U 4/5 Stations Day

U 4/5  Stations Day

I did not think that pirates and princesses could play soccer so well.

The focus this week is shooting.

To work on these skills we will be doing stations. 

Kendra is away for a couple of weeks and I (Rory) am excited to be at your practices. 

Stations 
2 sets of 4 stations will be set up.  Each Coach will run one station for the entire time.  Teams 1-4 will be one set of stations and teams 5-8 will be the second set of stations.  Please arrive with enough time to set up your station.  I will switch the stations every 8 minutes. There will not be a game at the end of the session. Rather, each team will have an opportunity to play a scrimmage as part of the stations. Use parents to help move kids to next station and participate where necessary.  If you are coaching your child and they don't feel they can move through stations with another parent or the other coach on your team, just keep them with you until they are comfortable to move on.  Also it is okay if kids pick up the ball, don't worry about this too much, they can roll the ball instead of passing with feet encourage to use feet where more appropriate, but this is not a big deal at this point.  Also remember to walk or jog the boundary of your area/drill with kids.  Have players partner up with their caregiver for any partner activities.  At end of session we will have snack and social. 

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


1)  Topple me Coconuts (Lilian,Pat) (Kristine)
(can be found in Active start program)
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. Encourage 

2) Swamps and Crocodiles  (Kelly, Meghan) (Jeremy, Jesse)
(remember the video from the Active start course....)
see byte sized coaching
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!


3) skill- numbers game-one net...focus shooting (Elmer, Dan/Jocelyn) (Megan and Chad)
(Active start plan 3)
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)


4) Scrimmage: (Chris, Patrick) (Alei)
The two teams that are scheduled to be at station 4 will meet and play a scrimmage. Coaches and parents are encouraged to play as needed to help coach, keep the kids motivated and to keep the game moving. 

Have fun!

U-6 Stations Day

U 6   Stations 

A reminder of U6-8 coaches course this upcoming Saturday from 12:30 to 3:30. 

I did not think that princesses and pirates were such good soccer players.

The focus this week is shooting.

To work on these skills we will be doing stations. 

Kendra is away for a couple of weeks and I (Rory) am excited to be at your practices. 

Stations 
Each Coach will run one station for the entire time.   Please arrive with enough time to set up your station.  I will switch the stations every 8 minutes. There will not be a game at the end of the session. Rather, each team will have an opportunity to play a scrimmage as part of the stations. Use parents to help move kids to next station and participate where necessary.  If you are coaching your child and they don't feel they can move through stations with another parent or the other coach on your team, just keep them with you until they are comfortable to move on.  Remember to walk or jog the boundary of your area/drill with kids.  Have players partner up with their caregiver for any partner activities.  At end of session we will have snack and social. 

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.


1) Pac Man Gird (15x15)  Kristine and Bonnie
 all kids have ball and try to hit you with a pass (you don't want to be hit).  Working 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 all demos passing technique with cues.

2) Agility:  Follow the Coach  (Peter and Eleanor)
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
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

3) Swamps and Crocodiles   (James)
(remember the video from the Active start course....)
see byte sized coaching
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/211_swamps_rivers_u46.php
or
make two lines of cones heading towards the net, the players need to pass to parent/coach and not hit the crocs (cones) and then shoot on net.  Run and grab your ball from the net.  Make the net the island where the treasure is and they have to get to the Island to get the treasure without a croc getting them...because Pirates are very afraid of crocs!!!!!

4) Topple me Coconuts  (Marek and Koreen)
(Active Start session 8 and there is video too)
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 (THE TREASURE!) and bring them back to their side. Encourage celebrations!

5) Pirate Pete (Active start, coach demo)    (Natalie and Alexis)
Divide the players into two teams. Put the teams in two different pinnie colors. One team has to run through the channel to get to the treasure (balls). The other team kicks the ball to their team mate trying to hit the other team with the ball below the knee as they run through. If players get struck by the ball they have to go back and try again. When players get to treasure (Ball) they bring back a peace back to their ship. Players change roles after a set time. Count the pieces (Balls) each team collects.
Harder (U6): Players can shoot the ball. Players can dribble both ways with the ball.

