U4/5 fall soccer week 4

focus:  finishing/scoring

Coaching points for shooting:
-non kicking/planting foot next to ball
-non kicking/planting foot pointing at target
-strike ball with laces, toe pointed down and ankle locked


warm up:
Obstacle Course: use your imagination and create an obstacle course.  Land mines/ lots of cones to dribble through, hurdles to jump over, arches to crawl under or jump over, cones to go around, ladders etc...be creative!

Nuts and Squirrels 

this time do a round with a goal in each corner and they have to shoot it into the net 

15 x 15 grid - 4 small goals or "hoarding areas/trees" on sides or corners of grid.....all balls (nuts) in middle of grid.  Kids (squirrels) in pairs or 3's depending on numbers in each goal/hoarding area.  Coach shouts "go" players take turns running into the middle and dribbling back a ball back hoarding area (trying to get as many nuts as they can), when there are no balls left in the middle coach yells "steal" or something else appropriate and then they may try and steal nuts from anywhere (other hoarding areas).  No defending the nuts!  After they understand the game, have them pass the ball back to their team/house.

Shoot on mom, dad, coach etc....

Set up four goals and kids are to dribble around and shoot and score on each parent, might have a place that they have to dribble around before they can go and shoot on someone else

Soccer Bowling

(if it's cold, you'll want to have a few lanes so to speak)

Soccer bowling (shooting/passing accuracy)

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

or

Topple me Coconuts 

Split players into 2 teams and have them line-up as shown below. Place balls on top of cones like coconuts. Ask players to alternate making passes/shots to try and knock the ball off of a cone. If a player is successful they can go and retrieve both balls and bring them back to their side. 

Crocs and Swamps

http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/211_swamps_rivers_u46.php

or
make two lines of cones heading towards the net, the kids need to pass to parent/coach and not hit the crocs (cones) and then shoot on net.ach side of the grid (use cones or grab a couple of arches which I will bring to the field).  Put parents/coaches in goals and then have the kids work on dribbling around and shooting on each goal.  Count how many times you score!

1 v 1 attack

two goals, have half team on each side line, when you call their names they go and challenge a ball that you roll in, each team having a goal they need to score on

Numbers Game-one net...focus shooting (might split into two groups of two teams)
Set up a small grid with goal at one end.  Separate players into 2 teams lined up on each side of goal.  Place two cones just a bit further than shooting distance even with corners of goal, and place yourself between with a stash of balls.  Number players 1,2,3,4,5 etc. Call out a number. That numbered player on each team must race around the cones into the field where a ball is played. Players are trying to both defend and score on the same net. Encourage celebrations after a goal! Progress to 2 or 3 players. Add a goalkeeper (might just keep it at one number (set of players) coming out at a time)

Game:  2 teams, two goals

U6/7/8 fall soccer week 4

focus:  finishing or shooting

Coaching points for shooting:
-non kicking/planting foot next to ball
-non kicking/planting foot pointing at target
-strike ball with laces, toe pointed down and ankle locked.
-follow through to target
Skill focus shooting mechanics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac8r9XlSWo0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3wi0tehvIw&feature=relmfu


Warm up/Agility:  Follow the Coach 
(instead of parent partners just use partners) have the agility items set up and the arches so they have different challenges
Each child partners with his/her parent and finds space inside the playing area not too close to other pairs. As well as being purposeful each exercise described should be treated as fun/inventive and is performed alternately by the child and parent together. Jogging forward – child follows parent – parent weaves around the area. As coach shouts change they quickly switch roles
move to:
Variations
As above but skipping, hopping (one foot), bunny hopping (two foot) giant steps, walking backwards
Coach calls out commands, touch ground with hand, sit down, stand up, dive and roll on ground etc

Play a game:  4 goal soccer
Coaching shooting.

Fun little preamble to practice shooting technique
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wxCfL92L_k

You might want to head to the fence and work on shooting technique...play hit the coach (run down the line)

skill focus:  shooting
simple activity of two lines, each kid with a ball facing coach/team mate.  Pass to coach or team mate who lays off the ball to side for a shot
http://expertfootball.com/coaching/shooting.php
(first drill on page) - worry less about if they are shooting in or out of penalty area.
Can adapt this drill slightly and add a defender, where the coach/player who was initially receiving for layoff, now this player is the attacker (back to net), defender behind them, attacker receives pass and needs to turn and play a shot on goal (have defender play dummy to start and play tight...then move to live defender)

Shoot and Keep:  Coach passes ball to player positioned 10 meters outside the goalie area.
Player takes one touch of ball then shoots to score on net. Player must shoot before the penalty area. The player then goes in net. Keep players moving by having them quickly receive and shoot ball then become goalkeeper. 
Progression: if you get scored on sit out. Play until you have a winner.
Focus on players properly kicking a moving ball and goalkeepers practicing the skills they worked on last week.
Kids love this activity!

Clean your room/messy room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju7gXm_4eBQ

U9/10/11 fall soccer week 4

focus:  finishing or shooting


Coaching points:
-planting foot pointing at the target
-planting foot next to ball if too far back, ball will go up because you will be forced to lean
-striking ball with inside laces, toe pointed down ankle locked
-knee over ball (of striking foot)
-shoulder over the ball (head down as striking)
-quick snap and follow through
-always strike a moving  ball


Warm up:

Game:  4 goal soccer
coach finishing/scoring/attacking

Pick a few of the following, there are lots!


