STAGE 1 ACTIVITIES 3-5 YEAR OLD PLAYERS NSCAA Foundations of Coaching Diploma NSCAA Foundations of Coaching Activities Stage 1: 3-5 Year Old Players
1V1 ON THE FLY This is a fast-paced and competitive activity ideal for children of all ages. The 1v1 set-up encourages players to practice their individual attacking and defending techniques. As the game progresses the coach can send multiple 1v1 duels. The set-up is a 15x20 yards rectangle. Two small goals are placed at each end of the area and two cones are placed approximately 10 yards apart along one side. 3 players line up at each cone and the coach stands between the cones with a supply of balls. Opposite the coach with the balls is another coach standing on the touchline. Commence with the coach shouting GO. The first player in each line sprints out and performs a high five with the coach opposite. As the players turn, the coach with the balls makes a pass into the center of the area and two players compete to win possession. The objective for each player is to beat their opponent in a 1v1 duel and score in the small goal. + Coaching objectives From an attacking perspective the coaching objective is to provide players with plenty of opportunities to practice their take-on moves such as scissors and feints. Conversely, the defending objectives must be to impress upon players the need to work into a position between the attacker and the goal and then to apply pressure to the ball carrier. + Coaching tips A critical step in the development of young players during the first 3 stages of development is to provide them with opportunities to practice their individual attacking and defending skills. If a coach can create these 1v1 opportunities regularly in practice, the more likely players will develop confidence and competence leading to noticeable improvements in game performance. + Less challenging: The coach can maintain 1v1 games and not progress to greater numbers. + More challenging: The coach can build up numbers and insist on a pass being made before scoring. Stages 1 2, 3-3-11 year old players. Top 3 themes: Dribbling, ball mastery and 1v1 attacking and defending. Top 3 competencies: Dribbling with the laces, take-on moves and individual defending. + The coach makes a pass in favor of the red player who is first to the ball. + Naturally the yellow player becomes the defender and must attempt to get into a goal-side position to block an immediate shot by the attacker. + The coach can instruct the players to change their movement patterns prior to serving the ball. + In this example the players must run behind their goal before entering the field and commence the duel. + The coach can choose alternative movements such as hopping or skipping and different patterns. + In the final illustration the coach has increased the challenge by sending two pairs at once. + With older players the coach has an option to send 2 balls to create 2 duels or pass 1 ball to create a 2v2 situation. ALL RIGHTS RIGHTS RESERVED RESERVED BY NSCAA BY NSCAA 5
HOSPITAL TAG This is a favorite activity to get young players moving, laughing and engaged in the training session. The game is played all against all. With or without soccer balls players must tag their opponent to send them to the hospital to receive medical treatment before returning to the game. The setup is a 20 20 yards square with cones or lines used to indicate the boundaries of the area. This activity can be played with 8 to 12 players and each player should have a ball. The coach will need 6 cones to establish 2 triangles as the activity progresses. The coach can start this activity without the balls and players chasing each other around the area attempting to tag an opponent anywhere on the body. Alternatively, the coach can specify that a player must tag an opponent below the knee or on the arm. Players count how many times they have been tagged in 60 to 90 seconds. + Coaching objectives The primary coaching objective should be to work with young players on moves to escape pressure - a step-on turn, inside and outside of the foot hook and drag back are moves young players should learn in the first and second stages of development to help them maintain possession when confronted by a defender. + Coaching tips A critical component of individual defending is establishing a firm base and lowering the center of gravity when approaching an attacking player. By insisting players tag an opponent beneath the knee the coach is employing conditions to support a good defensive stance. activity less challenging the coach can limit the number of players, reduce the number of balls in play and increase the size of the area to give attacking players more space and time. + More challenging: To make this activity more challenging the coach can reduce the size of the area, insist on a particular type of the escape move and add balls earlier in the process. Top 3 themes: Dribbling, ball mastery and 1v1 attacking and defending. Top 3 competencies: Dribbling with the laces, changing direction and escape moves. + In the first diagram the coach starts the activity by telling players to find space in the area. + On the command of GO the players commence chasing and escaping from their opponents. + At the end of the specified time, the coach asks players to announce how many times they were tagged. + In the second sequence the coach has introduced soccer balls. + Each player dribbles a soccer ball around the area and must tag an opponent. + The introduction of the balls will slow down the player s movement and add additional challenge. + The coaches now introduces hospitals positioned in 2 opposite corners. + If a player is tagged 3 times, he/she dribbles their ball to the hospital and perform 10 toe taps or foundations. + Add a time limit of 3-4 mins. The winner is the player entering the hospital on the least number of occasions. 2 NSCAA NSCAA Foundations LEVEL 1 DIPLOMA of Coaching - STAGE Activities 1 ACTIVITY Stage - 3-5 1: 3-5 YEAR Year OLD Old PLAYERS Players
