Player Development Manual. U6 Boys and Girls

Transcription

1 Player Development Manual U6 Boys and Girls

2 Player Development Guideline The goal of this document is to: Establish clear and age appropriate goals and objectives so coaches, players and parents know what they are working towards Establish objectives so coaches have a common understanding of which skills players should have when they proceed to the next age group Establish age appropriate priorities and focus areas in the four elements of the game (technical, tactical, psychological, and physical) Create confident coaches that are better prepared Contents: Page: 3 U6 Player Development Overview Key Objectives for U6 Players Typical Characteristics of U6 Players 4 U6 Player Development Objectives 5 Desired Technical Outcomes 6 Tactical Development and Desired Outcomes Psychological Development and Desired Outcomes 7 Physical Development and Desired Outcomes Player Development Overview 8 9 General Coaching Guidelines Training Session Outline Breakdown Scrimmages General Guidelines 11 Sample Curriculum Week 1 Dribbling Crazy Cars 12 Sample Curriculum Week 2 Dribbling Animania 13 Sample Curriculum Week 3 Dribbling Harry Potter 14 Sample Curriculum Week 4 Dribbling Pirates of Soccer Island 15 Sample Curriculum Week 5 Dribbling Spongebob Squarepants 16 Sample Curriculum Week 6 Dribbling - Superheroes 17 Sample Curriculum Week 7 Shooting Downhill Skiing 18 Sample Curriculum Week 8 Shooting Gone Fishing w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 2

3 U6 Player Development Overview In terms of motor development, cognitive development and social development, generally there are few differences in the capabilities of the players in this age group. Individual and small group play is essential for both touches on the ball and learning at their own pace. The emphasis should be on letting the children play. Over coaching unfortunately occurs at this age group. On the soccer field U6 egocentric behavior is quite observable. Players commonly use such expressions as my ball, not yours, mine or me, me, me. Each player brings a ball and they want to touch it as often as possible, because that s fun. Physical movements such as running, jumping, skipping, hopping and maintaining balance are not fully developed at this age. When changing direction, a U-6 child will often tumble as a result of a high center of gravity. This does not imply that they are clumsy. They also play at full speed until they drop and then after a brief rest, they are ready to go full speed again. Children in this age range need multiple breaks during practices and games to allow for recovery, as it is difficult for them to sustain a high intensity of play for long periods of time. They can perform tasks one at a time when simple directions are given. Complex tasks are difficult as U-6 players have difficulty linking skills together. A visual demonstration is often necessary to help them to understand more clearly what is expected of them. My Ball, is a commonly used phrase from this age group. This is because they don t quite understand what it means to participate as part of a team. Tactics at this age are very limited. Their biggest concern during their play is to determine which way to go when they have the ball. Boundaries may not mean much to many children in this age group. It is common to see most or all of the players continue to chase the ball after it has gone out of bounds. The youth soccer experience might be their initial exposure to team sport. At this point the coach must recognize the importance of the young player s need to feel secure in practice and game environments. Typical Characteristics of U6 Players 1. Focused on themselves reality to them is solely based on what they see and feel 2. Unable to see the world from another s perspective it is the world according to me time. 3. Heating and cooling systems are less efficient than adults we need to give frequent water breaks (every 8-10 minutes) or they may just run until they cannot run anymore 4. Enjoy playing, not watching they feel no enjoyment from watching others play when they could be playing too. Make sure every player has a ball in practice so every player is always playing 5. Limited attention span keep your directions concise and to the point. When in an open environment, such as a park, their attention span will dwindle towards 10 seconds 6. Effort is synonymous with performance if they have tried hard, they believe they have done well. 7. Active imaginations if we utilize their imaginations in practice activities, they will love practice! 8. Look for adult approval watch how often players look to you for approval or to see if you are looking. Also be encouraging when they say Coach, look what I can do! 9. Unable to think abstractly asking them to think about space or runs off the ball is unrealistic 10. Typically have 2 speeds - extremely fast and stopped 11. Usually unaware of game scores we should keep it that way 12. Often like to fall down just because it is fun they are just children having fun w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 3

