Junior Kickers ing Kindergarten Players Experience Excellence in Sports Education A division of USA Sport Group
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 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 founded on the principles of safety, learning and enjoyment. The underpinning principles of our programs: Philosophy Safety, Learning & 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 players 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 differently 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 & enjoyment can take place. SAFETY LEARNING ENJOYMENT 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. HOW TO USE THE THRESHOLDS OF TRAINING The technical and tactical objectives are designed specifically to be delivered over a series of 0 - practice sessions but can be adapted for programs of differing lengths & players of differing abilities. It is important that each objective is delivered individually, so that each player can focus on that area. Practice sessions should be planned so that they involve a WARM-UP, an introduction to the technique or skill (FUNDAMENTAL), a progression of the technique or skill (GAME RELATED) and a conditioned and unconditioned scrimmage (GAME CONDITION). It is important that each section of the practice session is based on the same theme, whether technical or tactical. For example a practice session on control would have elements of control in the warm up, introduction and progression of the technique, as well as the conditioned and unconditioned scrimmage. USA, Inc. have designed & produced a series of 8 session topics for each threshold level that cover all technical and tactical thresholds. There are learning objectives & outcomes for each session and assumes player success at the previous level. The 8 session topics allow coaches to repeat sessions if necessary over the course of a 0 week season, plus allowing coaches the freedom to add their own input into the program based upon the needs of the team & players. Typically teams practice more than once a week in which case the opportunity for development and skill acquisition is greatly increased. T H R E SUGGESTED SESSION GUIDE FORMAT Use the formats below as a guide only. Progression assumes success for players at the previous level and so some flexibility is needed in respect to content and time of any session format. The format below is categorized in parts, although distinct there is room for overlap and amalgamation of parts. PART 5 MINS HOUR.5 HOUR Warm Up 5 minutes 0 minutes 0 minutes Fundamental 0 minutes 0 minutes 0 minutes Game Related 5 minutes 0 minutes 0 minutes Game Condition 5 minutes 0 minutes 0 minutes The Thresholds Of Training that are offered contain the elements of both technical and tactical objectives in soccer that players at each age level should experience. Players should attain all of the objectives in the threshold category, and several objectives in the premier category. The aim is to challenge every player to his or her highest possible level of development. The technical and tactical aspects cover: S H O L D S 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. PROPOSED PLAYER SET UP 6v6 GK DIAMOND Sweeper Keeper Left Side Right Side Top center GK 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 5 PLAYER SHOWCASE v / v In a field 0 by 5 yards with goals. Players are placed into two teams and numbered. ( i.e. to 5.) Players start in opposite corners of the field to allow direction of attack to be decided by the coach. determines which goal the team has to score in. To beat a player shoot in opposite goal To turn and score shoot in goal behind (drag back turn etc) Can score in any goal (decision making) Alternative to v s is to have ALL soccer balls in the middle. Players sprint out, get a ball and score in designated goal. This way all get to experience shooting. Can add first player to score gets the goal. This will encourage players to play quickly (do not allow players to rush or to hurry). All soccer balls in the middle (similar to Jurassic Park) play to goal Drag back and then shoot (drag back push, drag back L shape) 5 step ups or side to sides (boxing) on ball and then shoot Step over and then shoot I/s cut or o/s hook to score Two feeders feed ball ahead of player for st time shot Flick it up and volley (advanced players) stands with all the balls to one side and plays a ball into the middle (make it fair. For better/older players coach can favor/predetermine attacking/defending player) calling a number.e. Number both number s run into the field and play v. v to a line, to an end zone, to goal Call one set of numbers and feed ball, almost immediately call another set of numbers. This way you can have TWO v s going on at once Call two numbers and 5, they play together v Build up to v based upon session topic # # 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 6 Kindergarten Session Theme(s) Session Objectives; Players Should : Traveling With A Soccer Ball. understand the concept of being in the biggest space possible. experience many ways of traveling within the area with a soccer ball Control (Dribbling & Stopping The Ball). be able to dribble at different speeds keeping the ball at a close distance. be able to stop soccer ball with the sole of foot. scrimmage with two teams : no goal keepers. Ball Mastery Turns & Moves (stop turn). move ball in different direction on coaches instruction/command using different parts of feet. demonstrate the ability to do a stop turn. demonstrate a change of pace when changing direction Introduction To Short passing. push pass with i/s of feet to a target. use correct weighting of pass. recognize when to dribble, & when to pass 5 Running with the Ball. Keep effective control of the ball. Change direction whilst in control. Recognize how and when to dribble into space and away from defenders. 