ODP 910 Academy

9 and 10 year olds Academy Training Program

Purpose:
To provide additional training, development, and competition for all players who are 9 and 10 years old. Players must be 9, not U9 (8).

Plan:
The plan is for a “910 Academy” to be offered to each ODP District once a month starting in September and October and then again from April-June.

Each Academy day/night will go for 90 minutes. The first 45 minutes will be age appropriate training and the last 45 minutes will consist of 4v4-5v5 matches.

Format:
Once an ODP District selects a night the Academy Director for that area will select his/her staff coaches to help with the training.

Training will be based on improving technical needs of players along with small group tactics.
After the training session, the players in attendance will then be mixed so that they can play 4v4/5v5 matches. Each player will play at least 4 matches. Each player will be assigned a number. The coaching staff will stop the match after 8 minutes then ask each player how many points they received for that match. Once they have all reported their scores, the coaching staff will mix the players back up and the matches continue. There will be very minimal if any parent/coach involvement as the purpose here is for players to play without parents/coaches cheering and/or yelling.

Training Focus:
Because players in the 9/10 year old age group typically pass in groups of two’s and three’s when on the field, the curriculum will go up to 3v3 tactically but always stress technique first.

September- Moves 1v1
Incorporating moves into a competitive situation in order for players to express themselves in a match-related environment. This will allow players to learn and to make decisions in how, when, and where to exploit space when breaking down defenders and defenses.

October-Passing and Receiving 2v1
This session will be to improve a players first touch, ability to control the ball, accuracy and weight of passing to a fellow teammate. How to use a teammate to get by one defender.

April- Passing and Receiving 2v2
This session will focus on how players need to take the ball themselves or pass the ball to a teammate. In a 2v2 situation, both players are very important in creating space for each other by either the player on the ball using a fake/feint or the player without the ball making a run or distraction run to confuse the opponent.

May-Passing and Receiving 3v2
This session will be similar to the 2v1 session except that how players need to recognize a 2v1 situation in bigger numbers. This session will have a focus on the player without the ball and how they assist in creating space for the player on the ball, how to provide support for the pass and when.

June-Passing, Receiving and Supporting 3v3
The 3v3 curriculum level builds on the previous 1v1, 2v2, and 3v2 sessions by introducing a third defender. Players now have to work harder to create space and to look for opportunities to break down defenses. Players are called upon to make decisions, communicate, and scheme their way through defenses. Players can achieve this by changing direction individually or with a teammate or by using their teammate to find small combinations to break down the opponent.
If a player attends all of the training sessions in their district, they will receive an Adidas T-shirt and a ball.

Fees:
$10 pre-registration, $15 for walk-up.
Clubs/Associations may send their entire team and get a $5 discount per player.
All players and teams must pre-register on the Indiana Youth Soccer website.

Return to ODP Home