PORT AND STARBOARD Kids love this make-believe dribbling and ball mastery game with challenging moves and commands. The set-up is a 20x20 yards square. The sidelines are named after the sides of a boat - Bow (front), Stern (back), Starboard (right) and Port (left). The coach assumes the role of the ship s captain and barks out orders to the sailors. The Captain starts the activity by getting the sailors familiar with the ships orientation. The deck is the area inside the cones and the sailors can move anywhere on the deck to begin the activity. When the Captain shouts out BOW, STERN, STARBOARD or PORT, the players dribble their ball to that side of the ship as quickly as they can with the ball under control. If the sailor goes over the edge of the ship they go into the ocean and risk being eaten by sharks, so add an exercise like 3 star jumps for going overboard. Introduce other movements and commands: SALUTE THE CAPTAIN the players must put their foot on the ball and salute. SCRUB THE DECK players perform foundation ball movements quick side to side touches like a pendulum. UP THE RIGGING players perform toe taps and use their arms to climb the imaginary rigging. HIT THE DECK players dive onto the deck to avoid the imaginary wave. The coach and players can add other movements and commands to make the activity unique. + Coaching objectives The coaching objective is to create a significant number of touches on the ball. Players should dribble with the laces, perform escape moves to change direction and take-on moves to avoid the other sailors.. + Coaching tips As the players become familiar with the activity the coach can change direction in mid-flow and this will require players to be aware of the other players and space. Dribbling with the head-up is a natural requirement to escape from tight areas and other players. activity less challenging start the activity without the ball so the players become familiar with the rules and instructions. + More challenging: To make this activity more challenging change the shape of the ship and make the ship smaller in size. Top 3 themes: Dribbling, ball mastery and changing direction. Top 3 competencies: Dribbling with the laces, take on moves and escape moves. + Bring all the players in close, demonstrate and explain the movement patterns. + The deck is the area inside the cones and the sailors can move anywhere on the deck to begin the activity. + When the Captain shouts out BOW, STERN, STARBOARD or PORT, the players dribble their ball to that side of the ship as quickly as they can with the ball under control. + If the sailor goes over the edge of the ship they go into the ocean and risk being eaten by sharks. + If the Captain shouts SALUTE THE CAPTAIN the players must put their foot on the ball and salute. + When the captain shouts SCRUB THE DECK players perform foundation ball movements. + If the captain shouts HIT THE DECK players dive onto the deck to avoid the imaginary wave. + The coach and players can add other movements and commands to make the activity unique. 4 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY NSCAA NSCAA LEVEL 1 DIPLOMA - STAGE 1 ACTIVITY - 3-5 YEAR OLD PLAYERS
SHARKS AND MINNOWS This activity introduces a coaching methodology commonly known as slanting line, a way to differentiate the rules and objectives to meet the developmental needs of the players. The setup is a 20 30 yards rectangle. 5 attacking players with soccer balls start at one end of the area and a defender starts in the middle. As the activity progresses the coach can mark a 10 20 yards area in the center of the rectangle to provide an additional challenge for the attackers. The objective for the attacking players is to dribble the length of the area, staying within the boundaries of the rectangle and avoid the efforts of the defender to win possession. The defender must attempt to isolate individual attackers and force a mistake and/or press the ball to win a turnover of possession. + Coaching objectives The coaching objective when working with attackers is to approach the defender, perform a move and then accelerate away into space. A change of pace will often be sufficient to create clear daylight between the attacker and defender. + Coaching tips There is a fine line for a coach to navigate in establishing the degree of challenge for any group of players. When the ability levels of players are wideranging, a skilful coach will find ways to challenge higher and lower ability players within the same session. activity less challenging for the attackers limit the number of defenders and widen the area. To help the defender, only allow 2 or 3 attackers to proceed at one time. + More challenging: Add a rectangle to the center and award additional points for a successful dribble through the center area. Another attacking option is to add a wall pass between the attacker and the coach. Stages 1 2, 3-3-11 year old players. Top 3 themes: Dribbling, ball mastery and changing direction. Top 3 competencies: Dribbling with the laces, take on moves and escape moves. 30yds + 5 attacking players in red dribble towards the yellow defender. + This is a good time for the coach to emphasize different take-on moves the players have learned and mastered in practice. + As the players approach the defender they should use a take-on move and accelerate quickly to the end line. + The coach has added a 10x20 yards rectangle to the center of the area. + A couple of red attackers decide to dribble wide and are awarded 1 point. + Two other red attackers dribble down the heart of the smaller rectangle in an attempt to earn 2 points. + In the final illustration the activity has taken another step further in difficulty. + A 3-point option is available to the attacker by making a wall pass around the defender. + At this time the coach may wish to add a second defender to increase the difficulty for the attackers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY NSCAA NSCAA Foundations of Coaching Activities Stage 1: 3-5 Year Old Players7
