ball, back to
2vs2 + GK
Game Model
 Game Model Principles

In Possession Out of Possession Transition – ATT-to-DF Transition – DF-to-ATT

1. Positional structure of team 1. Immediate intention to 1. Anticipation of loss of 1. Immediate change of

2. Numerical superiority prevent/delay forward play possession mentality from defense to
3. Finding and becoming the most 2. Try to win the ball back as 2. Immediate change of mentality attack
open player close to opponents goals as from attacker to defense. 2. Attack quickly to goal
4. Support behind and in front of possible. 3. Compact spaces around the ball 3. If the above is not available,
ball 3. Compactness as a team 4. Be aware of space away from possess the ball.
5. Patience and composure when the ball.
in possession, and not rushing
play forward if it is not on.
6. Everyone involved
 Game Model Example Session

Arrival Activity – PLAY (Tactical PRACTICE Activity #1 - Rondo PRACTICE Activity #2 – Position TRAINING GAME
SSG) Game
 Macrocycle (season) Example
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

Game Day Game Day Game Day Game Day

Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2

Technical/Tactical

Individual Tactics & Possession - Own the ball x x x x x x x

x x x x x

Small Group Tactics & Possession - Connect and combine with teammates

Game Model & Team Tactics - Control the ball, control the game

Psychological

Awareness & Perception

Forethought & Anticipation

Before, during, and after

Decide & Execute

Commitment

Communication

Concentration

Control

Confidence

Social

Positive Team Environment

Passion for the game

Action Review Process - Reflection, feedback, and goal-setting. Before, during, and after. Both coach and player led.

Cultural Standards/Code of Conduct

Homework - Encouarge players to practice the moves away from practice.

Parental Engagement - Clinics, communication etc.

Physical (ABCS) - Overall aim here is to ensure sessions contain lots of both game related and general movement skills such as balance, coordination, agility, speed.

Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12

Game Day Game Day Game Day Game Day Game Day

Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2 Practice 1 Practice 2

Technical/Tactical

Individual Tactics & Possession - Stay on the ball, and master the ball x x x

x x x

Small Group Tactics & Possession - Connect and combine with teammates

x x x x x x

Game Model & Team Tactics - Control the ball, control the game

Psychological

Awareness & Perception

Forethought & Anticipation

Before, during, and after

Decide & Execute

Commitment

Communication

Concentration

Control

Confidence

Social

Positive Team Environment

Passion for the game

Action Review Process - Reflection, feedback, and goal-setting. Before, during, and after. Both coach and player led.

Cultural Standards/Code of Conduct

Homework - Encouarge players to practice the moves away from practice.

Parental Engagement - Clinics, communication etc.

Physical (ABCS) - Overall aim here is to ensure sessions contain lots of both game related and general movement skills such as balance, coordination, agility, speed.