U6 / U7 Training Guide

U6 / U7 Training Guide Created for LNYSA Boys & Girls Coaches Questions? Contact Heather Biondolillo heather.biondolillo@lnysa.org Printing generously donated by Structures, Inc. http://www.structureseng.com

LNYSA Season Coaching Goal: To have all of your players register to play soccer again next season. How to Meet Our Goal: 1) Practice age/developmentally appropriate activities 2) Create a safe environment for all players 3) Build a positive and supportive community around the team Guiding Principles: 1. The Three L philosophy a. No Lines b. No Laps c. No Lectures 2. Be positive a. Look for ways to provide positive feedback to all of your players during each practice and game. The more encouragement they get the better they will feel about themselves and their confidence in the game will grow. Your parents should follow this same principle. 3. Games over drills a. No one enjoys drills, but that doesn t mean we don t teach the basic skills required to develop our young players. Adding an element of game or fun to each activity will keep kids engaged and learning. Characteristics of Games Dynamic Free movement Requires decision making FUN Characteristics of Drills Static Standing in lines No/little thought required BORING

4. Be organized a. Have a written practice plan (always plan 1 extra activity) b. Set up your field before practice begins c. Have pinnies/bibs laid out so children can grab easily What is Age Appropriate for a 6U/7U Player? Constantly in motion Short attention span (a few minutes) Easily distracted Egocentric (individually oriented) Easily bruised psychologically Primitive eye-foot coordination Little concern for teammates Balance on dominant foot No sense of pace; they run until they drop Ways to Train a 6U/7U Player: Give brief direction; repeat when necessary Various short activities (5-12 mins) Frequent water breaks 45-60 min training session Teach mostly technical skills (dribbling, shooting, passing, throw-ins, etc), and VERY BASIC tactical (which direction, basic positioning, goal kicks and corner kicks, etc) We are going THIS way! Activities Checklist: We ve provided recommended activities for each week of practice below, but if you come up with your own drills or activities, ask yourself: Are they fun? Are they organized? Is there a clear objective? Are all the players involved with maximum participation? Do players have the opportunity for decision making and creativity? Is there positive, age-appropriate feedback? The following pages provide direction for 10 weeks of practice

Week 1 Training Objective: Agility, Coordination and Balance To work on movement ability. To work on dribbling with the head up. I. Warm-up: Back to Coach - Dribble ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization : Each players has a ball. Coach tosses ball and each player who brings the ball back to the coach. A) Get it back to coach by carrying ball B) Dribble it back to the coach C) Coach walks away, now can they find the coach? Dribbling with the head up II. Main Part: Body Parts ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization: Players stop ball with body part when called by the coach. A) Coach touches the body part, but no verbal instructions. B) One player decide when to stop the ball. Everyone else then uses the same body part. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Dribbling with the head up Agility, Balance, Coordination

III. Main Part: 2v2 / 3v3 to an end zone ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization Create two end zones and put a ball in each. There is also one game ball. Play 2v2 or 3v3. The objective is to dribble the ball into the other team s endzone. When a team is successful, restart. The first team to get three balls in the other team s end zone wins. Introducing how to dribble around an opponent. Ask players to show you how they go around someone. IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play to small goals. At first play NEW BALL. Whenever a ball goes out of bounds the players will receive a new ball from the coach. Play until one ball is left. When one ball is left, play like a normal game and rules. Play and enjoy!

Week 2 Training Objective: Dribbling with the Head Up/ Inside of the Foot Turn To improve dribbling and ball familiarity. To work on dribbling with the head up. To turn with the inside of foot. I. Warm-up: The Network ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization : Place different colored cones within a playing area. Each player has their own ball. At first, perform the activity without the ball. A) Run and touch the cones with hands B) Run and touch the cones with feet C) Run and hop over cones with two feet D) Run and hop over cones with one foot. Then add a ball. A) Have the players dribble from cone to cone B) Dribble around a cone C) Dribble to a new color. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Dribbling with the head up. Working on movement ability (w/out ball). II. Main Part: Freeze Tag/Inside the Foot Turn ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization: To start, have players run with balls in their hands. If player gets tagged then 5 toe taps (touch top of ball with bottom of foot) to get unfrozen. Then add a ball. A) Players dribble ball. If player gets tagged by the coach, then a teammate has to unfreeze them by dribbling the ball around their frozen teammate. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Dribbling with the head up. Introduce how to turn the ball with the inside of the foot. Ask them to show how they get away from being tagged.