6) Scrimmage  (Vanita and Blake)
Try and encourage passing to team mates.  Play 3 v 3 can have parents play dramatic goal.

Have fun!

U-8 boys and girls Practice #4

U-8 Boys and Girls
Focus skill:  shooting

Please remind players of Super Soccer Saturday this upcoming Saturday. 
U-6-8 coaching clinic 12:30 to 3:30 on Saturday. 

Wonderful seeing the great soccer being played by this age group. 
Kendra is away this week so I (Rory Luxmoore)  will get the pleasure of working with both groups this week.

I will set up two agility stations for you to use (set of ladders and hurdles).
I will run an activity on shooting that the teams can rotate through.
Feel free to include your favourite shooting activity.
By the end of the session we hope the players have a good understanding of the mechanics of shooting a moving ball and have had many opportunities to practice the skill. 
Skill focus shooting mechanics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac8r9XlSWo0&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3wi0tehvIw&feature=relmfu


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/Agility - no balls
Play a game of donkey tails
Half have pinnies as tales in shorts, other half try and get as many pinnies as possible or some variation of this.

Warm up- with balls
Dribble Grid and then play shark. A good opportunity for them to get some touches on the ball. 

**Agility Relays - ladders & cones, share around ladders

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!

Four corners shooting drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuz6JGaEYtY&feature=related
A good activity to work on accurate passing and shooting.
Keep players moving. You will want to introduce a second ball as last player is taking a shot.

Skill- numbers game
Set up a small grid with goal at one end/use penalty area.  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

Scrimmage - try to reduce the field size so players get lots of opportunities to shoot on net. You can also use this time for them to work on any game skills such as throw ins, corner kicks...

U 10/13 Boys and Girls Practice #4

U 10 and U13  May 21 and 23  Practice #4

Please remind players of Super Soccer Saturday this upcoming Saturday.
U 10-13 coaches clinic from 9 - noon on Saturday.

Great work so far coaches and players!
Kendra is away for the next couple of weeks. I (Rory Luxmoore) am excited to spend some time with you and your team. 

John and I thank all the U-13 players and coaches for allowing us to talk to you about how to play soccer safely and fairly and to remind players that there is no slide tackling. 

I would like to talk to the U-10 boys and girls at the beginning of their practice this week. 

U-10 Boys Note: Coaches please follow plan below. Team 3 will be practicing on Thursday. 
U-10 Girls Note: On Thursday Teams will be playing small sided mixed games focusing on shooting.
      On Tuesday Team 3 will follow shooting practice plan below.
U-13 Boys and Girls  Note: Alan Chell will be the Guest coach this week helping out the teams and most likely running one activity you can cycle through after your warm ups.  

Theme:  shooting
Objective:  learning or perfecting proper shooting technique

I will set up two agility stations for you to use (set of ladders and hurdles).

We will run a station on shooting that teams can cycle through. Your team can come after warm up. 

Feel free to include your favourite shooting activity, but ensure you move them along quickly if lines involved.  Make sure you are using goalies so that they can practice their goalie skills from last week.

By the end of the session we hope the players have a good understanding of the mechanics of shooting a moving ball and have had many opportunities to practice the skill. 

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

Here is a different warm up you may want to try or you could have them warm up with touches of the ball by doing a dribbling grid. 

Warm up- dynamic warm up

Organization:

 Form two groups with one group in each channel (lines). They can be outlined with cones.

 Players carry out the dynamic movements as they move the length of the channel.

 Then jog back along the outside of the channel to the starting position

Points to Stress:

 Carry out the exercises at a jogging pace, initially.

 Exaggerate the movements to get a full range of motion

 Focus on balanced movement on each side of the body

Description:

Players carry out dynamic movements as they move along the length of the channel. Working with a partner from the other group players should try to coordinate the movements. Each pair carries out the exercises at 5m intervals. Repeat each exercise at least twice before moving on to the next. Example of exercises to use:

a. Jog 

b. Jockey backwards (right & left)

c. Skipping forward 

d. Skipping sideways 

e. Heel flicks 

f. High knee raises

g. touch ground then jump into air 

h. cross steps

i. wide steps

Feel free to organize as you find appropriate and include some of your own exercises. 

