U8s Show Sharp Skills and Smart Play at Training

The Catterick Crusaders Under 8s had another fantastic and energetic training session this week, with a strong focus on agility, footwork, and decision-making.

We kicked things off with a dynamic warm-up centred around agility. Players worked their way over hurdles before moving quickly through a speed ladder, placing each foot accurately and finishing with sharp side-to-side steps. As the session progressed, we added the ball into the drills, helping the players grow in confidence while moving and protecting possession from an opponent.

Next, the team split into pairs to develop their attacking footwork. The focus was on taking on defenders by stepping inside, then pushing off the outside foot to drive back infield. This helped the players understand how to change direction effectively and keep defenders guessing.

Building on that, we moved into 2v1 situations where players were encouraged to make decisions under pressure—whether to pass to a teammate or back their footwork to beat the defender. It was great to see growing confidence and some excellent choices being made.

To finish, we brought everything together in a conditioned game. Players were rewarded with extra points for successfully applying the skills we had practised, particularly effective passing and using footwork to break through the defence. This added a fun competitive edge while reinforcing the session’s key learning points.

Overall, it was a brilliant session with great effort, enthusiasm, and development from all players. Well done, Crusaders!