Ho-Ho-Kus SA Recreation Soccer 3rd/4th Grade Curriculum Experience Excellence in Soccer Education A division of USA Sport Group
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 2 Mission Statement As the premier providers of soccer training on the East Coast we will deliver diverse soccer programs, which are both inspirational and educational. These programs are age and ability appropriate and are found on the principles of safety, learning and enjoyment. The underpinning principles of our programs: Philosophy Safety, learning and enjoyment; Maximum participation; Structured and progressive learning; Identify all potential partners and foster relationships between them; Develop positive attitudes. Three Pillars of USA, Inc. Programs USA, Inc. have identified three essential elements that are present in all of our own programs and coaching sessions that we call the Three Pillars of Soccer. It is recognized that all USA, Inc. programs contain the elements of safety, learning and enjoyment. It is your responsibility as a coach to ensure that these elements are at the forefront of your mind in all sessions. All are their own separate entity, yet encompass each other. The USA program identifies a player s age and ability level (from the age and curriculum breakdown model) which will in turn affect the extent to which an element is present at any time during a USA program. It is also recognized that safety, learning and enjoyment are interpreted different at each program level. We have placed an emphasis upon the individual importance of safety which has to be at the forefront of the coaches mind before learning and enjoyment can take place.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 3 4 week Development Academy Program (3rd/4th Grade) 1 2 3 4 Dribbling (Moves/1v1 s) Dribbling (Running with the Ball) Passing & Receiving (Short passing) Shooting (Accuracy)
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 4 Activity 1 Activity 1: British Bulldog Attackers line up with a ball and aim to successfully dribble to the opposite end line without losing control and/or being tackled by the defender. When an attacker loses possession and the ball has been kicked out the defined area, they then become an additional defender in the next wave of attack. The winner is the last attacker with the ball under control at either end line. Activity 2 Activity 2: Under Arrest Outfield players choose an opponent to be marked by and to mark when their team is not in possession of the ball. For a set time period (e.g. 3 minutes), this is the only player that can tackle you and the only player that you can tackle. Players must therefore escape to get space to receive the ball or take your player away so that a team mate can attack that space. Defensively, players must stay as close as possible and stop their opponent receiving the ball and/or scoring a goal. Activity 3 Activity 3: Touch Tight Players are split into two teams. Each attacker has two pinnies tucked into the side of their shorts. Defenders attempt to steal as many pinnies as possible. The winner is the defender that collects the most pinnies after a specified time period. DRIBBLING Moves/1v1 s
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 5 Activity 4 Activity 4: The Shield Players are split into two teams. Attackers attempt to kick as many balls off the markers as possible. Defenders use their body as a shield to protect the soccer balls. The winner is the player that kicks the most soccer balls off the markers after a specified time period. Activity 5 Activity 5: Numbers Game Players are split into two teams at either side of the goal. On the coaches command, the designated player from each team compete for the ball delivered by the coach. A point is awarded to the team that scores. The winner is the first team to 10 points. Activity 6 Activity 6: Defending Gates Players are in pairs. Attackers dribble through as many different gates as possible. The defenders attempt to prevent their opponent from dribbling through the gates. When defenders win possession of the ball, they then become the attacker. The winner is the player that dribbles through the most gates after a specified time period. DRIBBLING Moves/1v1 s
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 6 Activity 1 Activity 1: Numbers Game Players are split into two teams around the outside perimeter of the playing area. On the coaches command, the designated player from each team competes for the ball delivered by the coach. A point is awarded to the team that scores. The winner is the first team to 10 points. Activity 2 Activity 9: 1v1 Attack Attackers are positioned 10-yards in front of a defender. The first attacker dribbles towards the defender and attempts to score into either of the two corner goals. The defender attempts to prevent attackers from scoring. The winner is the attacker that scores the most goals. Activity 3 Activity 3: Move into Position Each player dribbles freely within the defined area. On the coaches command, players dribble into the specified zone. The winner is the first player to enter the end zone with the ball under control. DRIBBLING Running with the ball