III. Main Part: 2v2 / 3v3 to an end zone ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization : Create two end zones and put a ball in each. There is also one game ball. Play 2v2 or 3v3. The objective is to dribble the ball into the other team s endzone. When a team is successful, they retrieve another ball from their defending end zone and try again. The first team to get all three balls in the other team s end zone wins. *** similar to last week, but now team gets ball of defending zone. Introducing how to dribble around an opponent. Ask players to show you how they go around someone. IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes REPETITIONS: 3 Organization : Play to small goals. At first play NEW BALL. Whenever a ball goes out of bounds the players will receive a new ball from the coach. Play until one ball is left. When one ball is left, play like a normal game and rules. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Play and enjoy!

Week 3 Training Objective: Positioning on Field To learn positioning. Airplane shape= Nose, Pilot, Tail and Wings To stay in positions. I. Warm-up: Paint the Grass ACTIVITY TIME: 2-3 minutes DURATION: 12-15 minutes REPETITIONS: 5 Organization : All players dribble around the area with their soccer ball. A) Encourage them to dribble around (paint) the entire marked area. B) Teach them the scissor move. Use foot to step over the ball (from inside to out) and then use opposite foot to push the ball out and sideways to slightly change direction. Player should end up dribbling in the same basic direction. c) Pull-back turn: Players use the ball of their foot to drag the ball back behind them. Players should be dribbling in opposite direction as they started. Dribbling with head up Finding space on field Changing directions II. Main Part: Sharks and Minnows ACTIVITY TIME: 2-3 minutes DURATION: 8-12 minutes Organization : The coach is the shark and the players are the minnows. Minnows must try and get from one Island (the end zones) to another, without the shark getting their soccer ball. When coach says go players must try and dribble their soccer balls from one end zone to another without getting caught by the shark. If a player loses their ball to the shark then they become a shark and help catch the other minnows. A shark cannot catch a minnow when they are in the Islands. Whichever swimmer is left last is the winner. A) If a player performs a scissor move then they get an extra life and have to be caught twice before they have to become a shark.

To dribble with your head up Change directions Use a scissor move to beat defender. III. Main Part: Positioning in shape of Airplane ***This is a walk thru lesson. Make it as short and thorough as possible. It is difficult, but players WILL understand it. ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minute DURATION: 8-10 minutes REPETITIONS: 5 Organization : Field is divided into 3 sections. Players stand 4v4 or 5v5 teams. (take out the pilot if you play 4v4). A) Coach has the ball and walks around to different parts of the field. Players adjust their positioning based on the location of the ball. Main concepts: Players must fly together in the shape of an airplane. Wings must stay in outer sections. Cannot cross line. Tail, Pilot and Nose of plane must stay in middle section. The tail may not go in front of the pilot or nose. Nose may not go behind pilot or tail. B) Coach passes the ball to a player who traps ball. All other players adjust accordingly. Paying attention Staying in airplane shape Movement on field IV. Game: 4v4 or 5v5 ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play small-sided game to goals. Players must stay in shape of airplane. Play and enjoy!

Week 4 Training Objective: Spacing on Field To avoid bunching around ball in the middle of field. To learn positioning. I. Warm-up: Stop Light ACTIVITY TIME: 2-3 minutes DURATION: 8-12 minutes Organization : All players dribble around the area with their soccer ball. Red Light= STOP! Players must stop the ball with the bottom of their foot. (Step on ball) Yellow Light= dribble around the grid using both feet at a moderate pace Green Light= dribble around the grid at a fast pace but with ball control. (Keeping the ball close) Dribbling with head up and speed. Dribbling with control. II. Main Part: Lava Monster ACTIVITY TIME: 7 minutes DURATION: 15 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : 2-20 x 30 yard areas with a goal on each endline. Have the players line up on the goal line next to the goal on both ends of the field. One at a time, a player will dribble around the red box (Volcano) in the middle. Once around, they dribble back into the inside and shoot on the opposite goal. A) Add a defender (Lava Monster) into the red box (Volcano). Players still need to dribble around the volcano. The Lava Monster may NOT leave the box. B) Add another attacking player to make a 2v1. Players can dribble or pass around the Lava Monster and then shoot on goal. Coaching Points/ Key Concepts : To keep ball close Avoid the crowded middle of the field. Beat a defender Scoring goals

III. Main Part: Steal the Bacon (use red cones as Volcano in middle of field) ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization : Play 1v1 or 2v2. The objective is to dribble the ball and score a goal. Divide the team into 2 groups. Give each player a number. Line each team on a sideline. When a player s number is called, those players (should be 1 from each team) runs around the goal to a ball in the middle of the field. They play 1v1 until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds. A) mix up the number order you call. B) Call 2 numbers at a time so it s 2v2 Paying attention, Dribbling with speed Scoring goals IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play small-sided game to goals. Keep Volcano in the middle Play and enjoy!