4 U6 Player Development Objectives There are four main pillars of soccer, which are evident at every level of the game technical, tactical, psychological and physical. It is important that a coach has clear goals for himself/herself and for his/her team prior to working with any age group. Technical Development These are the skills used to play the game, i.e. the fundamentals. This includes things like dribbling, passing, shooting, receiving, tackling, juggling, heading, etc. Along with making sure players have fun, skills is probably the most important area for youth players to focus on. Tactical Development Tactics for youth soccer focuses largely on decision making, i.e. how players can make the correct decision given a particular situation. We should try to understand the progression of tactics and develop the players in the proper sequence, so that players are comfortable solving easier problems (1v1, 2v1) before they move on to solve more complex ones (4v4) Psychological Development For youth soccer, this relates to whether the player is having fun playing soccer, and other aspects such as how they deal with winning and losing, their level of motivation, and how they interact with teammates, coaches and their parents. Physical Development Fitness for youth soccer players can be largely achieved by just letting them play soccer, although some of the older age groups (U14 and maybe U12) may start incorporating speed and conditioning into practice games and activities. The table below will help to identify key objectives within the four key areas of player development. The priority areas will evolve for each age group progression. The key areas of player development across the U6 age group are: U6 FOCUS AREAS: Low Medium High Very High TECHNICAL TACTICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PHYSICAL w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 4

5 U6 Technical Desired Outcomes: Technical focus at U6 level should be an introduction to the basic fundamentals techniques required for soccer, taught, for the most through inclusive fun games. The children will learn predominantly from doing and the coach is required to direct the activity rather than spend too long on detailed technical information. Repetition is the key for their brains to coordinate these new movement patterns. The key at this age group is to set up fun activities that allow the players to replicate the technique as much as possible, in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable making mistakes. Core Techniques to Develop at U6 age group: Dribble with all sides of both feet (inside, outside, sole) Dribble out of trouble Dribble past someone Changes of direction and turns Stopping and starting Introduction to shielding Players should develop proper technique to shield the balls from opponents Introduction to shooting with both feet (with inside of foot and laces) Introduction to passing with inside and outside of both feet Players should spend equal time developing both feet this is very important!!! U6 Children are physically and maturationally undeveloped and we must remain patient and not try to force them to develop too quickly. Dribbling needs to be the primary focus of our efforts, though passing and shooting should be introduced at this age as well. With all age groups, especially at U6 children, we need to make sure that fun is a central theme in practice. Player development will occur most appropriately and expeditiously if all players are enjoying themselves. General Areas for Technical Development at U6: Dribbling is the Technical Focus Area The most important skill for beginners is dribbling. The ability to dribble the soccer ball is absolutely critical for youth players in the U6 age groups as it is the foundation for all the other basic skills of soccer such as receiving, passing and shooting. When a player is comfortable with the ball at his or her feet, the game becomes easier and more fun. It takes many years to be a confident dribbler and the process takes a lot of trial and error on the part of the young player. In the beginning, there will be a lot more failed attempts at dribbling than successes in both practices and games, but be assured that with each attempt to dribble the ball, the player is figuring out what works and what doesn t work. As coaches and parents, we need to be patient with the young players as they learn how to dribble. There will be many times, especially during games, when we will have the urge to yell kick it or boot it to the player, but we should refrain from this as it will likely send the wrong message and discourage him or her from learning this very important skill and using it in a game-like environment. w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 5

