U10 Week 4

Hey Coaches!

This week is supposed to be warm, so it might be wise to email your team and remind them to bring lots of water. We will be doing some fun game this week to hopefully keep everyone motivated through the heat! Make sure you give your team plenty of water breaks, but at the same time don’t give them too much time to goof off.

Do your regular warm up with the 2 lines. It has been great to see everyone doing this. Warming up is vital to being a good soccer player, and helps prevent injuries. It is also a time to help them focus on what they are there for.

Once you have done your warm up, have them pair up and get in groups of 3 and try to keep the ball in the air while juggling. See who can do it the longest. This is also something you can get them to do while they arrive.

This week we will be working on defending. As I was watching the game last week I saw 2 aspects of the game that we will work on. One was defending. All the teams were aggressive, but the technique behind defender was missing a little. There was lots of just running at the ball and lots of collisions. Hopefully these drills/games will help with defending awareness. Next week we will work on using the width of the field and how to work as a team with our positioning.

Defending coaching points. Here are some points for you as a coach to remember about defending, as well as a youtube clip that talks about Block Tackling. Remember, we DO NOT slide tackle at this age, and all slide tackles will be called by the ref and could result in your player being asked to sit on the sidelines during a game. This is simply about safety as most players at this age are unable to slide tackle safely.

Ensure you spend time demonstrating proper defending stance and positioning. Encourage good defending skills and correct when needed.

Defender's stance:

Defender's feet should be about a shoulder width apart, boxers stance

- legs should be slightly bent

- stay on toes so you can react to any sudden changes of direction by the attacker.

-quick close down. You want to get to the attacker quick, but in the last few feet slow your run down so you can close down the space and react to their movements.

-delay/give space - don't commit- jockey (wait for them to take a bad touch or make the first move).

-watch ball not player. You want to be watching the ball, not the player's body or feet. Their feet and body can confuse you, but the ball can only go in the direction it will go.

-make the attacker make the mistake

Defender positioning:

- defender is goal side (closer to net than attacker)

- direct attacker into area where there is support or try to force them out wide.

How to block tackle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUtauRD5ipo

1. Ball warm up:

Keep Away - 20 X 30 m grid. All players except for two are dribbling within a grid. Those without balls try to win ball from other players and then continue to dribble with grid. When coach stops play the two players without balls must do a challenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RWJ6u8X4dY

2. 1 vs 1 defending.

Play kings court style or just let them play until the get tired.  Players stand 15 yards apart. Defender passes ball to attacker who tries to beat defender and dribble to end line and stop it. 2 minute games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6-1No0rddBo  (as in video except multiple grids so no line ups.)

Progress to 2 vs 1 where defender is trying to prevent two attackers from getting to endline or to get a shot on net.

3. Shark

You Could play knock out version with two grids, continuous, with one person as the shark, they need to know everyone's ball out of grid, when knocked out, they go into second grid, coach designates a shark for that grid.  Switch sharks when clearly tired.  

4. Win ball Drill  

Two lines facing coach, coach passes a 50/50 ball, players need to try and win ball and either score on a small net or pass to a target (ball on cone or at the net) and work on defender's working to win the ball back and make strong second effort.

5. 1v1 to numbers game

Have two small goals on either end of a mini field.  Balls at centre on side of grid with coach, line up of players on either side of coach (two teams, one in pinnies), play a ball into middle of field, 1v1 until dead or score.  Can increase number of players going for ball to create different situations, 2v2, 3v3 etc...or numbers game:  Number players 1,2,3,4,5 etc. Call out a number. Coach rolls out ball at center line and numbered player on each team must try to win ball and then either defend their goal or attack the other goal. Progress to calling out more than one number and encourage players on same team to work together to score.

6. Game

Two teams. Regular rules except man on man marking only. Pair up forwards and defence, and midfielders and midfielders. Have one player on each team who can check anyone. Stress importance of knowing where your check is and to get goal side (between the attacker and your goal)  and defend against check when ball is lost. Place a ball on top of a cone at each end. This will act as the “goal.” To get a point the attacking team must knock the ball off of the cone.

U8 Week 4

Hey Coaches!

This week is supposed to be warm, so it might be wise to email your team and remind them to bring lots of water. We will be doing some fun game this week to hopefully keep everyone motivated through the heat! Make sure you give your team plenty of water breaks, but at the same time don’t give them too much time to goof off.

Do your regular warm up with the 2 lines. It has been great to see everyone doing this. Warming up is vital to being a good soccer player, and helps prevent injuries. It is also a time to help them focus on what they are there for.

