U5 - Week 2

Hey Coaches! Our first week went great, and kids seemed to have fun! Every week our goal is to have fun, and to encourage our players. The more fun they have, the more they will learn -even if that’s just how to run around within a square, or kick a ball to their friend. These are the building blocks of strong players.

As your team shows up give them a ball and have them play pass with each other, or with a parent.

When you change to a new drill, send the team for a REALLY quick water break (30 seconds) or have them working on their juggling, passing between each other, or be creative in how to keep them occupied. If you give them time to goof off, they will do just that and you will struggle to get their attention back.

Get the players to warm-up with their ball.

• Toe-taps - Place the bottom of their foot on top of the ball and alternate feet doing this faster and faster.
• Tick-Tock - Place the ball between their feet and have them knock the ball back and forth between their feet. THEY WILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS….IT’S OKAY. LET THEM KNOW THAT IT IS HARD AND SHOW THEM YOU HAVE TROUBLE TOO!
• Run in place.
• Jump up and down and act silly.

The idea here is to get them going a little bit and get used to “getting ready” to practice. If you do the same warm-up exercise every week the players will actually start the warm-ups themselves when you call them over to start warming up. Have them touch their toes and stretch up to the sky as far as they can. Stretching at this age is not recommended other than the token stretches above.

Coach Says

Played like Simon Says. Anything that gets those little guys moving goes. Use the whole body. Start without soccer balls for movement and stretches. Jog around the area, one foot hopping on each foot, high knees, skipping, kick your butt, etc. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsCLLgkQgNc

Steal the Bacon

In your grid, place the balls in the middle in a straight line. Spit your team into 2 groups and have them line up on either end. When you say “GO” the goal is to run to the middle, and get a ball. Start with having them pick the balls up with their hands and carry the ball back to their end. Once they get the hang of it, get them to DRIBBLE the ball back to their end, once all the balls are at both ends, the game is over.

• Change things up by having the players start with laying down, and getting up when you say go or sitting facing the opposite direction. This will work on their coordination and ability to get up quickly.
• Another way to change it up is to number the players (1 to ?) and call out numbers, I suggest calling out 2 numbers at a time. Only these number can go and get a ball. Once each number has gotten a ball, call out another number. Keep going until all balls are gone

Superheroes

Have all players move around by dribbling in the grid. When you shout different superhero names, there are different things to do for each. Start simple with only one or two, and add as you go. Feel free to add some new superhero moves to this if you want too!

• "Superman" = everyone dives on the ball and lies with it under the chest with arms out like Superman
• "Batman" = put foot on the ball and pretend to fly
• "Spiderman" = put foot on the ball and pretend to shoot webs
• "Hulk" = pick up the ball and squeeze it and roar like the Hulk!

(Don't forget to demonstrate what these all look like!)