Week 5 Training Objective: Dribbling and Changing Direction To improve dribbling with the ball. To learn the pull back turn and change direction. I. Warm-up: Cars ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization: Players each have a ball to dribble. (drive their car) If the coach calls out first gear then the players dribble the ball slowly. If the coach calls out second gear, the players dribble a little faster. Third gear the players dribble as fast as they can in control. A) Can add red light and players have to stop the ball with their foot. B) Gas Station players must keep the ball between their feet as best as possible (tick tock/popcorn) C) Reverse players must change direction by doing a pull back turn. (step on ball and pull back) Dribbling with the head up. Change direction and speed. II. Main Part: Steal the Egg ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes Organization: Coach makes a large square. Place a cone in each corner. All the soccer balls (eggs) are in the middle of the field. Divide the team into 4 different groups. Once group at each cone. The magic bird lays these eggs (soccer ball) and the players are to get them and return them to their cone (tree). When Coach says GO 1 player from each group must run from their cone and collect a soccer ball. Only 1 players on a team out at a time. They must do a pull back and then dribble back to their cone. When all the balls have been taken from the middle, the game is over. The winner is the one with the most balls. A) Allow players to steal eggs from another team s tree B) Make one ball a golden egg worth 5 points. Change direction with pull back turn.

What part of the foot do you use to pull the ball back? (top of foot). III. Main Part: Steal the Bacon ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization : Play 1v1 or 2v2. The objective is to dribble the ball and score a goal. Divide the team into 2 groups. Give each player a number. Line each team on a sideline. When a player s number is called, those players (should be 1 from each team) runs around the goal to a ball in the middle of the field. They play 1v1 until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds. A) mix up the number order you call. B) Call 2 numbers at a time so it s 2v2 C) extra point for pull back turn. Paying attention. Dribbling with speed. Going to goal to score. IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play small-sided game to goals. Play and enjoy!

Week 6 Training Objective: Dribbling and Turning with the Ball To improve dribbling and turning the ball with the inside/outside of the foot. To continue to work on dribbling with the head up. I. Warm-up: The Octopus ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization : Each player has their own ball. A coach holds two vests or two pool noodles. At first, perform the activity without the ball. A) Try to tag the players B) Every player now has their ball and now you attempt to touch their ball. C) If a player s ball gets touched, they are frozen. They can be unfrozen if a teammate comes and passes a ball between their legs. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Dribbling with the head up. Turning with the ball. Working on movement ability (w/out ball). II. Main Part: Chase ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization To start, players run without a ball. Players start on opposite ends. When coach says Go one player is it, the other tries to get back to starting cone. Switch roles. Then add a ball to it. Switch groups around. A) Put three players in a grid and have them race back to their starting cone. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Turn the ball with the inside/outside of the foot. Ask them to show how they get away from being tagged?

III. Main Part: 2v2 / 3v3 to a line ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization : Play 2v2 or 3v3. The objective is to dribble the ball into the other team s endzone. A point is scored when the ball is dribbled into and controlled in the other team s endzone. Switch teams around. Ask players to show you how they go around someone? How do they protect their ball? IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes DURATION: 16 minutes Organization: At first, play NEW BALL. Whenever a ball goes out of bounds the players will receive a new ball from the coach. Play until one ball is left. When one ball is left, play like a normal game and rules. Play and enjoy!

Week 7 Training Objective: Push Pass To improve passing the ball, specifically the push pass with the inside, instep or outside of the foot. To introduce how to work with a teammate. I. Warm-up: Back to Coach - Pairs ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization: Players are in pairs. Coach tosses ball and each pair brings the ball back to the coach by passing it back to each other. A) Get it back to coach B) make a specific amount of passes C) Coach walks away, now can they find the coach? Dribbling with the head up. Striking the ball II. Main Part: Gates ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes Organization: Each pair has a ball. Make small gates.: A) Players pass ball back and forth through gate. See how many they can get in 20 seconds. B) Pass through gate and go to a new one. C) Pass through gate two times then go to a new one. D) Coach and assistants walk around and block a gate. Push pass. What part of the foot do you use to pass the ball? (Inside, instep, or outside). Note: For this age, using the outside of the foot is very challenging. Challenge players based on their abilities.

II. Main Part: 2v2 Get out of here! ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes Organization: Bring two teams together. Play 2v2 to goals. When the ball goes out of bounds, the coach yells Get outta here and the players on the field run off. A new pair runs on and plays against another. Note: Make the field smaller so the ball goes out of bounds and the players aren t waiting too long in line. What part of the foot do you use to score? What if you can t shoot? Then what? (pass the ball to a teammate) IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play small-sided game to goals. Play and enjoy!