6 U6 Tactical Development and Desired Outcomes: Coaches should not try to teach young players about tactics at this age. This will lead to frustration both for the players and the coach. The focus for U6 players should be learning technique, especially dribbling. At this age, for some children, simply knowing which goal to score into could be enough for them graps. Just let them play!!! No Tactics!!! For players or teams who are the more advanced end of the technical spectrum, simple introduction to attacking and defending could be introduced. Problem solving and making decisions for themselves are critical tactical elements in young players and simple 1 on 1 drills can help introduce these concepts. 1 v 1 duels could be incorporated into practice sessions to allow all the players to get plenty of opportunities to learn how to dribble past an opponent and how to stop one. It is important here that the coach matches abilities and/or differentiate the activities to ensure that all players experience success as this will encourage them to try things again. At this age group it I a good idea to ensure that every child has the opportunity to score a goal at some point in the practice. It will be the first thing they tell their parents and be wonderful for developing selfesteem and ensure they come back next week! U1/2 Player Development Handbook Marlborough Youth Soccer v.1.0 U6 Psychological Development and Desired Outcomes: Players in this age group are egocentric a me, my, mine mentality. Young children do not play together; they play next to one another, meaning they do not necessarily interact as they play. This psychosocial reality is called parallel play. Each child is engaged in his or her own game and is not sharing or cooperating in a game. In soccer, this is most evident in the U-6 age group and still occurs to a lesser degree in the U-8 age group. Players in these age groups swarm around and go after the ball because it is the only toy on the field. They have not yet learned the social skill of sharing, hence why passing (sharing) the ball occurs by chance. All adults around the field when these age groups are playing must realize the children are not small adults. Pre-schoolers enjoy playing in the presence of others, parallel play, even though they may not always watch or interact with them. However, at this age there is no real interest in competition or outcome. The coach must set up numerous activities where the players are together but still involved in individual play. The training session must be player-centered with the coach as a facilitator of the soccer experience. It is necessary to go with the flow and be adaptable with this age group. Praise loudly and positively when a player does a skill correctly positive reinforcement. Encourage them to try to do new things with the ball throughout the soccer season. It is very important that each player has a ball for every training session. Other Core Psychology Skills to Develop: Sharing, fair play, parental involvement, how to play and emotional management. w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 6

7 1.0 U6 Physical Development and Desired Outcomes: Physical development is not a priority for U6 soccer players. However, prior to a player being expected to learn ball skills the child must first be in control of the body. This growth in athleticism is a long-term evolution. It is imperative for children to acquire a base of general balance, coordination and agility before soccer skills. How can the coach expect them to control the ball before they can control their bodies? The foundation of movement education must be laid during childhood. Use soccer-related games to improve balance and coordination; activities that encourage good balance; leaping, bounding, tumbling, catching, throwing, pulling, pushing, will help young players to build agility that will help them perform effectively in games as they grow and develop. Finally, at this age some basic education on sports nutrition and hydration can be introduced to BOTH players and their parents. U6 Player Development Overview At the introductory level of soccer it is crucial that we do not overload our young players with too much information or try to teach them everything we know about soccer. Just as in parenting, it is important to be consistent in coaching and we must make sure that we follow a progressive trend of development for young players. To this end, we need to continue to focus on technique during our practices, as we will in future years. Creating environments in which players get maximum repetitions of technical skills is key. A U6 player is only focused upon themselves and not the others around them. This means they have very little concept of what a team is and they only live for the moment. Their reality is based upon what they see and feel at that time. A child at this age has a limited attention span. They are only able to concentrate for 10 to 20 seconds when listening and mins when participating in a task. However, children have a very active imagination. If this attribute is utilized in practice the child will grow to love what is being taught. Participation is the key when coaching this age group. The children will find it very difficult to watch others play, as they find no enjoyment in observation. It is imperative that every child has a ball and that every player is involved. A child accomplishing a task will always look for the approval of an adult. Always be aware of the accomplishments of the whole group. Show them lots of praise and enthusiasm. Players of this age cannot identify the right foot from the left so you will need to help with this. As well as helping with coordination the coach should also have to be aware that U6 participants often like to fall down- just because it is fun. Be prepared! Children s social development at this time is often limited to one best friend and many are just adapting to the social interactions that occur at school. The coach must be sensitive to this when selecting practice activities, which must include positive social interaction. Activities that involve interacting with all of the members of the team are important. Finally, last but not least enjoy it! You are influencing a child s life in a positive and productive way. Implications for training the U-6 player include: Give brief directions; repeat when necessary. Many activities of short duration -Lots of water breaks. Limit training sessions to minutes Emphasize familiarity and confidence with the ball (every child must have access to a ball throughout every training session) w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 7