Once you have done your warm up, have them pair up and get in groups of 3 and try to keep the ball in the air while juggling. See who can do it the longest. This is also something you can get them to do while they arrive.

This week we will be working on defending. As I was watching the game last week I was extremely impressed with the awareness of every player on how to use the width of the field, and also how to pass around the other team. I saw some plays that honestly you would never see at this age! Rory Luxmoore and I were both super impressed! But there are always things we can work on, and there were some key areas I noticed that we will begin to touch on. One was defending. All the teams were aggressive, but the technique behind defender was missing a little. There was lots of just running at the ball and lots of collisions. Hopefully these drills/games will help with defending awareness. Next week we will work on using the width of the field and how to work as a team with our positioning.

Defending coaching points. Here are some points for you as a coach to remember about defending, as well as a youtube clip that talks about Block Tackling. Remember, we DO NOT slide tackle at this age, and all slide tackles will be called by the ref and could result in your player being asked to sit on the sidelines during a game. This is simply about safety as most players at this age are unable to slide tackle safely.

Ensure you spend time demonstrating proper defending stance and positioning. Encourage good defending skills and correct when needed.

Defender's stance:

Defender's feet should be about a shoulder width apart, boxers stance

- legs should be slightly bent

- stay on toes so you can react to any sudden changes of direction by the attacker.

-quick close down. You want to get to the attacker quick, but in the last few feet slow your run down so you can close down the space and react to their movements.

-delay/give space - don't commit- jockey (wait for them to take a bad touch or make the first move).

-watch ball not player. You want to be watching the ball, not the player's body or feet. Their feet and body can confuse you, but the ball can only go in the direction it will go.

-make the attacker make the mistake

Defender positioning:

- defender is goal side (closer to net than attacker)

- direct attacker into area where there is support or try to force them out wide.

How to block tackle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUtauRD5ipo

1. Ball warm up:

Keep Away - 20 X 30 m grid. All players except for two are dribbling within a grid. Those without balls try to win ball from other players and then continue to dribble with grid. When coach stops play the two players without balls must do a challenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RWJ6u8X4dY

2. 1 vs 1 defending.

Play kings court style or just let them play until the get tired.  Players stand 15 yards apart. Defender passes ball to attacker who tries to beat defender and dribble to end line and stop it. 2 minute games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6-1No0rddBo  (as in video except multiple grids so no line ups.)

Progress to 2 vs 1 where defender is trying to prevent two attackers from getting to endline or to get a shot on net.

3. Shark

You Could play knock out version with two grids, continuous, with one person as the shark, they need to know everyone's ball out of grid, when knocked out, they go into second grid, coach designates a shark for that grid.  Switch sharks when clearly tired.  

4. Win ball Drill  

Two lines facing coach, coach passes a 50/50 ball, players need to try and win ball and either score on a small net or pass to a target (ball on cone or at the net) and work on defender's working to win the ball back and make strong second effort.

5. 1v1 to numbers game

Have two small goals on either end of a mini field.  Balls at centre on side of grid with coach, line up of players on either side of coach (two teams, one in pinnies), play a ball into middle of field, 1v1 until dead or score.  Can increase number of players going for ball to create different situations, 2v2, 3v3 etc...or numbers game:  Number players 1,2,3,4,5 etc. Call out a number. Coach rolls out ball at center line and numbered player on each team must try to win ball and then either defend their goal or attack the other goal. Progress to calling out more than one number and encourage players on same team to work together to score.

6. Game

Two teams. Regular rules except man on man marking only. Pair up forwards and defence, and midfielders and midfielders. Have one player on each team who can check anyone. Stress importance of knowing where your check is and to get goal side (between the attacker and your goal)  and defend against check when ball is lost. Place a ball on top of a cone at each end. This will act as the “goal.” To get a point the attacking team must knock the ball off of the cone.

U6 Week 4

Hey Coaches! It has been great continuing to get to know you and the players over the last 4 weeks. I just want to encourage you that we are here to have fun, to be crazy, and to encourage our players. The more we interact with them, the more fun they have, and the more likely they are to continue to play soccer. Be loud, celebrate every goal and every good pass. The kids love it!

As the weather warms up, I suggest reminding your parents to bring lots of water for their children. Also, if it’s warm, make sure you have lots of water breaks. This will help keep their attention as they will get tired because of the heat. Just make sure you make these water breaks short and don’t give lots of time for them to goof off :)

1. Warm Up: Soccer Tag

Players are dribbling around in your grid.  Player who is it holds their ball and runs with it, tagging players with the ball.  Once tagged, player is frozen with ball under their foot.  To be freed, another player must dribble up and pass their ball to hit the frozen players ball, or dribble up and tap their ball to the frozen player's ball.

