Active Start Sessions U4 to U6

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Cory Rudolf McKenzie
5 years ago
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1 Active Start Sessions U4 to U6 Each week the sessions are created with a common layout theme based on a 1 hour session: 6-8 minutes warm-up 2 minutes break 6-8 minutes ball familiarity fun game 2 minutes break 6-8 minutes ball familiarity fun game 2 minutes break minutes small sided game 2 minutes break minutes 3 vs 3 small sided soccer game against the team that you are sharing the field with if one team is short player then simply combine the group. If the session is less than 1 hour, then the ball familiarity games and the small-sided game can be shorter. With the exception of the 3 vs 3 game, each warm up and fun game is to be a one with one (Player with Parent) scenario- especially with the U4 s. The Parent figure must be prepared to participate in the session with their child and to encourage them and allow for success and fun. The team s Head Coach will lead the session and provide instruction and demonstration for the players and Parent figure participants. Mentor Coaches will also be on site to provide additional guidance as need be. Session Outcomes is on fun and participation. If the child doesn t want to participate in a component, that is fine. They can step aside and watch and then join in again when they feel that they are ready. The one with one will eventually become player vs player as the children become older and more socially developed. The U6 coaches may find that they are able to provide a 1 vs 1 environment much earlier in their season. One with one creates a familiar and safe environment for the child as they may feel intimidated being around a number of people that they don t know. It also provides insight to the Parent figure of what their child is experiencing during the session. Think of these session plans as being a pot of soup that you are making these plans give you the basics to start off your soup pot, water and stock you can add if your ideas the vegetables, lentils, beans, rice, pepper, salt, bay leaf, etc. - we want you to follow the theme but add your own creativity. The game is too old for anyone to do anything new but there are many different ways to make soup. You will notice that the sessions are not only repeated from week to week but the entire plan will repeat as well (what you do in week 1 you will do again in week 5, what you do in week 2 you will do again in week 6, etc.). That is ok. The players will begin to remember their favourite sessions. After you have completed week 10, let the players pick their favourite games from the first 10 weeks of the program and you plan and present them.

2 Active Start Session Planner

3 Focus Agility, Balance and Coordination (ABC) Warm Up Name of Game Follow the Leader Organisation: 1. Each player partners with his/her parent and finds space inside of the playing area not too close to other parent/player pairs. 2. Jogging forward child follows parent parent weaves around the area. As coach shouts change, they quickly switch roles. This can be done with or without a ball. 3. As well as being purposeful, each exercise described should be treated as fun/inventive and is performed alternately by the child and the parent together. a) As above but skipping, hopping (one foot), bunny hopping (two feet), giant steps, walking backwards. b) Coach calls out commands, touch ground with hand, sit down, stand up, dive and roll on the ground, etc. Listening Following instruction Agility, Balance and Coordination (ABC) Movements Warm-Up Week 1 & 5

4 Week 1 & 5 Focus Ball Movement Name of Game Making Friends with the Ball Become familiar with the ball Basic kicking/passing motions ABC 1. Players partner with their parents and find space in the area. 2. Game starts with the parents rolling the ball out of the hands back and forth with their child. 3. Parent and child take turns tossing and catching the ball back and forth to one another. 4. Parent then hold the ball out (quite low to start) and drop it letting the child control it with the bottom of the foot and the child shout Ole! when successful in controlling the ball. 5. Parent passes the ball 5 yards away and have child run, get the ball, bring it back. On child's return parent stands with legs shoulder width apart and child kicks the ball between their legs child then dives on the ball on the other side. Repeat with the child retrieving the ball with their feet. Switch roles to have child play a pass and parent retrieving the ball. As above but skipping, hopping (one foot), bunny hopping (two feet), giant steps, walking backwards to retrieve ball. Then set up a small net with cones and have parents act as passive goalkeepers with child taking shots on them to score once they have retrieved their ball. Ball Familiarity #1

5 Focus ABC /Ball Movement Warm Up Name of Game Red Light/Green Light Listening Stopping the ball 1. Players line up opposite the coach who gives commands of "green light" for go, "red light" for stopping, "yellow light" for slowing down. 2. Players dribble quickly towards the coach during "green light", slowly during "yellow light" and must stop and stand still during "red light". If the coach catches a player moving during "red light, the player must return to the start. First player to get to the other side wins. a) Easier- start with no balls or have parents help the players b) Harder - coach uses different coloured cones or pinnies to represent the colours instead of shouting commands. c) Coach can call out "speed" players now run with the ball but must stay in the grid - if coach calls out "crash" players must dive onto their ball! Ball Familiarity #2 Week 1 & 5