Week 8 Training Objective: Striking the Ball To improve striking the ball with the inside or instep (laces) of the foot. To introduce how to work with a teammate. I. Warm-up: Minions ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization : Small area is created. One player has ball and is it. They try to pass the ball and hit someone below the knee. If a player gets hit, they then get a ball and join the it player. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Dribbling with the head up. Striking the ball with the inside or instep of foot. I. Main Part: Junkyard Soccer ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes REPETITIONS: 6 Organization : Players pair-up. Create two teams. Put each team on a half of the playing area. The objective of the game is to have the fewest number of balls on your side when time is called. Note: Have an odd number of balls. Example: If you have 6 players then use 5 balls. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : How can they strike the ball back to the other side? What part of the foot should they use? (Instep or shoe laces) Note: At first they may not be comfortable using their instep.

III. Main Part: 2v2 Get out of here! ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes REPETITIONS: 6 Organization : Bring two teams together. Play 2v2 to goals. When the ball goes out of bounds, the coach yells Get outta here and the players on the field run off. A new pair from each team then runs on and plays. Note: Make the field smaller so the ball goes out of bounds and the players aren t waiting too long in line. What part of the foot do you use to score? What if you can t shoot? Then what? (pass the ball to a teammate) IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play small-sided game to goals. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Play and enjoy!

Week 9 Training Objective: Striking the Ball to Score To improve striking the ball. To continue to work on dribbling the ball with head up and striking the ball. I. Warm-up: Ouch ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8 minutes Organization: Players dribble their own soccer ball and try to hit the coach below the knee. When coach gets hit, they yell ouch. A) Include parents or assistant coaches for other rounds. Coaching Points / Key Concepts : Dribbling with the head up. Striking the ball with inside/instep of foot. II. Main Part: Moving Goal ACTIVITY TIME: 1 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization: Coach and Assistant (Parent) hold a pool noodle or tie bibs together. Players are instructed to dribble their soccer ball and try to score on the Moving Goal! A) Coaches lower the goal to encourage shooting lower. B) Add more assistants to have multiple goals. Dribbling with the head up. What part of the foot can they use to score a goal?

III. Main Part: 2v2 / 3v3 Get out of here! ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes Organization: Bring two teams together. Play 2v2 to goals. When the ball goes out of bounds, the coach yells Get outta here and the players on the field run off. A new pair runs on and plays against another. Note: Make the field smaller so the ball goes out of bounds and the players aren t waiting too long in line. What part of the foot do you use to score? What if you can t shoot? Then what? (pass the ball to a teammate) IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization: Play small-sided game to goals. Make a goal worth a million points! Play and enjoy!

Week 10 Training Objective: Dribbling and Shooting Review To improve dribbling with the ball. To score goals. I. Warm-up: Tunnel Freeze Tag ACTIVITY TIME: 2-3 minutes DURATION: 8-12 minutes Organization : All players dribble around the area. 1-2 players are the "taggers" without a ball. If you are tagged then you have to hold the ball up over your head and make a tunnel with your legs. If a player with a ball dribbles the ball through your legs, you are free to play again. Put your ball down and dribble. Give players 2-3 mins to try to tag and freeze all the players. Dribbling with head up and speed. Finding space, helping teammates. II. Main Part: Dribble/Shoot ACTIVITY TIME: 2 minutes Organization : 25 x 25 yard area with a goal on each endline. Players must dribble their ball from the corner to the gate. (place 2 cones near each other) Go through gate and shoot on goal. Grab their ball and then dribble through the cones behind the net. Repeat. Coaching Points/ Key Concepts : Keep ball close, especially while turning. Use laces to strike the ball.

III. Main Part: Open Goals ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minute REPETITIONS: 6 Organization: 20x30 yard coned area Bring everyone in. Tell them they will be dribbling to a goal and kicking the ball into the net. Once they score they will grab their ball and bring it back to the center and they must give one of the coaches a "High Five". Once they "High Five" the coach they can then go and score on a different goal. How many goals can you score? Each round they have to beat their score from the previous round. Coaching Points/ Key Concepts: Changing speed and direction Scoring goals Finding space IV. Game: ACTIVITY TIME: 3 minutes DURATION: 10 minutes REPETITIONS: 2 Organization : Play small-sided game to goals. Play and enjoy!

EXTRA: Training Objective: Throw- ins To learn to throw the ball in. I. Warm-up: Throw-ins ACTIVITY TIME: 1-2 minutes DURATION: 8-10 minutes Organization : 1 channel= 16x8 yd. Blue cones 8 yd apart and 8 yd from tall cone. 1 ball per pair. Players keep in the same pairs, set up like above, 1 ball between 2. Players are throwing their ball over the 2 tall cones and to their partner on the other side. A) Ball is thrown in from A to B and B then does a throw in to A. B) Ball is thrown in from A to B, B receives with their feet and passes back. Switch after 8. C) Ball is thrown in from A to B, B receives and dribbles across. Players switch places, repeat Both feet must stay on the ground. Ball in two hands start behind the head. Throw straight forward and follow through the hands at the target.