Doctors – Soccer Training Activity (U5–U10)
Coach: Renata Lawson
Club: Copper Mountain Soccer Club
Role: Director of Coaching
Qualification: USSF “D” (United States)
Date: May 3, 2020
Duration: 30 minutes
Age Group: U5–U10
Session Objective
Develop spatial awareness to better shield the ball.
Warm-Up: Ambulance (5–10 minutes)
Description
Each player has a ball and brings it to the coach. The coach throws the ball and tells the player how to bring it back.
The coach can ask players to return the ball using:
- Outside of the feet
- Inside of the feet
- Knees
- Bottom (sole) of the shoes
- Head
The coach should continually move so players must keep looking for their target while bringing the ball back like an ambulance (super fast).
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to keep their head up as much as possible while moving the ball
- Players should get as many touches as possible while moving quickly
Activity 1: Hospital Tag (8–12 minutes)
Description
In a 20×20 yard grid, every player has a ball. Players attempt to tag other players’ balls (touching, not kicking).
- First tag: Player holds one arm across their torso
- Second tag: Player holds both arms across their torso
- Third tag: Player must go to the hospital (coach) to get better
To return to play, the coach may ask players to complete a task such as:
- 5 toe taps
- 5 tick-tocks
- Other basic ball mastery movements
Progress the activity by making the space smaller to increase difficulty.
Coaching Points
- Emphasize shielding by keeping the body between the tagger and the ball
- Encourage players to dribble into open space
- Look for opportunities to tag other balls when players are not looking
Activity 2: Doctor Doctor (8–12 minutes)
Description
In a 20×25 yard grid, there are two teams. Everyone has a ball except for two doctors.
- Players freeze opponents by passing their ball into another player’s ball
- Frozen players hold their ball above their head and call out “Doctor, doctor!”
- Doctors unfreeze teammates by touching them
Each team has a hospital where their doctor is safe.
A team wins if:
- The opposing doctor is tagged with a soccer ball below the knees outside of the hospital, or
- The entire opposing team is frozen
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to scan their surroundings constantly
- Look for open space while watching for opportunities to tag opponents
- Emphasize keeping the ball close to move quickly and shield when needed
Activity 3: Scrimmage (8–12 minutes)
Description
Small-sided game played on a 20×30 yard grid.
Coaching Points
- Encourage side-to-side movement to beat defenders
- Help players recognize defender movement and change direction
- Emphasize pushing the ball instead of kicking to maintain control
- Reinforce that frequent changes of direction are difficult for defenders