head coach feedback & U4/5 program feedback

Hello coaches,


I am hoping you will take a few minutes to provide a little bit of feedback to myself and RYSA on the head coach position so that we may continue to grow as an organization.  You can reply to myself or to Kim or Heidi who sit on the RYSA board (who I have cced this email to).  Please be constructive with your feedback so that it is useful for us…so please ensure you explain why.  For example, I liked the blog because it was easy to follow and the videos were helpful or I did not like the blog as it was 
difficult to follow and the videos were of no relevance to the subject matter.


I have really enjoyed working with all of you and hope you have had fun coaching youth soccer.


Regards,
Kendra von Bremen
Head Coach, RYSA
  
Coaches Feedback
What age group did you coach?


Did you use the coaching blog and was it useful for you?


Were the practice formats okay and did you have a preference?


Did you have enough access to the head coach?  Was the head coach informative, supportive, knowledgeable and helpful?  Was time spent with the head coach useful?


Did the coaching blog and head coach increase your confidence as a coach?  Did this help your coaching and ultimately your practices?


If you attended a coaching clinic, was it useful and informative? 


Any further recommendations or feedback on the season, the head coach, the blog etc…


U4/5 program (only for U4/5 coaches)
As this was a pilot program please take a moment to answer the following:


What did you like/dislike about the session formats?


Do you think yourself and the parents had enough information on what to expect for this program?


Were the ages appropriate?  Do you think a June cut off would be better, so must turn 4 by end of June of that year? 


Any other feedback or comments on the U4/5 program?

U4/5 wind up

The wind up will go as follows:

4:30-4:45 warm up games and gathering of your team.

4:45-5 -games

5-5:15-awards

5:15-5:30 snacks...provided by RYSA for all players and coaches

Games as follows:

1v5       4v10

2v6       7v11

3v12     8v9

Great job all season coaches, I have been super impressed with the results of this pilot program, and I have received TONS of positive feedback, so WELL DONE!  l

Please fill out the feedback form on the program and the head coach position when you have a minute so RYSA can continue to grow and make things better.

Thanks coaches!!

Kendra

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR COACHES

RYSA PLAYER EVALUATIONS

Hello Caoches, we are getting closer to the end of the season,

and its time to begin filling out the player evaluations. 

These evaluations are confidential and will only be used by the RYSA in creating House Teams for next season.

 

Please go to the RYSA web site www.revsoccer.com

You will find the evaluations on the front page under COACHES 2012. 

 

It is very important that you take the time to fill out these evaluations as it helps the RYSA to make as fair teams as possible.  We did not receive many last year, which made for making fair teams more difficult.

Thank-you!

The RYSA

U4/5 practices week of June 12

Hello coaches, our final full week of soccer is here.  We will spend the first 1/2 hour doing drills & warm up and then games to finish up the final 15 minutes with a snack and social time at the end.  Tuesday June 19th is the wind up....more on this later in the week.  This week there will be a horn at 5:00 to signal moving to games and a horn to end at 5:15.

Warm up/Agility:  Donkey Tails, Dribble grid (square dance) or your favourite tag game...try this variation of soccer tag for some fun
http://www.soccerxpert.com/soccerdrills/id1256.aspx

Star Wars:  a type of themed obstacle course add onto it with the arches etc..

http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/210_star_wars_u46.php

Dribbling drill: Nuts and Squirrels, Indy 500, Pirate Pete


Passing drill- from bytesized coaching try skittle alley
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/209_skittle_alley_u46.php

Shooting drill- "corner shot" from byte sized coaching

http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/229_corner_shot_u46.php

or another shooting drill of your choice

Games this week:
Tuesday                    Thursday:
1v9      4v8                  1v6      4v9
2v12    5v11                2v7      5v10
3v7      6v10                3v11    8v12

U6 practice - week of June 12

Final full week of soccer and your final practice.  Wind up on June 19th...where you will be playing your last games.

