The Ocean — Training Activity (U5–U10)
Coach: Renata Lawson
Club: Copper Mountain Soccer Club
Role: Director of Coaching
Qualification: USSF ‘D’ (United States)
Date: 5/03/20
Time: N/A
Duration: 00:30 min
Age/Level: U5–U10
Session Objective
Dribbling with the inside and outside of the feet.
Warm-Up: Toma Toa – The Giant Crab (5–8 minutes)
Description
Toma Toa is the giant crab from the movie Moana. In a 20×20 yard grid, players dribble their ball from one side of the “ocean” to the other while moving like crabs, using the sides of their feet.
Progress the activity by adding random cones inside the grid. These cones represent sea lions, and sea lions eat crabs. Players must dribble around them without hitting the cones.
Coaching Points
- Help players understand the mechanics of pushing the ball sideways to maneuver around obstacles
- Praise players for moving side to side
- Encourage players to stay on their toes to promote fast feet
Activity 1: Crabs and Sea Lions (8–12 minutes)
Description:
Start with two sea lions (the only players without a ball). On the coach’s signal, crabs will try to dribble from one end of the ocean to the other while keeping control of their ball. If a sea lion steals a ball and kicks it out of the 20×20 yard grid, then the crab who lost their ball becomes a sea lion. The last crab left is the winner.
Coaching Points:
- Players should keep the ball close so they’re able to change direction quickly when needed.
- Tell them to watch how the sea lions are moving and where they’re looking so they can avoid getting eaten.
- Tell players it’s better to get more touches on the ball from side to side than it is to move fast with fewer touches.
Activity 2: 4 Corners of the Ocean (8–12 minutes)
Description:
There are 3×3 yard squares in each corner of the 20×20 yard grid. Each team has two diagonal corners where they’ve one player waiting for a pass. When a player in a corner receives a pass, the player who passed to them takes their place and the receiving player dribbles towards the other corner. Play is continuous and there is no out-of-bounds.
Coaching Points:
- Encourage passing to make the ball travel faster.
- Remind players to move side to side when they are dribbling to be able to avoid the other team.
- Keep asking them where their corner is to keep them on track.
- Praise players for using the sides of their feet to promote more side-to-side movement.
Activity 3: Scrimmage (8–12 minutes)
Description
Small-sided game played on a 20×30 yard grid.
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to move side to side to beat defenders
- Teach players to recognize where defenders are headed and go the opposite way
- Emphasize pushing the ball instead of kicking to maintain control
- Help players understand that frequent changes of direction are difficult for defenders to track