6 Focus Small Sided Game Name of Game Chain Soccer Shooting Teamwork 1. Set up grid with two small goals at each end in relation to the number of players. 2. Separate players/parents into 2 teams. Number the players 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. 3. Call out a number. That numbered player/parent combo from each team enters into the playing field to challenge for the ball. Players try to score on the opposing goal while defending their own goal 4. Parents and players not called act as goalkeepers within their own goal. a) Easier coach can play more than one ball into the playing area so each player will have their own ball to attempt to score. b) Harder No parents. Ask players to link arms and work together to stop goals. c) Harder Increase the number of players called into the grid 2 or 3. Small Sided Game Week 1 & 5

7 Focus ABC Movements Warm Up Name of Game Follow the leader Introduction: 1. Each player partners with his/her parent and finds space inside of the playing area not too close to other parent/player pairs. 2. Jogging forward child follows parent parent weaves around the area. As coach shouts change they quickly switch roles. This can be done with or without a ball. a) As above but skipping, hopping (one foot), bunny hopping (two feet), giant steps, walking backwards. b) Coach calls out commands, touch ground with hand, sit down, stand up, dive and roll on the ground, etc. c) NB. As well as being purposeful each exercise described should be treated as fun/inventive and is performed alternately by the child and the parent together. Listening Following instruction ABC Movements Warm-Up Week 2 & 4

8 Focus ABC /Ball Movement Warm Up Name of Game Red Light/Green Light Listening Stopping the ball 1. Players line up opposite the coach who gives commands of "green light" for go, "red light" for stopping, "yellow light" for slowing down. 2. Players dribble quickly towards the coach during "green light", slowly during "yellow light" and must stop and stand still during "red light". If the coach catches a player moving during "red light, the player must return to the start. First player to get to the other side wins. a) Easier- start with no balls or have parents help the players b) Harder - coach uses different coloured cones or pinnies to represent the colours instead of shouting commands. c) Coach can call out "speed" players now run with the ball but must stay in the grid - if coach calls out "crash" players must dive onto their ball! Ball Familiarity #1 Week 2 & 4

Focus Ball Movement Name of Game Rush Hour 1. Each player with their parent or Players vs Parents. 2. Players are in two teams. Each team starts in their own 'pit' zone and is dribbling around. 3.

9 Focus Ball Movement Name of Game Rush Hour 1. Each player with their parent or Players vs Parents. 2. Players are in two teams. Each team starts in their own 'pit' zone and is dribbling around. 3. When the coach calls out 'Rush Hour, the players attempt to dribble to the other end while keeping control of their ball and not running into the other players. Add cones into the middle zone to act as "pot holes. If a players ball hits a pot hole. they have to stop and call out "tow truck" - coach enters the grid "high fives" the player to "fix their car" and player can continue to the other side. Changing directions Communication Ball Familiarity #2 Week 2 & 4

Focus Small Sided Game Name of Game Chain Soccer Shooting Teamwork 1. Set up grid with two small goals at each end in relation to the number of players. 2. Separate players/parents into 2 teams.

10 Focus Small Sided Game Name of Game Chain Soccer Shooting Teamwork 1. Set up grid with two small goals at each end in relation to the number of players. 2. Separate players/parents into 2 teams. Number the players 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. 3. Call out a number. That numbered player/parent combo from each team enters into the playing field to challenge for the ball. Players try to score on the opposing goal while defending their own goal 4. Parents and players not called act as goalkeepers within their own goal. a) Easier coach can play more than one ball into the playing area so each player will have their own ball to attempt to score. b) Harder No parents. Ask players to link arms and work together to stop goals. c) Harder Increase the number of players called into the grid 2 or 3. Small Sided Game Week 2 & 4

11 Focus ABC Name of Game Freeze Tag 1. Set up grid. - Players dribble in the grid with their ball. 2. Parent attempts to tag their own child. If tagged then, player is now frozen, picks up ball above their head and calls out help! with their feet shoulder width apart. 3. Player can be unfrozen if another player plays a ball between their legs or if the parent and player count to 10 with each other a) Easier start with no balls and players hold hands out to their side. Player is freed by going under an arm. Progress to going between legs. b) Harder - have players who are it and they tag players to freeze them. Running Changing direction Teamwork c) Harder players must perform 2 juggles to unfreeze them selves. Warm-Up Week 3 & 6