Last part of warm up, in pairs, about 2 metres apart each with a ball.  One player is the server, the other player is the person, striking ball.  Aim to strike ball served/lobbed to partner back to partners hands.   (Optional agility component:  Player striking the ball jumps sideways over their ball before receiving next serve)....Person striking the ball, works 5 on each foot side of foot (then switch roles) then 5 on each foot working the laces....one touch back to partners hands (ball always in the air)...starting to prepare for shooting...hitting on the laces.

Game: play with 4 goals to promote scoring and shooting

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.

skill focus:  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/

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. 

U10 & U13 practice #4

Please don't move onto practice #4 unless you have done practice #3 (goal keeping).

Theme:  shooting

Objective:  learning or perfecting proper shooting technique


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

We all have our favourite shooting drills, please use them, but ensure you move them along quickly if lines involved.  Make sure you are using goalies so that they can practice their goalie skills from last week.

Warm up- dynamic warm up

Organization:

 Using marker set up two channels as shown

 Form two groups with one group in each channel

 Players carry out the dynamic movements as they move the length of the channel.

 Then jog back along the outside of the channel to the starting position

Points to Stress:

 Carry out the exercises at a jogging pace, initially.

 Exaggerate the movements to get a full range of motion

 Focus on balanced movement on each side of the body

Description:

1.

Players carry out dynamic movements as they move along the length of the channel. Working with a partner from the other group players should try to coordinate the movements. Each pair carries out the exercises at 5m intervals. Repeat each exercise at least twice before moving on to the next. Example of exercises to use:

a. Jog 

b. Jockey backwards (right & left)

c. Skipping forward 

d. Skipping sideways 

e. Heel flicks 

f. High knee raises

g. skip & groin stretch (inside to outside) 

h. skip & groin stretch (outside to inside) 

i. skip & kick (left & right) 

j. skip & upper body twist (right & left) 

k. cross steps

l. wide steps

THEN:  donkey tails 

play a quick game of donkey tails (give half kids pinnies that they put in shorts as tails, other half has to chase and get the tails, if you get a tail, put it on and then the roles switch (agility)

Last part of warm up, in pairs, about 2 metres apart each with a ball.  One player is the server, the other player is the person, striking ball.  Aim to strike ball served/lobbed to partner back to partners hands.   (Optional agility component:  Player striking the ball jumps sideways over their ball before receiving next serve)....Person striking the ball, works 5 on each foot side of foot (then switch roles) then 5 on each foot working the laces....one touch back to partners hands (ball always in the air)...starting to prepare for shooting...hitting on the laces.

Game: play with 4 goals to promote scoring and shooting

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

skill focus:  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

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/

Game:  just play the beautiful game but coach shooting/attacking (this could include shape in order to get a shot!

Important for all U8, U10 & U13 coaches

Hello coaches,

Updated Rule change:

NO SLIDE TACKLING IN ANY HOUSE LEAGUE GAMES

This is for safety of all players and in an effort to promote learning good defensive habits.

U13 games-referees will be using their cards.

FOR ALL GAMES
In an effort to clean up play at all levels we would like coaches to help support refs in their calls and if you as a coach see a player playing dirty, excessively rough or intending to injure please pull that player off immediately, even if the referee does not call it.  If you or your team is struggling to understand what is clean and what is an infraction, Rory, John or myself would be happy to come and talk and show your team what is a foul and what is not.

Please do not hesitate to contact or find us on the field!

Thank you!

U4/5 & U6 PIRATE & PPRINCESS DAY - Wed May 15

Get your pirate & princess costumes on wave your magic wands and RRRRR mateeeees have some fun!  Choose a few drills from the list.  You won't get through them all so choose the ones you would like to do.  Feel free to put in your own ideas and creativity around the theme!
Kendra will be at your practices this week.

Follow the Princess/leader....you start and then get the kids to choose the different things you will do.