8 U6 General Coaching Guidelines Aim: To allow players to develop in a SAFE, FUN and EDUCATIONAL environment. Objectives: 1.) Keep things brief and simple! Remember players at this level have a very short attention span. Be careful with the language you use when communicating with young players always be as positive as possible and include all players. 2.) Make things FUN! Your energy and enthusiasm need to come through in every practice. Allow players as much active time with a ball each as possible. 3.) Use your imagination! A successful coach with this age range is one who can make his/her session relate to how the young player views the world. Use Animals or Disney characters in your games to make them feel more involved. 4.) ALL players should be given plenty of opportunities to succeed and ALL players need to be kept motivated and challenged. Come down to their level and be part of their world. U6 Coach Qualities: FRIEND Become their friend early and they will enjoy your sessions and come back. ORGANIZER Arrive 15 minutes early to set up your area. This will help maintain control of the group from the beginning INSTRUCTOR At this age level you do not need to be a strong soccer player. However, understand your own ability level and don t demonstrate incorrect techniques. MOTIVATOR One of the most important roles for coaches in this age group is being a motivator. It can be challenging, but there is one magic ingredient for success: Energy! The more energy you put in the more the players feed off of it. If you lack energy at the beginning of the session, don t be surprised if they start to get distracted and lose focus. ROLE MODEL Above all, you are a role model! Remember this at all times when you are coaching. To succeed in coaching players in this age range, you must have: Patience they will not understand things right away. Although young they want and need you to be in charge. Be firm with what your expectations are but remember you are dealing with young children; Flexibility recognize when something is not working and change it; A sense of humor laugh with your players; A very positive attitude give generous praise often; And lots and lots of energy. w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 8

9 Success is what you make it! Success at this level does not revolve around which team or which player scores the most goals. Rather than looking at the number of goals scored, let s look at what makes a good soccer player: A quick dribbler An accurate passer Strong on the ball Confident in positions off the ball Emphasizing winning over player development will lead to the following things in later seasons: Punting the ball up the park aimlessly Poor control of the ball Inability to identify good passing opportunities Panicking in front of goal Training Session Breakdown 1.) WARM UP 10mins Begin with a FUN activity. This should prepare the players mentally and physically for the rest of the practice. Your warm up should include a ball as often as possible. 2.) TECHNICAL EXERCISES 30mins Use two technical exercises to promote handling the ball with both feet. These games are designed to be high energy, fun activities that reinforce the basic techniques. 3.) SMALL SIDED GAMES 30mins Each practice should conclude with a small sided game. The size of the field should be about 40 x 30 and the teams should be 4v4 with a keeper/sweeper. 4.) COOL DOWN 5mins Spend five minutes at the end of each session making sure that all of your players enjoyed themselves. Do a fun cool down, reinforce basic technical points, have a group huddle and say goodbye. Scrimmages - General Guidelines General: Not the best for improving skills (many players, only one ball). But the kids love scrimmage and it s great fun for them. So allow plenty of time for scrimmage during every practice, but don t make it the only activity. Excellent for learning positions and game simulation. Good way to teach the rules (you are the referee!), but try not to stop play too often. U6 & U8 Coaches Handbook Marlborough Youth Soccer v1.3.1 Small-sided scrimmage: Fewer players, thus each player gets more touches on the ball. Small field and small goal requires more control and passing. Small goal encourages accuracy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IN PRACTICE FOR ALL AGES! If you have a large team and sufficient space, run two games simultaneously. w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 9