Warm-up - play a quick game of tag, donkey tails or Coach says then grab some of the agility equipment from the bucket and do a quick Agility session.  Kids love the hurdles and ladders.  You can also do a lot with cones.  Please ensure you share around the agility equipment.  Ideas in the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLEVwGjVNoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgP3-GwwRkI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njkpTaHP-50&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLEVwGjVNoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t26CIBKRKWE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk_tRrY35Ww&feature=related

Ball warm up:
Play a game of hitters and dodgers, working on dribbling and passing:
http://www.soccerxpert.com/soccerdrills/id1255.aspx
Move to (dribble grid) in that same grid have cones on each side, have everyone dribbling in the grid, when you say cone, they take their ball and dribble 2X around a cone on outside of grid....using outside only or inside only, make sure you use both feet.  Have arches or parents legs or cones set up and then with a partner do small passes when coach says passes.

Introduce Give and Go- no defenders
In your grid, start getting the idea of a give and go without defenders.  Have a parent or another coach and yourself on sides, have players dribble around and do a give and go with people on side of grid.
http://betterfootball.net/soccer-drills/passing-drills/give-and-go-passing-dril/
Move to give and go with shot on goal using coach/parent.

Shooting drills:
-diagonal soccer shooting drill:
http://www.soccerxpert.com/soccerdrills/diagonal-soccer-shooting.aspx
shooting drill that also works on throw ins:  Mack 1 from bytesized soccer
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/10_mack_1.php

Scrimmage:
Don't have kids sitting out in your scrimmages, have everyone playing!  Try for a change, in order to score you must stop the ball on the goal line, this works well with a four goal (from cones) game.

U8 Girls and Boys - week of June 12

Games both days this week due to so many cancellations....check RYSA website on MONDAY night for where and who you are playing.

U10 boys and girls week of June 12

Games both days this week since so many have been cancelled or unfinished!  Check the RYSA website on Monday night for details as to where and who you are playing.

U13 girls - week of June 12

Last practice...Tuesday June 19th is the wind up where you will play your last games.  I will finish up goal keeping with Kevin's group today and then come by each of your practices.

Focus:  1 v 1 

Warm-up- Active warm up with dribbling and passing.

Agility-ladders and hurdles and cones, use as availible

Shooting mechanics more tips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjxwZR9FSDI&feature=relmfu

do a quick shooting drill to review shooting mechanics if you like

Drills for 1 v 1 (coaching points for defending and attack at end of drills section) (choose which you like or create/use your own version)

Kings court

-set up enough grids (slightly longer than wide and not super big 10x15 or so) for each pair

-make the grid on one end the kings court that you're trying to get to

-each grid plays 1 v 1 (keeping score) winners move towards kings court or stay in kings court, loosers move down (hint put weeker players close or in kings court to start so they don't feel stuck in the bottom court the whole time)

-to start, one person passes to partner and then the game is live, pass must be a good pass, person who scores passes it to other person have them switch ends

1v1 with shot

-one line with balls by goal post(defenders), one line 20ish yards out (attackers), defending line passes ball to attackers then it's live (really work on good close down and jockeying).  Ensure good pass to start and have them switch lines.

Win ball drill

-two lines facing net (or coming in from sides at top of 18) (or coming from either side of net) (or coming from behind each goal (make a second goal) coach plays ball in and then it's live 1 v 1

1v1 to goal

http://www.soccerxpert.com/soccerdrills/id1282.aspx

gauntlet drill

http://3v3soccer.blogspot.ca/2009/05/gauntlet-drill.html

have the defenders move forward in the gauntlet if they win the ball (attacker goes in the grid as a defender if they lose the ball)

Coaching points

Defending:

-quick close down

-delay/give space - don't commit- jockey

-watch ball not player

-boxer stance & on toes

-make the attacker make the mistake

-force to outside/weak side if you know it

-go for ball when attacker has pushed ball away from feet

Attacking:

-attack with speed

-keep ball close

-attack weak side if you know it

-try and catch them flat footed

-exploit them if too close

Defending tips/points

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Tn3cFmrCg&feature=relmfu

http://3v3soccer.blogspot.ca/search/label/3v3%20soccer%20defense

Fun offensive moves you could teach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfZjK1A0rto&feature=relmfu

http://3v3soccer.blogspot.ca/search/label/1v1%20soccer%20moves

Scrimmage - allies scrimmage for width if you like (create allies along each sideline where a wing player plays{if short on numbers have one wing player who plays for both teams ie. whichever team passes them the ball they go that way} can't tackle the ally players, must play to allies in order to score

U13 boys- week of June 12

I will be at your practice on Thursday this week....last practice...on Tuesday next week it is the wind up where you will be playing your final games.  I will be doing my last goal keeping session Al's group and then be coming by your groups to check in.

