This document provides guidance for developing session plans for the USSF "D" License course. It outlines key questions to address for each session plan: WHO (players involved), WHERE (on the pitch), WHEN (key moments in a game), WHY (importance and consequences), WHAT (principles of play), and HOW (relevant techniques). Numbering systems and areas of the pitch are referenced. The overall purpose is to help license candidates create effective session plans that teach important tactical concepts.

1. USSF “D” License Course
Session Plan Help
Zac Crawford, Alabama Soccer Technical Director

2. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
•WHO- are the key players involved
•List the players that are directly involved and those
that are involved indirectly
•Don’t forget the goalkeeper
•Use the numbering system in the 1-4-3-3 system as
provided by the US Soccer Curriculum

3. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
Numbering System

4. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
•WHERE- on the pitch does this topic take place
• Be cognizant of the particular part of the field (i.e.
defensive half, attacking half)
• Also recognize the other places on the field that are
important and what decisions comes with those particular
locations
• Flank channels of defensive half
• Middle channels of defensive half

5. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
•WHEN?
• When are the key moments in the game that this topic
takes place?
• What are your visual cues that you will teach players to
recognize for this topic?
• E.G. ability to recover the ball in the defensive half
• The opponent enters the defensive half of the field
• This will make your activities require a midfield line designated by
cones

6. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
•WHY?
•Why is important for our team to learn this topic?
• Not only, what are the repercussions if we do not do it
correctly?
• But also, what can we do once we’ve accomplished it?
• E.G.- ability to recover the ball in the defensive half so that
we can bait the other team to commit numbers forward
with the purpose of counterattacking

7. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
• WHAT?- Principles of Play
• Attacking
• Penetration
• Support
• Mobility
• Width
• Improvisation
• Stay on topic
• Defending
• Pressure
• Cover
• Balance
• Compactness
• Control and Restraint

8. USSF “D” License- Session Plan Help
•HOW?-Techniques that are important to this topic.
• Obviously, these will be covered mostly in the technical
warm-up.
• Be sure to consider the specific techniques that occur on
certain regions of the field.
• For instance, in Improve your team’s ability to defend against
wide attacking play you should discuss not only the 1v1
defending abilities of the #2 and #3 players, but also discuss the
ability of the GK #1 to cut out crosses and organize the defense.