12 Focus Ball Movement Name of Game Shark Attack! 1. Players (Fishes) start on one end of the grid with a ball each. 2. Coach with parents are the sharks without the ball. 3. Objective is for the players to dribble from the coral reef into the open ocean using different parts of the foot. 4. When the coach shouts shark attack! coach with parents attempt to steal the players ball. 5. Player has to turn and get back to the safety of their coral reef. When the player loses their ball, they join their parents as sharks. a) Easier Divide the team into two and let a parent and player be either a shark or a fish. Keeping the ball close Keeping control of ball Changing direction Stealing the ball (defending) b) Harder Divide players into two teams and let the two teams have a turn at being a shark and having a ball so they must dibble their ball and bump their ball to the fishes ball. Ball Familiarity #1 Week 3 & 6

Focus Ball Familiarity Name of Game Fire and Rescue Listening 1. Players start by dribbling their ball inside of the grid. After 20

13 Focus Ball Familiarity Name of Game Fire and Rescue Listening 1. Players start by dribbling their ball inside of the grid. After seconds the coach calls out "Fire!. 2. The players must leave the grid as quickly as they can by dribbling their ball out of one of the four fire exit doors marked by cones. 3. Once through the fire exit doors they must bring their ball to a full stop. After every player is outside of the house (grid), they resume dribbling around the perimeter of the house. 4. When coach calls out "rescue!, players immediately dribble inside the "house (grid) through a "door" marked by cones and bring the ball to a full stop. Progression: Coach can place a third cone in between the two other cones to show that the door is "locked" and they cannot use that door to exit/enter. Ball Familiarity #2 Week 3 & 6

14 Focus Active Start Small Sided Game Name of Game Numbers Game (2 Goals) Listening Shooting 1. Divide the players into two teams and set up the field so that there two small goals at each end. 2. Number each player on both teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. 3. Coach calls out that number and that player enters into the field by running around the far cone and challenges for the ball. Players try to score on opposite goal while also defending their own goal. a) Easier - Have each player with a ball and start with ball in hands and then call out number - player runs around cone and then throws ball into the opposite teams goal. b) Easier - Coach plays two balls into the field so each player has a ball to use to score a goal c) Harder (U6) - Increase number of players to 2 or 3 to encourage team work (grid size may need to be increased to play this game) Small Sided Game Week 3 & 6

15 Focus ABCs Warm Up Name of Game Follow the Leader Introduction: 1. Each player partners with his/her parent and finds space inside of the playing area not too close to other parent/player pairs. 2. Jogging forward child follows parent parent weaves around the area. As coach shouts change, they quickly switch roles. This can be done with or without a ball. 3. As well as being purposeful, each exercise described should be treated as fun/inventive and is performed alternately by the child and the parent together. a) As above but skipping, hopping (one foot), bunny hopping (two feet), giant steps, walking backwards. b) Coach calls out commands, touch ground with hand, sit down, stand up, dive and roll on the ground, etc. Listening Following instruction Physical literacy Changing direction Warm-Up Week 4 & 8

Focus Ball Familiarity Name of Game Captain Highliner Listening 1. Players start by dribbling their ball inside of the grid. 2. After 20-25 seconds the coach calls out "storm!

16 Focus Ball Familiarity Name of Game Captain Highliner Listening 1. Players start by dribbling their ball inside of the grid. 2. After seconds the coach calls out "storm!. Players must then leave their balls and quickly seek "port, which are marked by three cones in each corner of the grid. 3. Once everyone is in "port, coach calls out "go to sea" - players then renter the grid and retrieve a ball and resume dribbling (will have ball mix-ups; stress sharing). a) Have players keep their balls when they dribble into port. b) Place cones in the "open sea" as they are now "ice bergs. If a players ball hits an ice berg, they must then pick up their ball and hop to a port for "repairs" - once in port have them count out loud to 5 and then re-enter the sea. Ball Familiarity #1 Week 4 & 8

Focus Ball Literacy and ABCs Name of Game Nuts and Squirrels Running Turning different types Stopping the ball Teamwork Top Tips Get first touch out of the feet to move quicker Keep ball in close

17 Focus Ball Literacy and ABCs Name of Game Nuts and Squirrels Running Turning different types Stopping the ball Teamwork Top Tips Get first touch out of the feet to move quicker Keep ball in close when approaching your nest 1. Teams are divided into 4 groups each group is given a different coloured pinnie and all of the balls are positioned in the middle square. 2. On coach s command, 1 player from each group (with parent) collects a ball (nut) from the middle with their feet. Player dribbles the ball back to their assigned team square (nest) 3. Next player (with parent) can go when the ball is stopped in the nest. 4. When the coach stops the game, the team with the most nuts in their nest wins the game. a) Easier Instead of dribbling the ball players uses hands b) Harder One player from each group is allowed to steal a ball from the other team s squares Ball Familiarity #2 Week 4 & 8

Focus Active Start Small Sided Game Name of Game Numbers Game (2 Goals) Listening Shooting 1. Divide the players into two teams and set up the field so that there two small goals at each end. 2.