2. Sharks and Minnows

You are the shark, the players are the minnows.  You attempt to hit the players with the ball.  When you hit the player, they must lie down and another minnow must jump over them to get back into the game.  If you have willing parents, they can also join in as a shark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr_AqMLGD4s

See the first minute of this video as a demonstration and for further explanation.

3. Cone Maze

Spread cones over your grid.  Place a few goals around the edge, use your one pop up goal and an arch or your large cones to create more "goals". Players dribble their balls through the grid trying to not hit the cones, and once they are through they can take a shot on the goal.  After they have done it a couple of times, you can switch it up to end the activity by having them they hit the cones with their soccer ball to knock it over.  Once it is knocked over, they can and pick the cone up and return it to you as way to clean up the course.

See the above video at 1:24-2:06 for a demonstration.  

4. Pac Man (aka Kick the Coach; kids LOVE this game!)

First, demonstrate what a proper pass looks like:

-planting/non kicking foot next to ball, pointing at target

-strike ball with side of foot

-firm ankle

-follow through to target

Have players practice this with their parent or a partner so that you can give individual feedback to each player.  Once you have gone through each player, they can then play the game.

All players have a ball and are dribbling in the grid and trying to hit you with a pass (you don't want to be hit).

Work on good passing technique. You may have to create a zone for you that the kids can't enter (small square in middle of grid and then move to no square and everyone moving).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9AJNANVrRA

This video demos passing technique with cues, but don't spend as much time talking as this coach does!

5. Clean Your Messy Room.

We’ve done this one before, but kids seem to love it!

Split your grid in half with cones across the centre, and split your group up into 2 "teams".

Line up soccer balls in the centre, in line with the cones.

When you say "Go!" players rush to the centre to kick balls into the other half of the grid; they must try to keep the balls (laundry? toys?) out of their "room" by continuing to kick them into the other team's half.

When coach say "Stop!" players freeze and count up the balls to see who wins (least amount of balls/laundry/toys in grid wins).

Play again!

http://www.freeyouthsoccerdrills.com/backyard-soccer.html

Game

The horn will go at 5:35 to signal you to get ready for your game. The game will start at 5:40. Here is the game schedule:

https://rysacoachingcorner.blogspot.ca/2017/05/u4-u5-u6-schedules.html

U5 Week 4

Hey Coaches! It has been great continuing to get to know you and the players over the last 4 weeks. I just want to encourage you that we are here to have fun, to be crazy, and to encourage our players. The more we interact with them, the more fun they have, and the more likely they are to continue to play soccer. Be loud, celebrate every goal and every good pass. The kids love it!

As the weather warms up, I suggest reminding your parents to bring lots of water for their children. Also, if it’s warm, make sure you have lots of water breaks. This will help keep their attention as they will get tired because of the heat. Just make sure you make these water breaks short and don’t give lots of time for them to goof off :)

1. Warm Up: Soccer Tag

Players are dribbling around in your grid.  Player who is it holds their ball and runs with it, tagging players with the ball.  Once tagged, player is frozen with ball under their foot.  To be freed, another player must dribble up and pass their ball to hit the frozen players ball, or dribble up and tap their ball to the frozen player's ball.

2. Sharks and Minnows

You are the shark, the players are the minnows.  You attempt to hit the players with the ball.  When you hit the player, they must lie down and another minnow must jump over them to get back into the game.  If you have willing parents, they can also join in as a shark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr_AqMLGD4s

See the first minute of this video as a demonstration and for further explanation.

3. Cone Maze

Spread cones over your grid.  Place a few goals around the edge, use your one pop up goal and an arch or your large cones to create more "goals". Players dribble their balls through the grid trying to not hit the cones, and once they are through they can take a shot on the goal.  After they have done it a couple of times, you can switch it up to end the activity by having them they hit the cones with their soccer ball to knock it over.  Once it is knocked over, they can and pick the cone up and return it to you as way to clean up the course.

See the above video at 1:24-2:06 for a demonstration.  

4. Pac Man (aka Kick the Coach; kids LOVE this game!)

First, demonstrate what a proper pass looks like:

-planting/non kicking foot next to ball, pointing at target

-strike ball with side of foot

-firm ankle

-follow through to target

Have players practice this with their parent or a partner so that you can give individual feedback to each player.  Once you have gone through each player, they can then play the game.

All players have a ball and are dribbling in the grid and trying to hit you with a pass (you don't want to be hit).

Work on good passing technique. You may have to create a zone for you that the kids can't enter (small square in middle of grid and then move to no square and everyone moving).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9AJNANVrRA

This video demos passing technique with cues, but don't spend as much time talking as this coach does!