10 U6 Sample Curriculum (8 Weeks) w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 10

11 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Dribbling- Crazy Cars Week 1. TIME 10 minutes 5 minutes ORGANIZATION Speedway. Split groups into 2 speed teams of different wacky cars. All players have a car (ball) On Coach s command, A s dribble to B s area & B s dribble to A s area. 1 st group with whole team across, scores a point. Progression: Walking onlyjogging only Running only Use only 1 foot Use other foot. Add fun incentives- whole team must rev their engines (step on their balls) when across. Use imagination to vary these regularly. Soccer City 20x30 area. Boston City. This time the players are all cars. Gradually introduce some or all of the following; Grannies Car really slow and makes banging old noises. Family Car medium pace and has a healthy sound, bbrrrmmmmmm. Red Ferrari really fast and makes loud roaring noises. All the players keep their ball (steering wheel) close to them and react to whichever car the coach calls out. Start off by sightseeing the city dribbling all over the area. Red light screech to a stop, Green light Go, Uphill toe taps on top of the ball, Dead-end introduce the ooh aah turn (STOP TURN). Technical repetition using both feet. Car thief coach chases the players and if they can put their foot onto the player s ball then they need to do a star jump and 3 ooh aah turns to get their car back. 3 v 3 Play inside an area 30 x 20 yards. Have a supply of balls at the side to keep the game flowing and to try and limit stoppages. Cool Down -Play Blow up the balloon. All the kids start of by crouching down and when the coach blows air into the balloon the kids slowly get bigger and bigger standing on their toes and stretching to the sky. When the coach pops the balloon the kids all relax and fall down. Finish with a team huddle. COACHING POINTS Keep the ball close to you Take lots of little touches with both feet. Soft touches so they don t crash into anyone Head Up to avoid crashes STOP TURN stop the ball with sole of foot. Hop over ball putting same foot on ground first. Bring other foot through and take away with outside of foot. Encourage dribbling Can they do the ooh aah turn? w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 11

12 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Dribbling- Animania Week 2 TIME 10 minutes 5 minutes ORGANIZATION Heads and Tails - 20x30 area (the Jungle). All players are animals and need to stay inside the forest or trees. Can use different animals to vary speed Cheetah, monkey and elephant. Progression: On coach s command, "HEADS" the players must stop the ball with their foot and then place their head on top of the ball. TAILS indicates that the players must stop the ball with their foot and then sit on the ball. Extra commands can be the animal s Belly and Back. To increase the difficulty and fun play opposites e.g. heads = tails, belly = back etc.. Going to the Zoo - 30 x20 yards. Coach names the first side of the area a type of zoo animal (don t tell all four sides at the one time). All the children have a soccer ball (camera). They are walking around the zoo taking pictures. Have the 1 st player to each side pick THEIR favorite zoo animal until all four sides have been named. Once all sides have been named kids have to get to that side whenever you say that animal. Once they get there they must perform movements and sounds like the animal i.e. monkey, seal Progressions: make each side a particular move or activity incorporating that animal... 3 v 3 Play inside an area 30 x 20 yards. Have a supply of balls at the side to keep the game flowing and to try and limit stoppages. Cool Down Bring in all the players have a chat about what was learnt today and then finish off with Blow up the Balloon. (See week 1). Finish off with a group huddle. COACHING POINTS Keep the ball close to you Take lots of little touches with both feet. Small touches on the ball Have players look for the biggest space to control the ball in heads up! Revise Stop Turn. Use turns to change direction when going to a side of the Zoo. Can they dribble and beat a player? w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 12

13 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Dribbling- Harry Potter Week 3 TIME ORGANIZATION COACHING POINTS 10 minutes 15 minutes 30 minutes 5 minutes Magic Spells In an area 30 x20 yards, (Hogwarts) - if the ball goes out you lose your powers! (or use parents) All players (magicians) begin w/ a ball (wand) Players dribble around Hogwarts (field) waving wand (dribbling soccer ball) Progressions: Use only 1 foot (dribble only with left foot or only with right) Use other foot (opposite from above last go) Use both feet Spells: Freeze (turn to stone) stop dead still with foot on ball Lightning dribbles as fast as they can Snail dribbles as slow as they can Secret Passage - Turn in opposite direction to go down secret passage. Frog Steps on the ball Snake Big Toe Little Toe move Quidditch Make it a game to get players in groups of 2 (close your eyes and tell them you will give them 10 seconds to organize themselves). Make a line of cones about 6-8 yards in front the players which is your invisible force field. First player dribbles (flies on their broomstick) up to the fence and turns right before it if they go over the force field fence they have to pretend to be shocked (fall of broomstick). They then dribble back and partner goes. Progression: Play first team to score 10 goals (goal is scored when they successfully dribble up and back without crossing the fence) Players must do Stop Turn. Introduce Drag Back Turn. 3 v 3 - Small sided game, 30x20 yards to 3 yard wide goals. Cool Down Chat with the kids about the session then finish off with the Blow up the Balloon and a group huddle. Keep the ball close to you with small touches Keep your head up Use both feet Simple drag back turn Keep head up Keep ball close and under control. Keep body low, turn quickly and accelerate. The Drag back Turn Place the sole of the foot on the ball, drag the ball back behind you, turn to follow the ball, push the ball away with the opposite foot Encourage the Big Toe Little Toe & Stop Turn moves w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 13