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:
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



Jungle Run.....let's change it to CASTLE run?
see byte sized coaching under games or follow link below:
http://www.bytesizecoaching.com/secure/games/204_jungle_run_u46.php

Pirates of the Carribbean   

To get into pirate mode.... What noise do pirates make?" The kids will make an 'arghhh' noise. Then you need to tell them that pirates & princesses love treasure and the treasure is down the other end of the island.

The kids will need to go one at a time and pick up one piece of treasure (cone/pinney/anything else you want to add in) and bring it back to the pirate ship.

1. To get the young 3 and 4 year olds to understand this game, play the first round without soccer balls.

2. The second time they should kick a soccer ball down with them.

progression

A nice  progression to this drill is adding cones so the kids have to weave in and out of them before getting to the treasure. By placing the cones down the players have to dribble the ball in different directions - not just straight.

http://www.freeyouthsoccerdrills.com/kids-soccer-drills.html

(diagram on the link)

skill:  passing - Pirate Pete
(can be found in Active start program)
Divide the players into two teams. Put the teams in two different pinnie colors. One team has to run through the channel to get to the treasure (balls). The other team kicks the ball to the player running through the channel mate trying to hit the other team with the ball below the knee as they run through. If players get struck by the ball they have to go back and try again. When players get to treasure (Ball) they bring back a piece back to their ship. Players change roles after a set time. Count the pieces (Balls) each team collects.
Variations Easier (U4): Players can role the ball rather than kick it. Players can carry treasure back in their hands. Parents can help. Harder (U6): Players can shoot the ball. Players can dribble both ways with the ball.
coaching points for passing:
-non kicking/planting foot next to ball
-non kicking/planting foot pointing at target
-strike ball with side of foot with ankle locked

Pirate Ship 

You will need to mark out an area big enough so that the young players can comfortably dribble their soccer balls around without constantly bumping into others. The kids (and yourself) will need a soccer ball each.

The game starts with each child having a ball at their feet and being told that the game is called the pirate ship and that the marked out area is the 'ship' they must stay on.

Begin simple by getting the kids to dribble around the ship and throw in a couple of coaching points such as inside/outside of the feet to dribble and changing directions.  Then one-by-one tell the kids to 'freeze' or stop and introduce a new command for them to do. This is where the fun starts and the soccer skills are implemented.

The different commands are as follows:

"The captain's coming" = the kids stop, place one foot on the ball and salute the captain by saying "ay, ay captain!"

"climb the riggin" = on the spot the kids do 'toe-taps' on the ball and with their hands climb up an imaginary ladder.

*****repeat previous commands - repetition is good in this game*****

"Scrub the decks" = on the spot the kids roll the ball backwards and forwards using the bottom of their foot. Use both feet!

"Polish the decks" = on the spot, this time the kids will move the ball from left-to-right using the bottom of their foot.

*****Remember to demonstrate each command every time and with lots of energy*****

"Starboard turn" = the kids (perhaps without knowing it) will learn a quick turn here known as the dragback/pull-back turn. Get the kids to stop, put one foot on the ball, and roll the ball behind them using the bottom of their foot.

"Man overboard" = the kids dribble quickly to the edge of the ship (area), place their foot on the ball, hand on their forehead as if their looking for somebody. On your command the kids wil continue dribbling.

"Fire the Cannon" = the kids kick their soccer ball using the inside of their foot as far away as possible outside of the ship toward other pirates. Once all balls have been kicked the kids can retrieve their soccer balls and carry on dribbling.

"Seagulls are coming" = You pretend to be a seagull who wants to eat their soccer ball. The kids on hearing this command will drop to the floor quickly and protect their ball with their body and hands. You should run around the ship with your arms out like a bird until you tell them to carry on dribbling.

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

Shark/British Bull Dog/Pirates (Thursday)?  

15 x 15 grid or so.  Have players (fish/pirates) with balls on one end of the grid and coach (shark) in the middle, the players need to get to the other side of grid to get to the sunken ship/pirate ship or to safety.  If the shark tags you before you reach the other side (then you become a shark/it too).  First round play no balls just running, second round play that the players need to dribble the ball to the other side.

http://www.coachingsoccer101.com/tag1.htm

Games, cheers, snacks!!!