18 Focus Active Start Small Sided Game Name of Game Numbers Game (2 Goals) Listening Shooting 1. Divide the players into two teams and set up the field so that there two small goals at each end. 2. Number each player on both teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. 3. Coach calls out that number and that player enters into the field by running around the far cone and challenges for the ball. Players try to score on opposite goal while also defending their own goal. a) Easier - Have each player with a ball and start with ball in hands and then call out number - player runs around cone and then throws ball into the opposite teams goal. b) Easier - Coach plays two balls into the field so each player has a ball to use to score a goal c) Harder (U6) - Increase number of players to 2 or 3 to encourage team work (grid size may need to be increased to play this game) Small Sided Game Week 4 & 8

19 Focus ABCs Name of Game Freeze Tag 1. Set up grid. - Players dribble in the grid with their ball. 2. Parent attempts to tag their own child. If tagged then, player is now frozen, picks up ball above their head and calls out help! with their feet shoulder width apart. 3. Player can be unfrozen if another player plays a ball between their legs or if the parent and player count to 10 with each other a) Easier start with no balls and players hold hands out to their side. Player is freed by going under an arm. Progress to going between legs. b) Harder - have players who are it and they tag players to freeze them. Running Changing direction Teamwork c) Harder players must perform 2 juggles to unfreeze them selves. Warm-Up Week 7 & 9

Focus Ball literacy Name of Game Topple Me Coconuts 1. Split players into 2 teams and have them line up across from one another. 2. Place balls on top of cones like coconuts.

20 Focus Ball literacy Name of Game Topple Me Coconuts 1. Split players into 2 teams and have them line up across from one another. 2. Place balls on top of cones like coconuts. Ask player to alternate making passes/shots to try and knock the ball off of a cone. If a player is successful, they score a point. Easier - start with rolling the ball with hands across a shorter distance. Passing Shooting Goal celebrations Ball Familiarity #1 Week 7 & 9

Focus Ball Literacy Name of Game Shark Attack! 1. Players (Fishes) start on one end of the grid with a ball each. 2. Coach with parents are the sharks without the ball. 3.

21 Focus Ball Literacy Name of Game Shark Attack! 1. Players (Fishes) start on one end of the grid with a ball each. 2. Coach with parents are the sharks without the ball. 3. Objective is for the players to dribble from the coral reef into the open ocean using different parts of the foot. 4. When the coach shouts shark attack! coach with parents attempt to steal the players ball. 5. Player has to turn and get back to the safety of their coral reef. When the player loses their ball, they join their parents as sharks. a) Easier Divide the team into two and let a parent and player be either a shark or a fish. Keeping the ball close Keeping control of ball Changing direction Stealing the ball (defending) b) Harder Divide players into two teams and let the two teams have a turn at being a shark and having a ball so they must dibble their ball and bump their ball to the fishes ball. Ball Familiarity #2 Week 7 & 9

Focus Small Sided Game Name of Game 4 Goal Game 1. Divide the players into two teams and set up the field so that there small goals in each corner of the field. 2.

22 Focus Small Sided Game Name of Game 4 Goal Game 1. Divide the players into two teams and set up the field so that there small goals in each corner of the field. 2. Tell the players that they can score on any one of the four goals. 3. Number each player on both teams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. 4. Coach calls out that number and that player enters into the field and challenges for the ball. Players try to score on any of the four goals while also defending and trying to gain the ball. Listening Turning with the ball Teamwork a) Easier Two balls so that each player has success in scoring a goal. b) Harder (U6) Increase number of players to 2 or 3 to encourage teamwork (grid size may need to be increased to play this game) Small Sided Game Week 7 & 9

U4 U6 ACTIVE START COACHING MANUAL

U4 U6 ACTIVE START COACHING MANUAL CANADA SOCCER believes that every player deserves the best possible Soccer experience. ACTIVE START Stage One U4 to U6 G ive the youngest players the opportunity to develop