5. Clean Your Messy Room.

We’ve done this one before, but kids seem to love it!

Split your grid in half with cones across the centre, and split your group up into 2 "teams".

Line up soccer balls in the centre, in line with the cones.

When you say "Go!" players rush to the centre to kick balls into the other half of the grid; they must try to keep the balls (laundry? toys?) out of their "room" by continuing to kick them into the other team's half.

When coach say "Stop!" players freeze and count up the balls to see who wins (least amount of balls/laundry/toys in grid wins).

Play again!

http://www.freeyouthsoccerdrills.com/backyard-soccer.html

Game

The horn will go at 4:30 to signal you to get ready for your game. The game will start at 4:45. Here is the game schedule:

https://rysacoachingcorner.blogspot.ca/2017/05/u4-u5-u6-schedules.html

U4 Week 4

Hey Coaches! Great job last week with the stations! It know it started off a little choppy as we got things going, but after that first group went through everything seemed to run smoothly and kids were having a blast! I just want to encourage you that we are here to have fun, to be crazy, and to encourage our players. The more we interact with them, the more fun they have, and the more likely they are to continue to play soccer. Be loud, celebrate every goal and every good pass. The kids love it! At this young age a lot of what we are doing is running around and teaching them how to move, how to fall down and get up, and the simply movements of playing soccer (dribbling, kicking, and passing). As I am sure you have noticed the kids are happy with running around in circles and at times it can be hard to motivate them. Be their friend, chat with them, and try to find ways you can encourage them to join in the drill.

As the weather warms up, I suggest reminding your parents to bring lots of water for their children. Also, if it’s warm, make sure you have lots of water breaks. This will help keep their attention as they will get tired because of the heat. Just make sure you make these water breaks short and don’t give lots of time for them to goof off :)

1. Warm Up: Soccer Tag

Players are dribbling around in your grid.  Player who is it holds their ball and runs with it, tagging players with the ball.  Once tagged, player is frozen with ball under their foot.  To be freed, another player must dribble up and pass their ball to hit the frozen players ball, or dribble up and tap their ball to the frozen player's ball.

See the first minute of this video as a demonstration and for further explanation.

2. DON'T CRASH THE CAR

Red Light, Green Light made fun....check out all the variations!  You may want to stick with the basics, but if you have a keen crew I would try some of the additions.

://www.freeyouthsoccerdrills.com/youth-football-drills.html

3. Soccer Bowling

Partner players together or have children work with their parent.  Set up a ball on top of a disc cone, one for each pair.  Players are taking turns back and forth, trying to knock the ball of the cone by shooting their ball at it. Appoint a parent or two to help place the balls back on top of the cone when it is knocked off.  The video is slightly different and they have used it as a passing activity, but can also become a shooting activity.   Do a quick demo of proper shooting technique, pointing out which part of your foot players should strike the ball with.

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

4. NUTS AND SQUIRRELS

In your grid, use your pop-up nets or cones to make "hoarding areas/trees" in the corners of the grid.

Place all of the soccer balls (nuts) in the middle of the grid.

Divide players up equally to become the "squirrels", and start in the hoarding area.

Taking turns, players are trying to get as many "nuts" as they can from the centre of the grid when you shout "Go!"

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 the other hoarding areas. No defending the nuts!

Start with having the players carry the ball back to their hoarding area. After they understand the game, progress to dribbling the ball back and stopping it in the hoop.

Feel free to also go and take the “nuts” out of the nets and kick them back towards to middle to keep the game going.

5. Freeze Tag (or be creative and think of a different name).

We have done this many times, but the kids love it, and it is a good time filler if you need. Any time we can get the players running around and moving we are teaching them the valuable parts of soccer such as running, finding space, and staying within the playing field (hopefully).

Game

The horn will go at 4:30 to signal you to get ready for your game. The game will start at 4:45. Here is the game schedule:

https://rysacoachingcorner.blogspot.ca/2017/05/u4-u5-u6-schedules.html

U13 Week 3

Hey Coaches! It has been great to hang out with you the first 2 weeks! It is great to see how much fun everyone is having!

If you have problems with your team not listening to being too rowdy, let me know and I will come over and help out! In the end, we want everyone to have fun, including you! :)

This week we are going to be working on controlling the ball. Possession is a huge part of soccer, and that all starts with knowing how to control the ball from the air as well as the ground.

Warm Up

Make 2 lines, Placing cones 10 yards apart from each other

players X ----------------------------------X

10 Yards apart

Players X-----------------------------------X

Have players line up in 2 single-file lines with equal numbers in each.

