This Wednesday’s session is designed to improve how we get open for teammates, and continue building the mindset we want going into the spring.
Our normal practice time is 5:00–6:00 PM, with an optional extended session from 6:00–6:20 PM for players who would like to stay a little longer.
Schedule & field setup
- 5:00–5:40 → Red fields
- 5:40–5:50 → Team break + discussion
- 5:50–6:00 → Transition to large boxes
- 6:00–6:20 → Large boxes (optional)
The final 20 minutes are completely optional. If you need to leave at 6:00, no problem at all.
Ball Mastery & Fake Shot Focus (5:00–5:15)
We’ll open the session with our usual ball mastery work, but with a special emphasis on the fake shot.
The fake shot is one of the most effective tools in soccer when it’s done correctly. We’ll focus on:
- Selling the shot with body language
- Getting the defender to commit
- Changing direction and accelerating into space
The goal here is technique over speed. Players will start slow, perform the move cleanly, and then explode rather than rushing through it.
Freestyle Skills (5:15–5:20)
For five minutes, players will work through freestyle touches.
Each player will cycle through at least five different skills, repeating them and finding rhythm. This is about creativity, confidence, and becoming comfortable on the ball without pressure.
Passing, Movement & Getting Open (5:20 –5:40 )
For the extended portion, we’ll move into the larger boxes and work on getting open for passes and understanding where to go on the field.
Players will work in 2v1 situations, with three groups of three running at the same time. The rule is simple:
- Complete 10 passes or skills before you’re allowed to shoot
Skip to 1:43
Team Break & Discussion (5:40–5:50)
We’ll take a short break to recap and introduce the first part of a mindset series based on The Four Agreements. I made a post about this a few weeks back.
We’ll start with Controlling the Controllables.
We can’t control:
- Referees
- Opponents
- A bad play by a teammate
What we can control:
- Effort
- Attitude
- Decisions
- How we respond to challenges
The focus is simple: How do we still find ways to win and improve, even when things don’t go our way?
Quote of the week:
“It’s about always thinking. Always moving. If you stand still you can’t help your teammates or the team.”-Johan Cruyff
Looking Ahead to Spring 2026
We’re gearing up for the Spring 2026 Heartland season, and the seedings have been released. This year, we’ve been placed in Division 6.
Here is a link to the seedings…
As we prepare, our focus will stay on:
- Off ball movement to get open for the pass
- Better decisions and better shot selection
- Blocking the shot when on defense
- How to mark up the defender
Every training session is a step toward that.
We will also be selecting 2 captains for the year. Captains will be responsible for leading the team in warmups. They should also display leadership qualities like controlling the controllables.