14 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Dribbling Pirates of Soccer Island Week 4 TIME 10 minutes ORGANIZATION Pirate Mania All players start off by dribbling around a circle in the same direction. (Coach will set up a circle with cones) When the coach shouts pirate mania all players dribble their ball directly across the circle to the opposite side before continuing dribbling around in a circle. COACHING POINTS Small touches on the ball Head up Use both feet Stop turn 5 minutes Progressions Coach calls pirate reverse and the pirates turn and go the opposite way. (Counter clockwise) Coach calls Pirates ooh aah and players will dribble to the middle perform the stop turn and go back to where they started before continuing. Pirate Ship Children all dribble around on the Pirate Ship, 30x20 yard area. The Coach is the Captain of the ship. When the Coach shouts Captain coming, the players all put their foot on top of the ball, salute to the Captain and shout back Aye, aye Captain. When the Captain calls Clean the decks the players all perform the STOP TURN ( Ooh aah ) move. Rats on deck the players do toe tap on top of the ball to keep their feet off the ground. Windy Day players perform a new move, Big toe Little Toe. They move the ball with the big toe and little toe of the same foot. They then complete the move with the opposite foot. Seagulls the players fall on top of their ball to protect it from the seagulls. 3 v 3 - Small sided game, 30x20 yards to 3 yard wide goals. Cool Down - Chat with the kids about the session then finish off with the Blow up the Balloon and a group huddle. Keep the ball (sword) close to them Ensure Stop Turn is performed correctly Big Toe Little Toe soft touch with the Big Toe, harder touch with the Little Toe. Same foot. w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 14

15 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Dribbling - Spongebob Squarepants Week 5 TIME 10 minutes 5 minutes ORGANIZATION Spongebob Squarepants All the players are Spongebob and dribble around in The Pineapple under the Sea. The Coach is looking for the hardest working Spongebob. The Coach then performs the Step over move, and the players copy. The Coach then becomes Plankton, (bad guy), and chases all the Spongebob s. If Plankton manages to kick Spongebob s ball out of The Pineapple under the Sea then Spongebob has to go to the Practice Ring (small coned off area to the side of the practice) and perform 3 Step Over moves with each foot. Spongebob may then rejoin all the others in The Pineapple under the Sea. The Coach may then choose the two hardest workers to become Plankton in the next game. Spongebob and Patrick All the players are inside a 30x20 yard Under the Sea. All the players have a ball (a cake) and they start at one side of the Sea. Their Mission is to get from one side (Spongebob s house) to the other (Patrick s house) without getting caught by Plankton, (bad guy). Once they reach the other side the must perform toe taps (eating their cake) until the Coach tells them to go again. The toe taps restores their energy for the next Mission across the Sea. The Coach will start off as the Plankton and each time he manages to put a foot on top of a player s ball then they become a Plankton with them. Progression: Have the last player to be caught start off as the Plankton in the next game. Players should all start after the Coach yells He lives in a pineapple under the sea..all kids shout Spongebob Squarepants!. To increase difficulty you can have the Plankton face the opposite way, lie on the ground etc. 3 v 3 - Small sided game, 30x20 yards to 3 yard wide goals. Cool Down - Follow the leader. COACHING POINTS Use both feet to dribble and perform the Step Over Step Over - place both feet at the side of the ball with the strongest foot nearest the ball, take the strongest foot around the ball and place down on the opposite side, the upper body has moved downwards (to throw the defender off balance), and then the weaker foot takes the ball away in the opposite direction. If the players use the Step Over in the game then they freeze Plankton for 2 seconds. Keep their head up to look for Plankton Must keep the ball close to them to avoid being caught Dribble with their heads up to see the Plankton Perform the moves they know to beat the Plankton w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 15