Focus this week:  tackling & working on possession in games

Warm-up:  dribble grid (try adding pulls and dribbling around cone on outside with outside of foot 2x, and inside 2x using both feet.  Play 'shark', reminding them of good shielding technique

Agility:  cones & hurdles (U6's will also be using, so please put back in bin when done)

Start with walking through the basics of tackling (as good tackling technique is imperative) ...you should also spend some time talking about slide tackles....and the importance of clean tackles.  Slide tackles are a last ditch effort, and player must be going for the ball....slide tackles take you out of the game in that you are on the ground and not that effective on the ground hence why you should only use them in a last ditch effort (eg. no other defenders behind you)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUtauRD5ipo  to get them to understand the basics....quick review

Tackling teaching points:
-non kicking foot next to the ball
-head down, knee and shoulder over the ball
-ankle of tackling foot firm and locked
-knees bent to lower centre of gravity
-contact is made with inside of foot


Try some of these games/drills to get them into tackling situations plus they work on shielding
http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/four_corners_aggressiveness.htm
http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/bang_steal_the_bacon.htm  (bang only)
Can also add onto 1v1 drills from last week, this meshes well into the numbers game below....moving onto timing your tackles and then what to do with the ball once you have won it
(ie) things like playing a simple ball to a team mates feet vrs kicking it and hoping for the best thus creating 50/50 ball where your team then has to then potentially win back possession vrs playing a ball to space.....then move to creating passes and space and finding windows (holes to pass through) within your scrimmage and the idea of playing the ball out wide where there is space

Play the numbers game:  divide into two teams and number (try to get good match ups), two goals, coach plays in 50/50 balls and calls numbers, can start with just 1v1, move to 2v2 and more....then move to scrimmage working on possession and ball movement...incorporate some of the principals of play.

U4/5 - week of June 5

Stations this week.  Horn every 7 minutes to switch stations...double horn to start and finish.  Have kids move in a counter clockwise direction.  We won't stop for games at the end but each there is a scrimmage station in each set of stations.  Next week we will have games against other teams again.  You will run a different station on Thursday, so that it changes things up, as different coaches have different variations of things, so make sure you check italics for Thursday station.  Also Thursday is wacky hair day, let your kids know on Tuesday, and yes, coaches get out your wacky lids too!

Warm up-  (Britt & Danica) (Dave)                          thursday (Keith & Helen) (Jamie & Steph)
Freeze tag (play first without balls, then add balls where you have to kiss balls in order to be free).

Obstacle course - (Keith & Helen) (Jamie & Steph)  thurs (Mel & Kris) (Jordan & Jill)
use up to 6 arches and whatever else you can think of....come up with a theme of some sort

Goal keeping - (Mel & Kris) (Jordan & Jill)       thurs (Heather & Anna) (Tami & Careen)
Review basics, starting on knees with basic scoop technique (I like to use the term 'lock the box' so they bring ball under complete control) rolling it back and forth with a partner.  Could have them dive from knees...then move to standing up and scooping (don't let it go through legs!).  Play game where you spread balls around grid and they run around grid, when you say ball or dive they jump on a ball, play like musical chairs but keep everyone playing...make sure there is one less ball so they have to hunt every time.

Soccer bowling (shooting/passing accuracy) OR downtown cruising (dribbling)(Heather & Anna) (Tami & Careen)         thurs (Kim & Chris) (Jordan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKGyrJGmJNk&feature=relmfu
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/201_downtown_cruising_u46.php

Shooting - (Kim & Chris) (Jordan)   thurs (Blake & Alicia) (Lili & Alei)
pick your favourite shooting drill or game that we have done
(could be crocs and swamps, 4 goal shooting on mom & dad, 1v1 from sides, numbers game one goal etc...or your own variation)

Scrimmage - (Blake & Alicia) (Lili & Alei)  thurs (Britt & Danica) (Dave)
small field, use pinnies so they can see who is on their team even if this has limited meaning at this point.  Encourage throw-ins if out of play using correct technique.  Goalies if you like.

