Week 5 · U6
Support and getting open
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Move to a spot where a friend can pass to you
- 2Wave and call for the ball when open
- 3Spread out big instead of chasing in a bunch
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
Free Play — Watch the Helpers
Straight into small games as players arrive. Coach only watches: when a friend has the ball, does anyone MOVE to help them? Collect little moments to praise later — no coaching yet.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Rescue Passes
Small square, three friends with a ball against one gentle "ball pirate." Four passes in a row rescues the treasure — one point! If your friend cannot see you, MOVE until they can. Swap the pirate every minute so everyone gets a turn.
The coach is the pirate and moves in slow motion; two passes in a row counts as a rescue.
Two pirates against three rescuers, or rescuers only get two touches each.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
4v4 — Shout the Helper
Normal games, and after every goal the coach names the HELPER — the player who moved to an open spot — as loudly as the scorer. Helpers make goals happen.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·Can your friend SEE you? If not — move!
- ·Move when the ball moves.
- ·Spread out big — make the field huge.
- ·Wave your arms and call their name!
Make the squares smaller so players must move sharper to be seen.
Bigger squares, pirates walk, and pause the game to point out open spots.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
One question all game: "Can your friend see you?" Wide players get WIDE in our diamond to help the player on the ball. Everyone defends, everyone attacks, rotate all four spots.
Message to forward to your parents
We learned that soccer is a helping game — moving so a friend can find you with a pass. Ask your child what a "rescue pass" is and enjoy the story!
This week's two videos
Every session is Play-Practice-Play: kids play from the moment they arrive, you teach ONE thing in the middle, then they play again. Watch the prep video the night before — the activity video is that middle PRACTICE part.
Play Practice Play Training Session
Watch the night before to understand the idea
A clear animated walkthrough of how a Play-Practice-Play session hangs together — the exact structure our youngest two bands train in. Watch before your first session back to sharpen how you open with play and return to play. Use it to frame every week of the month, not just Week 1.
Watch on YouTubeSoccerCoachTV.com - Belgium Give and Go Passing Drill.
Your PRACTICE part — the one thing you teach mid-session
A 90-second visual of a clean give-and-go circuit that U8s can run with cones and smiles. Use it as your Week 1 Practice-phase template, then add a chasing defender in Week 2 to force quicker link-ups. Keep lines short — three players max per group so touches stay high.
Watch on YouTube