16 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Dribbling - Supers Heroes - Week 6 TIME 10 minutes ORGANIZATION Super Man Tag All players dribble around inside the planet Krypton. The players all have a ball each. The Coach will begin the game by being The Penguin. The Penguin is the evil person who wants to rule the world. The Penguin has Kryptonite and If the Penguin manages to place his foot on top of the ball then that player or Superman become frozen and needs to hold their ball above their head, open their legs and shout for help. The only way they can be released is if another player dribbles up and passes their ball through the frozen players open legs. The two hardest working players will become the Penguin for the next game. Transformers COACHING POINTS Keep the ball close to them with small touches Head up to avoid the Penguin Side of the foot pass through the legs Keep the ball close to them with small touches Head up to avoid the Penguin Side of the foot pass through the legs Have the players who are not playing cheer on their teammates If not playing they MUST stay in their corner. Coach sets players up as shown in diagram. Coach asks each group to choose a transformer. Transformers have to run to the area, dribble a ball back to its corner, pass it to their partner, and tag their partner. The next person then goes. If there are no balls left in the middle transformers are allowed to run to another corner and take their ball. Only one transformer from each group is allowed to be looking for a ball at any given time. 5 minutes Progression Coach becomes Megatron and trys to protect the balls in the middle. Megatron also runs and takes balls from the corners to return to the megatron home. Coach then has someone else (or more than one person become Megatron 3v3 Small sided game, 30x20 yards to 3 yard wide goals. Cool Down Follow the Leader. w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 16

17 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Shooting Downhill Skiing Week 7 TIME 10 minutes Downhill Racing ORGANIZATION Players are set up as shown in diagram. When coach shouts go it is a race between the yellow and the red player to see who can dribble and score first. After player shoots, then returns to their own line with the ball. Progressions Add coach s as GK s 2. Set time limits i.e.10 seconds to score. Slalom Ski Racing COACHING POINTS Side of the foot to pass Strike in the centre of the ball Watch the foot making contact with the ball Have the players who are not playing cheer on their teammates If not playing they MUST stay in their corner 5 minutes Players are placed in two groups as shown. Coach says go and players have to dribble as fast as they can around the cones making train noises. Once they get around the cones the first person to score gets their team a point. Progression 1. Add a coach or parent as a GK. 2. Players have to dribble through the cones. 3. Players can only shoot with certain feet 3v3 Small sided game, 30x20 yards to 3 yard wide goals. Cool Down Follow the Leader w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 17

18 Age Group: U6 Theme of Session: Shooting Gone Fishing Week 8 TIME 10 minutes ORGANIZATION Finding Nemo COACHING POINTS Shoot as early as possible Accuracy, away from the line Speed dribbling, close control Quick turn 5 minutes Players all stand in a line. Coach stands with his back to them. Coach calls out a number i.e. 8. Players must dribble that amount of steps. As players get close to coach they try and shoot and get a point if they can hit the coach. At any given time the coach can shout Nemo. When coach shouts Nemo the players must turn quickly and dribble back to the starting line before the coach catches them Soccer Fishing Players get in pairs. Each player stands about 5yds apart from the other, each in-between 2 cones (a goal). Players take it in turns to shoot at each other s goal. The player with the ball is the fisherman and the other player is the fish. Every time they score a goal, they catch a fish. Have a competition to see who can catch the most! Progression: One foot only Play a competition; players play someone different every go 3v3 - Small sided game, 30x20 yards to 3 yard wide goals Cool Down Thank the players for all their hard work over the past eight weeks, and re-emphasise the importance of practicing and playing with the ball as much as possible. Strike the ball with the Laces Head over the top of the ball. Have as many shots as you can Strike the ball with the Laces w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 18

19 NOTES w w w. c o a c h i n g f u n d a m e n t o o l s. c o m Page 19