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 7 Activity 4 Activity 4: End Zone Dribbling Players are split into two teams. A point is awarded when a player successfully dribbles the ball under control into the opposition end zone. The winner is the team with the most points after a specified time period. Activity 5 Activity 5: Four Goal Dribbling Players are split into two teams. A point is awarded when a player successfully dribbles through any of the four gates and maintains possession by passing to a team mate. The winner is the team with the most points after a specified time period. Activity 6 Activity 6: 1v1 Corner Goals Players are split into two teams. Attackers receive a pass from the defender and attempt to score into either of the two corner goals. When the defender wins the ball, they then score into either of the two opposition corner goals. The winner is the attacker that scores the most goals. DRIBBLING Running with the ball
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 8 Activity 1 Activity 1: Coconut Shy Players are in split into pairs. Players from each team take turns to knock the ball off of the opposition markers. The winner is the first team to knock off all three opposition balls. Activity 2 Activity 2: Zone to Zone Players are split into two teams. Attackers start with a ball each inside the central area. Defenders attempt to sprint from one end zone to another without being hit with a ball. When a defender is hit, they collect the nearest ball and become an attacking player. All passes must stay below knee height. The winner is the attacker that hits the most players with a ball. Activity 3 Activity 3: Get Out My Backyard! Players are split into two teams in two halves of the defined area. On the coaches command, players from each team attempt to pass all of the balls out of their own half. All passes must be weighted to ensure they do not go beyond the opposition end line and are not above knee height. The winner is the team with the least amount of soccer balls in their half after a specified time period. PASSING & RECEIVING Short Passing
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 9 Activity 4 Activity 4: Don t Get Hit Players are split into two teams. Attackers start with a ball each on the two outside channels. Defenders attempt to run from one end zone to another without being hit with a ball. All passes must stay below knee height. When a defender is hit, they collect the nearest ball and become an attacker. The winner is the attacker that hits the most players with a ball. Activity 5 Activity 5: Strikeout Players are split into two teams that start on opposite sidelines with a ball each. On the coaches command, players dribble forward and pass against the ball of an opponent in an attempt to knock it outside the playing area. The winner is the team with the most balls inside the area after a specified time period. Activity 6 Activity 6: Through the Gate Players are in pairs and pass the ball continuously to each other through the gates. The winner is the pair that completes the most successive passes after a specified period of time. PASSING & RECEIVING Short Passing
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 10 Activity 1 Activity 1: Creative Finishing Players are split into two teams. Both teams are placed in opposite corners of the area. On the coaches command, the first attacker from each team dribbles towards the mannequin, performs a skill, trick or move of their choice and shoots at goal. The winner is the first attacker to score. Activity 2 Activity 2: Sweeper Keepers Players are split into two teams. The attackers dribble around the markers and shoot at goal. On the attacker s first touch, defenders sprint around the other markers and become goalkeeper. Players rotate positions. Activity 3 Activity 3: Penalty Relay Attackers score as many consecutive penalties as possible before the timer runs out. Defenders dictate the period of time attackers have available to score by dribbling the ball around the markers to a team mate at the other side of the goal. The quicker the defenders dribble the ball, the less time the attackers have to score. Once all defenders return to their starting position, the timer stops. The winner is the team that scores the most goals. SHOOTING Accuracy