Skill session: shooting
set up as in videos or against fence to work on actual striking of the ball and using proper technique the videos review technique
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac8r9XlSWo0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3wi0tehvIw&feature=relmfu

Shooting lay off drill
simple activity of two lines, each kid with a ball facing coach/team mate.  Pass to coach or team mate who lays off the ball to side for a shot
http://expertfootball.com/coaching/shooting.php
(first drill on page) - worry less about if they are shooting in or out of penalty area
Can adapt this drill slightly and add a defender, where the coach/player who was initially receiving for layoff, now this player is the attacker (back to net), defender behind them, attacker receives pass and needs to turn and play a shot on goal (have defender play dummy to start and play tight...then move to live defender)

four corners shooting drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuz6JGaEYtY&feature=related
Remember to keep the players moving.

shooting under pressure
2v2 game
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/64_2_by_4_shooting.php
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrkcQtuA3P8
I like this one!

World Cup - play teams of 2 or 3 and if you lose the round your team goes in goal with the goalie
http://soccerdrillshq.com/world-cup-soccer-drills/

Numbers Game:  two teams (put one in pinnies), two goals, number each group of players, attack to score, can do individual numbers or call groupings of numbers

Game:  Just play the beautiful game but coach shooting skills.  You may want to bring goals close together so players can have opportunities to take lots of shots.

-Week 3: U4/5
Further dribbling and passing practice.

Dribbling points:
*Remember to demo dribbling skills.
Cues:  lots of touches on the ball, keep ball close
          
Passing points:

-non kicking/planting foot next to ball
-non kicking/planting foot pointing at target
-strike ball with side of foot with ankle locked

- keep the ball close

Warm up:  Animal island.
In a 15x15 grid have each corner identified with different color cones.
Players are told that they are on an island and they are to try their best to survive. They can always find safety somewhere on the island.
They are deer and the island is full of logs to over. They are to run around the island jumping over the logs. Watch out a forest fire is coming they must run to the _____ corner to safety.
You are now a rabbit jumping around the island, however here comes a fox (coach), players must run to _____ corner to safety.
Have players stand on edge of grid and jump into the water. They can pretend to swim around the island.
Make up other animals and challenges such as being an eagle, or crab etc.
The goal is to have them moving and stretching and of course having fun.

Please choose a few activities that players either really enjoyed or ones you did not get to in the first two weeks.

Finish the practice with a short game.

Week 3: U6/7/8
Review of dribbling and passing.

Warm Up:

Dribble Grid/Square Dance (review that when dribbling with defenders keep the ball close with lots of touches) get them using all parts of their feet including the sole to roll it back and forth, toe taps (storks), stopping and turning etc..
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/227_square_dance_u46.php
Transition into players passing ball to a partner within the grid. Encourage them to be moving around the grid (rather than standing in one place) and passing to partner. You may have them run around a cone and then receive a pass, then the passer runs around a cone to receive a pass. 

Game: Coach Can Play
20x15 field. Two goals, two teams, but coach always plays for the team that has the ball and models good movement and passing skills. Do not be afraid to stop the game and have players spread out to become more available to receive a pass. 

Shark (where if they have their ball taken away by you they become a shark with you) play it British Bull dog style where all the fish have to get to the reef on the other side without the shark getting their ball...if you the shark gets their ball then they become a shark with you.  Fish swim when the sharks call out SHARK!!

Circle dance:
Half of the players on outside of circle with a ball each at their feet. Other half of group on the inside of circle. Players on inside receive and return passes from players on the outside. Focus on firm, accurate passes.  

Choose one or two activities from the previous two weeks.

Game: Good old soccer game for 10-15.

Week 3: U9/10/11

Review of dribbling and passing skills.
See previous posts for key points.

Mass warm up:
Dribble grid - players dribbling in space following directions from coach ...
using left and right foot as well as different parts of the foot (inside, outside, sole, heel), changing direction and speed. Dynamic stretching also incorporated such as toe taps, storks, burpees, ball under bum ....
Transition into passing warm up with pairs of players passing to each other in grid. Coach to review communication such as square, support, time.

Game: Uneven game.
In a large grid, play 8 vs 4 or equivalent where larger number of players try to make 5 passes in a row.
Defenders with pinnies when they win the ball try to make 3 passes. Losing team does 5 pushups or situps. Encourage players to use the whole playing area and to make triangles to ensure there is always space.

Skills developers:

Circle dance:
Half of the players on outside of circle with a ball each at their feet. Other half of group on the inside of circle. Players on inside receive and return passes from players on the outside. Focus on firm, accurate passes.  Transition to players receiving balls and having an option to pass to any player on the outside. Encourage outside players to communicate using man-on, time or turn. Outside players need to be calling for the ball.

1v1 Dribbling Attack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadxBPmQvtg

Passing with gates/arches
Gates allow you to adjust the size
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pRJPd0FfuI (again video reviews coaching points)


Breakaway: Two nets, two goalies and two players.

Players start at half line. Challenge is to see how many goals each player can score in one minute.

Each player dribbles towards opposite nets and shoot on goalie, then return to center line to dribble ball towards opposite net. Continue until minute is up. 

Players not involved in activity can be seeing who can do the most juggles without ball hitting the ground

Feel free to do any of the activities from the past two weeks. 

Game: Allow players to play game for 10-15 minutes.

Week 3: Tuesday, September 24
Greeting coaches.
Sorry for taking so long to get this blog together. Kendra is much more timely with her blogs.
We are going to review our first two skills we have been practicing the past couple of weeks: dribbling and passing. This will give you an opportunity to do some of your favorite activities again as well as run those activities that you did not get time to. I will be posting more information later tonight.