6 7 8 Shielding the Ball. Use inside of foot to turn around in a circle.. Use outside of foot to turn around in a circle.. Recognize when use body as a shield to protect ball from players Stealing the ball. demonstrate persistence. demonstrate some success when stealing the ball. demonstrate stealing rather than just kicking for the ball Introduction To Shooting. use i/s of feet to shoot at target. recognize where the GK is within the goal. recognize when to shoot 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 7 WEEK Session Topic Spatial Awareness & Traveling. understand the boundaries of playing area. experience many ways of traveling within the confines of the area. experience many ways of turning, jumping and balancing Warm up: Touches on the ball The whole group start in one corner. puts all their balls into spaces, inside soccer island. tells them that we are going to run around see who can touch the most balls. (with their hands) then quizzes the children how many balls they touched? Then ask the players to see how many balls they can touch, this time using the underneath of their toes. (tapping the ball lightly) Teaching Points: ) stay Inside the area ) staying on their toes, so they can turn quick ) making a controlled touch on the ball, with their foot. ) touch each ball twice. (Left foot and right) ) how many balls can they touch in a timed activity. ) how many their can jump. M & M s Fundamental: Candy shop frenzy All players with a ball. The coach is hungry. The players have to move around the square until the coach calls out their favorite food. Name one corner/side at a time of the area as four different restaurants/foods. Only add at a time so as to not confuse your players. The players go to the designated corner stop their soccer ball and bring back food for the coach. The coach has to eat any food that the players bring back to them. Milky Way ) travel around the island, inside the area ) keep head up ) add cones within the square with soccer balls on top (sticky bubble gum). If players hit these they are out. ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 8 WEEK Session Topic Control (Dribbling & Stopping The Ball). be able to dribble at different speeds keeping the ball at a close distance. be able to stop soccer ball with the sole of foot. scrimmage with two teams : no goal keepers. Warm up: Red light, green light Players use their soccer balls as cars and dribble/drive around the area/manhattan. Emphasize players keeping their balls/cars under control. Slowly add different commands as the game progresses. Do not over load the players with too much information. calls out either st, nd or rd gear to determine players speed. Demonstrate for players all three speeds with car noises. Red light for stop, green light for go. Variations: ) becomes traffic cop to patrol the area for cars out of control. If cars are out of control p layers get a ticket and have to do # of juggles to pay off the fine and get back in the game. ) Traffic jam players have to stop their soccer balls & then sit on their soccer ball to honk their horns as loud as they can. If they crash into someone else they have to go to the garage and do # of juggles to get their car fixed and come back into the game. M & M s Fundamental: Fast food / candy shop frenzy All players with a ball. The coach is hungry. The players have to move around the square until the coach calls out their favorite food. Name one corner/side at a time of the area as four different restaurants/foods. Only add at a time so as to not confuse your players. The players go to the designated corner stop their soccer ball and bring back food for the coach. The coach has to eat any food that the players bring back to them. ) attack the space with ball while ball stays under control, ) keep head up and see field ) add cones within the square with soccer balls on top. If players hit these they are out. Milky Way ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 9 WEEK Session Topic Ball Mastery Turns & Moves I (stop turn or drag back). move ball in different direction on coaches instruction/ command using different parts of feet. demonstrate the ability to do a stop turn. demonstrate a change of pace when changing direction Warm up: Red light, green light Re-cap Red Light Green Light from last week and add extra tasks/commands such as: ) Wrong Way, on the coaches command players have to stop their soccer balls using the sole/bottom of their foot and as they are going the wrong way they have to drag it backwards (drag back turn) and drive/dribble of in the right direction. players individually to turn the same way as the ball. Allow children to keep moving and don t over talk/coach. ALWAYS encourage players to dribble in a zig zag Fundamental: Three Little Pigs Choose three little pigs who stand in their own little house (a disc for each corner) without a soccer ball. All other players are the big bad wolves and attempt to get into the little pigs houses. They have to perform a drag back turn to get in and out the little pigs houses as quick as possible to score a point. Pigs score a point every time they kick a wolfs ball. Pigs must stay in their houses. Switch pigs around every few minutes. Variations: ) Wolves have to make a pig grunting sound & say SeeYa each time they perform a drag back turn ) Use alternate feet, once right foot next time try left foot. ) If they can go in one side of the house and come out a different side of the house they get points. Soccer ball must be under control. ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. 