Have them start at the first cone, and work toward the second cone. Demonstrate and call out the follow: do each 2x, have next player go when player in front is half way through

• Light jog from cone 1 to 2
• High knees
• Heel kicks/ Butt kicks
• Open the gates (talk to me if you don’t know what this is :)   )
• Close the gates (talk to me if you don’t know what this is :)   )
• Kicks straight out
• Kicks across the body (swing arms and upper body opposite direction of kick)
• Touch the toes (bend down, straight leg, no bending knees and reach as far as you can. Try reaching with left hand to right foot, right hand to left foot)
• Squats (take 2-3 steps between each)
• Full sprint from cone 1 to 2

Watch this youtube clip for an idea of what it should look like, not all are in the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emw4_CV5eR8

1. Box work

• We have done this the first 2 weeks, but it is good to teach the players how to warm up properly and to get a good touch on the ball before working on other techniques.

Make your grid (however large you want) and give each player a ball.

• Start with dribbling around the box. Encourage players to change direction and not just go around in a circle
• Remember to take lots of small touches, and not big touches. The ball should never be more than 2 feet away from you at any time
• DO NOT use your toes, use the inside or outside of your foot
• As they get better at this, yell “stop” and have the players stop in place. Each time they are getting the hang of things, or you need to switch it up, do this and demonstrate one of the follow:
• Turn: Place foot on ball and roll it backwards as you turn
• Sit: Sit down on the ball until the coach says “up”
• Cut: With the outside of your foot, wrap your foot around the ball and push it in another direction (if they struggle with this one feel free to skip it)
• Change: Swap balls with another player by running up to them and gently passing the ball
• Outside: leave your ball and run to a cone on the other side of the box and run back to your ball
• Etc… Be creative. This is all about getting the players moving, and as many touches on the ball as we can.

2. Controlling the ball

Have players pair up and stand 1-2 yards in front of each other. We are going to work on controlling the ball in the air using our heads, thighs, and feet. 1 ball between 2 players.

Start with having them simply pass back and forth, start with 2 touch, and then move to 1 touch and pick up the pace.

Next have one player pick up the ball. This play will UNDERHAND toss the ball to their partner, and their partner:

- will kick the ball back to them using the LACES of their cleats. Knee should be at a 90

degree angle, and the ball should go straight back to the partner.

• Play the ball back with inside of the foot. Place weight on opposite foot, and turn hip so that the inside of your foot is showing towards the ball. Knock the ball back to the hands of partner.
• With thighs, throw the ball a little higher, and bring leg up to meet ball (knee at 90 degree angle again) and first knock the ball straight up and try to kick it back as it falls done.
• Second, try and control the ball to the ground by lightly touching it with your thigh (as if you are catching an egg with your leg) and gently slow the ball’s fall down. The ball should not bounce when it hits the ground.
• Heading: Throw the ball up (underhand again) high enough that the partner can jump a little to head the ball back.
• Keep eyes open
• Contact with the ball should be made at the hairline
• Move your head as if you’re a chicken pecking at the ball
• As you get better, try throwing your entire body into it and bend backwards with your back and move forwards to connect with the ball.

3. PONG

Two players play against each other and share a ball. They place two cones anywhere from 2-8 yards apart. They choose! Players pass back and forth to each other. The stand between the cones, but the cones act as a gate they pass through. The rules are that the ball must never stop, must always stay on the ground and must go through the two cones without touching them. Whenever this is violated the other person receives a point. Because of the rule that the ball must never stop, players have to play 1-2 touch. The closer the two cones are the closer the pairs are probably going to be. The farther apart they are, the more they will have to move laterally and look more like the old arcade “pong” game. Play for time and see who can become the PONG Champ!

4. Volley-soccer (Juggling with a partner)

Set-up as many “courts” as you need as shown below. These will be 10 years wide, and 20 yards long, with a “dead space” in the middle to act as the net.

Two players compete against other pairs to keep the ball up in the air using as many touches as needed in 3-minute period. The goal is to play just like volleyball, trying to keep the ball in the air and knock it back over to the other side over the “net.” The ball may touch the ground 1 time on your side.

To start the round, the other team will throw the ball (gently) over the net. As many touches as needed can be taken (make it harder by limiting the touches)

Focus points:

• Move to get behind and in line with ball.
• Always be on your toes

If caught = 1 point – if the ball hits the ground no point - toss it over. Allow 1 bounce.

5. Scrimmage

If you have time at the end, have a scrimmage, but as often as you can grab the ball and throw it up so that they are forced to control it from the air.