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 11 Activity 4 Activity 4: Pool Table Players are split into two teams. A point is scored when a player successfully shoots through any of the six gates. Activity 5 Activity 5: First to Score 3 Players are split into two teams. On the coaches command, the first attacker from each team plays a forward pass to their opponent and then sprints after the opposite ball. The winner is the first attacker to score. Activity 6 Activity 10: Any Man Save Players are split into three teams inside three separate zones. An attacker from each team dribbles into either of the two opposition zones and shoots at goal. Any opposition defender can use their hands to save a shot. The winner is the team that scores the most goals after a specified time period. SHOOTING Accuracy
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 12 Small Sided Game 1 SSG 1: 4v4 The 4v4 game-related practice is set up to encourage players to play in a basic diamond (1-2-1) team shape. Coach should allow players to have the freedom to express themselves and encourage creative skills, tricks and movements in 1v1 situations. Principle Focus: Encourage creative imagination and self-expression through free play. Small Sided Game 2 SSG 2: 4v4 + GKs This game-related practice is set up to encourage players to play in a basic diamond (1-2-1) team shape. Coach should allow players to have the freedom to express themselves and encourage creative skills, tricks and movements in 1v1 situations. Principle Focus: Encourage creative imagination and self-expression through free play. Small Sided Game 3 SSG 3: End Zone (Dribbling) This 4v4 game-related practice is set out to encourage players to play in a basic diamond (1-2-1) team shape. A point is scored when a player successfully dribbles the ball under control into the opposition end zone. Coach should allow players to have the freedom to express themselves and encourage creative skills, tricks and movements in 1v1 situations. Principle Focus: Exploiting 1v1 situations and creative dribbling in wide areas. SMALL SIDED GAMES
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 13 Small Sided Game 4 SSG 4: Four Goal (Wide) This 4v4 game-related practice is set out to encourage players to play in a basic diamond (1-2-1) team shape. A point is scored when a player successfully scores into either of the two opposing corner goals. Coach should allow players to have the freedom to express themselves and encourage creative skills, tricks and movements in 1v1 situations. Principle Focus: Switch of play and creating width. Small Sided Game 5 SSG 5: Four Goal (Across) This 4v4 game-related practice is set out to encourage players to play in a basic diamond (1-2-1) team shape. Two basic 4v4 games are played across the width and length of the defined area. Coach should allow players to have the freedom to express themselves and encourage creative skills, tricks and movements in 1v1 situations. Principle Focus: Movement (with and without ball) and game awareness. Team Shape / Principles of Play Team Shape: 3v3 Triangle (1-2) 4v4 Diamond (1-2-1) 5v5 Diamond w/ CM (1-3-1) Principles of Play: Width: use wide attacking areas to create goal scoring opportunities Length: stretch the game forward by providing an outlet in attack Depth: offer support behind the ball in both attack and defense Penetration: break down opposition by quickly moving ball forward Support: moving to assist team mates with and without the ball Creativity: playing with self-expression and creative imagination SMALL SIDED GAMES
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 14 50 Different Ways to Say Good Job During Practice: 1. Well done! 21. Perfect! 2. Terrific! 22. That s better than what I can do! 3. That s the way to do it! 23. That s a great effort! 4. That s a real improvement! 24. You re getting better! 5. Good thinking! 25. Now you ve got the hang of it! 6. Keep up the good work! 26. You re getting better every day! 7. That s it! 27. You re learning fast! 8. That s better! 28. I knew you could do it! 9. Outstanding! 29. I m so proud of you! 10. Fantastic! 30. That s much better! 11. Fine work! 31. Superb! 12. Magnificent! 32. That s amazing! 13. Wonderful! 33. Great work! 14. You re really working hard today! 34. That s as good as I have seen! 15. That s looking good! 35. Keep it up! 16. Good work! 36. Spot on! 17. That s the right way to do it! 37. You are doing much better today! 18. Top stuff! 38. Keep on trying! 19. I think you ve got it now! 39. Excellent - I m impressed! 20. Tremendous! 40. Very imaginative! After Practice: 1. That was really good! 6. That was great, you remembered! 2. I m proud of your efforts today! 7. You worked well today! 3. That s the best you ve ever done! 8. Great effort out there today! 4. You did really well today! 9. You really are learning quickly! 5. You must have been practicing! 10. You re nearly getting there! USA coaching staff honors Grassroots Soccer by always creating a POSITIVE learning environment!