0 WEEK Session Topic Introduction To Short passing. push pass with i/s of feet to a target. use correct weighting of pass. recognize when to dribble, & when to pass Warm up: Stuck in the Mud Begin with coach as mud monster who has to try and kick out players soccer balls. When caught the players must place the soccer ball on their heads, open their legs and shout I am stuck in the mud, the other Swamp Dwellers (players) have to try and free their team mates by passing soccer ball through their legs. To make it easier take away soccer balls and play the same game as tag. Swamp dwellers have to crawl through players legs to free them. ) divide the group into two teams. One team is called the Mud Monsters the other team is called the Swamp Dwellers. The Mud Monsters have no soccer balls the Swamp Dwellers are without soccer balls. The Mud Monsters have to catch the Swamp Dwellers by tagging them or kicking out soccer balls. Activity : Harry Potters Quidittch Passing (coconut shire type game) Everyone in the group finds a partner, one ball between two. The players stand a small distance apart. Players pass the ball using the inside of their foot through their partners legs. If they get the ball through their partners legs they get point. Teaching Points: ) Use inside of foot turning to make an L shape ) Point toe upwards (locked ankle) ) non kicking foot pointing at target ) Magic hope with planted foot ) how many points can you and your partner score between you. ) Increase distance between partners. Use different foot. ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. WEEK 5 Session Topic Running with the ball (gaining territory). use whole body to disguise. use move to effectively beat a player. use move to effectively escape a defender Warm up: Dribbling awareness As players dribble around the coach walks through and around the area raising their hand holding up # of fingers. Players have to call out how many fingers the coach is holding up. Teaching Points: the Teaching Points: the ) keep head up ) small touches on the ball in smaller area ) Players dribble in central area. Upon coaches command soccer players have to dribble to outer area as fast as they can keeping the ball under control. ) In tight & confined areas take smaller touches keeping ball close ) When players have space in front, take bigger touches taking the space but always keeping ball under control. ) Use as many parts of feet as possible when dribbling in confined areas ) If coach sees a players ball out of control (not close) then coach can kick ball away. Fundamental: Sharks & minnows The coach takes the role of Shark and stands in the middle of the area with a ball. Players have to dribble their ball across the area from one side to the other without the coach kicking their balls out of the area. If they get caught they join the coach in the middle as sharks. Teaching Points: ) NO kick & chase but players should run with ball and gain territory ) Zig Zags to lose shark ) MUST be in control of ball when reaching the other side ) Last player to get caught is the NEW shark ) Shark has to kick minnows ball OUT of the square to be caught ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. WEEK 6 Session Topic Shielding the Ball. Use inside of foot to turn around in a circle.. Use outside of foot to turn around in a circle.. Recognize when use body as a shield to protect ball from players Warm up: Red Light, green Light Re-cap Red Light Green Light from previous week(s) and add extra tasks/commands such as: ) You are the policeman who is on patrol to see who is driving their car safely and keeping it under control. If the police man sees a car out of control you will be given a ticket. To pay the fine for the ticket players should dribble their car to a designated side of the square and do the police mans task. Task should be soccer & age specific E.g juggle with right knee and with the left, 5 step ups on the ball etc Fundamental: Shielding Players dribble around area. Upon coaches command players have to turn in full circle (60 ) with the ball and carry on dribbling in the direction they were traveling in. Begin using I/s of foot only (see variations for complete development). ) Turn in a tight circle ) Keep ball close to standing leg when turning ) Do not look down at ball, be aware of surroundings ) Use I/s of r/foot only. I/s of l/foot only ) Use o/s of r/foot only. O/s of left foot only ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. WEEK 7 Session Topic Stealing the ball. demonstrate persistence. demonstrate some success when stealing the ball. demonstrate stealing rather than just kicking for the ball Warm up: Kick Out Whilst players are dribbling their ball around they have to try and kick out other players soccer balls whilst keeping control of their own soccer balls. It is essential that players keep control of their own soccer balls, players only score a point if they kick out another players ball AND they have control of their own ball. Teaching Points: ) keep control of own soccer ball first and foremost ) Use your body to shield own ball and other foot to kick other balls ) Players can kick ANY players ball out ) Have team knock out Fundamental: Sharks & Minnows (Nemo) The coach takes the role of Shark and stands in the middle of the area with a ball. Players have to dribble their ball across the area from one side to the other without the coach kicking their balls out of the area. If they get caught they join the coach in the middle as sharks. No kick & chase Zig Zags to lose shark MUST be in control of ball when reaching the other side ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.
United Soccer Academy, Inc. Week 8 Session Topic Introduction To Shooting. use i/s of feet to shoot at target. recognize where the GK is within the goal. recognize when to shoot Warm Up: Soccer marbles Bumper cars players have to try and hit other cars with their own soccer ball (intro to passing & shooting). Begin soccer marbles game with each player trying to pass/bump their soccer ball against other players soccer ball using the inside of their foot. Fundamental: Harry Potter s quiditch passing (coconut shire type game) Everyone in the group finds a partner, one ball between two. The players stand a small distance apart. Players pass the ball their LACES through their partners legs. If they get the ball through their partners legs they get point. Variations: ) Progress to how many points can you and your partner score between you. ) Increase distance between partners. ) Use different foot, and different parts of foot. Use as an introduction to shooting-laces. ) reinforce coaching points above in a pressure situation. # ) reinforce coaching points above in a game situation. 0 United Soccer Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This Publication may not be copied without written permission.