U6 practice - week of June 5

I will be at your practices on Thursday with my wacky hair-do as it's wacky hair day...remind your kids so that they can plan their hair in advance!!  I will come by each group and work with you or jump in as needed.  This week we're going to spend some time on goal keeping and throw ins.

Warm-up - Dribble grid (right foot, left foot only or other foot, storks/toe taps, tic-tocs, turns, fakes?,  knee to ball, head to ball etc....) Then have coaches or parents act as sharks trying to get the balls away from the players....if player loses ball, then play that either they become a shark or that they lose their ball to person who took it away and then become a shark or that they have 5 toe taps and then back in the game.

Throw-ins - take time to review proper throw in technique.  Have them in partners throwing back and forth to each other.
-two hands on the ball
-ball goes all the way behind the head
-two feet planted on the ground
-throw the way you are facing

Obstacle course - use the arches and create a themed obstacle course of some sort or try relays.  Use the arches for passing through, crawling through, dribbling through etc...
Try adding onto Star Wars:
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/210_star_wars_u46.php


Shooting drill- "corner shot" from byte sized coaching
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/229_corner_shot_u46.php
or another shooting drill of your choice

Goal keeping- spend some time reviewing goal keeping.  Start them with partners, rolling ball back and forth to each other, working on scooping the ball up and "locking the box".  Have them try diving from their knees stopping the ball and "locking the box".  Play a round of GK circle game, or create your own game with goal keeping....perhaps have them be worms and try and get those dribbling around etc...
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/226_roll_and_catch_u46.php
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/215_diving_at_feet_u46.php
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/14_gk_circle_game.php

Scrimmage of some sort to end!

U8 boys & girls - week of June 5

U8 boys, you are working on your own this week.  This week we are working on passing with the weaker foot as well as moving after you pass...trying to get the idea of a give n go!  I will finish up working on goal keeping next week when I see you.

U8 girls, I will be at your practice and working with each group on goal keeping.  I will set up somewhere on the field and then cycle groups through, starting with Natalie's group and then Cassie/Riley's group.  I will be covering the basics of goal keeping with the exception of positioning.  Make sure you incorporate some shooting (see shooting drills from week of May 22 for more ideas in the blog archive on the right) into your practice this week so the girls have a chance to practice goal keeping.  I will do my best to try and work with all your groups.

Lots of fun warm-up ideas try a few.
Agility & non ball warm-up- try a game of link tag for fun-and ladders/hurdles if you want

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg1cg-bYTXE&feature=relmfu

Ball warm up- play frozen tag with balls, where if you are tagged, person has to dribble through your legs to free you.

More ball warm up.  Pairs, each pair has a triangle of cones about two feet apart.  They must dribble different sequences around the triangle of cones, using only outside of foot, only inside of foot, figure 8's, circle each cone twice etc...whatever you want to throw in, but make sure they use both feet, work intensely for 1 minute and switch.  Great drill to work on footwork with ball which all of these players need.
Obstacle course for fun using arches and cones if you like.  Could incorporate hurdles and ladders as part of it too and have a ball and non ball part.

Circle Drill to review passing with weaker foot only!!

http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/17_circle_game.php

could also do basic shuttle drills with having them pass half way with weaker foot.  As this gets them moving a bit more.
or Keep your yard/room clean
http://www.coachingsoccer101.com/keepyardclean.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju7gXm_4eBQ&feature=relmfu

Passing and Moving Drill (working on following your pass and opening up as you receive...first drill on link only)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8T8QoW17XA

Basic Give and Go Drill

Start with a "dummy" defender/cone...move to live defender.  Have them shoot after wall pass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaYLRaRdh6I

move to this drill

http://betterfootball.net/soccer-drills/passing-drills/give-and-go-passing-dril/

Scrimmage - ally soccer again to work on passing to wings and try to get give and go happening with the ally player!  See previous U8 posts for more explanation.

U13 girls - week of June 5

We'll pick up where we left off last week.  I'll continue working with groups on goal keeping (finishing Gerald & Steve's crew first) and we'll just carry on with last weeks practice plan.  View the blog archive to pull it up.  Feel free to work in 1v1 too (that was supposed to be this weeks focus...now next weeks!).