TAIL TAG Young players love to play tag and chase games. This activity is an ideal choice as it is easy for the players to understand and the coach can move quickly to higher intensity sequences with little explanation. Tail Tag can be played with or without the ball. The set-up is a 20 15 yards rectangle. Two teams each with 5 players find space in the area and each player has a training vest tucked in their shorts. To begin, the coaches manage the complexity and intensity of the environment and may decide to play tail tag without a ball. The objective is for one team to remove the tails from their opponents before they lose their own tails. Players can run anywhere inside the area but if they cross any of the lines they lose their tail. There are several rules a coach can introduce to make this an inclusionary or exclusionary activity. For example, once a tail has been removed the player must step out of the area or take a knee an exclusionary activity. Conversely, to make this an inclusionary activity the coach could allow the player to rejoin and chase the opponents with tails. Another option is to require a player to drop the vest on the ground and allow the player losing the tail to pick it up and tuck it back into his/her shorts. This sequence prevents the player losing the tail immediately grabbing at the opponent. + Coaching objectives The objective is to activate the players interest in the session and gain their attention by starting with a high energy, competitive and fun game. + Coaching tips Often youth soccer clubs organize players into mixed ability groups. This presents challenges for a coach in selecting activities suitable for a disparate group. Activities requiring one ball per player typically allow players of varying abilities to participate reasonably well in the same game. + Less challenging: The coach can adjust the size and shape of the area. A smaller area assists the defenders and makes it more difficult for their opponents to escape into space. A larger area supports the player seeking to escape the attention of a defender. + More challenging: The coach could decide to start with the soccer balls and can also add more players to the area to reduce the available space Top 3 themes: Dribbling, ball mastery and changing direction. Top 3 competencies: Dribbling with the laces, take on moves and escape moves. + The players have been paired with an opponent. + On the command to GO the players attempt to remove the vest from their opponent s shorts. + As the player picks up their tail from the ground the other player can join another pair and continue the process. + The coach has added soccer balls to increase the challenge and make the activity more soccer specific. + The rules are similar to the first variation without the ball, but the players must have the ball between their feet when removing the tail from an opponent. + In the final diagram the coach has advanced the activity into a team game. + The yellow and black teams stand facing each other at opposite ends of the area. + The first team to remove all their opponent s tails wins the game. 6 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY NSCAA NSCAA LEVEL 1 DIPLOMA - STAGE 1 ACTIVITY - 3-5 YEAR OLD PLAYERS
TIMED TAG Tag games are an excellent way to start the session with young players and Timed Tag requires them to move quickly in small spaces and with short bursts of intensity. The set-up is a 15x15 yards square with cones or lines used to mark the boundaries of the area. 10 to 12 players start inside the area and 2 players commence as the taggers. Start without the balls and introduce different movement patterns such as running, jumping, hopping, skipping and galloping. The objective of the game is for the 2 tagging players to catch all the other players in as short a period of time as possible. On the command of GO the tagging players rush into the area and attempt to touch the other players quickly. + Coaching objectives The coaching objective from an attacking perspective is to maintain possession by moving into spaces without defenders and using escape moves when pressured. From a defensive perspective the coach can discuss with players how to force the attackers into a condensed area and wait for a bad touch before making a challenge. + Coaching tips There are several ways the coach can increase the intensity of the activity, such as, reducing the size of the space, adding a time limit and increasing the number of tagging players.. activity less challenging the coach can make the area larger and continue to play the game without soccer balls. + More challenging: To make this activity more challenging the coach can introduce soccer balls earlier in the sequence and insist on a particular move to escape an opponent. Top 3 themes: Dribbling, ball mastery and 1v1 attacking and defending. Top 3 competencies: Dribbling with the laces, changing direction and escape moves. + To begin the activity the coach can impose that the players being chased can only travel by hopping or skipping. + Once touched a player must take a knee whilst the other players are being chased. + Keep a record of the time it takes the pair to capture all the players and then play again with new taggers. + The coach allows the players being chased to use any movement type they desire. + Instead of taking a knee after being touched, players must go to the sideline and work on a move. + Moves such as toe touches, foundations and juggling can be introduced. + The activity has progressed to using soccer balls. + The coach can determine whether the tagging players have a ball as well as those being chased. + Instead of touching a player instruct the tagger that they must place the foot on top of the ball. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY NSCAA NSCAA Foundations of Coaching Activities Stage 1: 3-5 Year Old Players3