Hey Coaches! Great job last week! We just want to encourage you that we are here to have fun, to be crazy, and to encourage our players. The more we interact with them, the more fun they have, and the more likely they are to continue to play soccer. Be loud, celebrate every goal and every good pass. The kids love it! At this young age a lot of what we are doing is running around and teaching them how to move, how to fall down and get up, and the simply movements of playing soccer (dribbling, kicking, and passing). As I am sure you have noticed the kids are happy with running around in circles and at times it can be hard to motivate them. Be their friend, chat with them, and try to find ways you can encourage them to join in the drill.
Cone Maze
Spread cones over your grid. Place a few goals around the edge, use your one pop up goal and an arch or your large cones to create more "goals". Players dribble their balls through the grid trying to not hit the cones, and once they are through they can take a shot on the goal. After they have done it a couple of times, you can switch it up to end the activity by having them they hit the cones with their soccer ball to knock it over. Once it is knocked over, they can and pick the cone up and return it to you as way to clean up the course.
Pac Man (aka Kick the Coach; kids LOVE this game!)
First, demonstrate what a proper pass looks like:
- planting/non kicking foot next to ball, pointing at target
- strike ball with side of foot
- firm ankle
- follow through to target
Have players practice this with their parent or a partner so that you can give individual feedback to each player. Once you have gone through each player, they can then play the game.
All players have a ball and are dribbling in the grid and trying to hit you with a pass (you don't want to be hit).
Work on good passing technique. You may have to create a zone for you that the kids can't enter (small square in middle of grid and then move to no square and everyone moving).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9AJNANVrRA This video demos passing technique with cues, but don't spend as much time talking as this coach does!
Clean Your Messy Room
Split your grid in half with cones across the centre, and split your team up into 2 "teams".
Line up soccer balls in the centre, in line with the cones.
When you say "Go!" players rush to the centre to kick balls into the other half of the grid; they must try to keep the balls (laundry? toys?) out of their "room" by continuing to kick them into the other team's half.
When coach say "Stop!" players freeze and count up the balls to see who wins (least amount of balls/laundry/toys in grid wins). Play again!
Other Physical Distancing Ideas
Here are some other ideas for covid friendly drills from the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association: (www.mayouthsoccer.org).
- U6 Session 1 -> https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/assets/61/6/2020_summer_6u_week_1_pd_plan.pdf
- U6 Session 2 -> https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/assets/61/6/2020_summer_6u_week_2_pd_plan.pdf
- U6 Session 3 -> https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/assets/61/6/2020_summer_6u_week_3_pd_plan.pdf
- U6 Session 4 -> https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/assets/61/6/2020_summer_6u_week_4_pd_plan.pdf
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