U6 - Week 1

This is our first week, and the emphasis will be on getting to know your players, getting them moving, and just having fun! Do as many of these drills as you like, or tweak them in any way you think will work.

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

Set up your grid with cones (roughly 15 yards by 15 yards should be good (to measure out a yard just take a big step, that will be roughly a yard), feel free to make it larger or smaller if you need.

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.

WARM UP - 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.

Soccer Islands

In your grid, make “islands” in each corner by using cones to mark out the “island” and make one circular island in the middle. Have the players start in the middle island, and number the 4 corner island 1-4, or give them names. Call out a number (or name) and have the kids run there. Once they get there, have them do a certain skill (toe taps, tic-tock, jump up as high as they can, lay down flat and get back up again, yell as loud as they can, etc… be creative. This is all about getting them to move).

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 in pairs 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!

Soccer Bowling

If you need another game to fill some time, you could use this one… Place 3 balls on top of cones, have the players hit the balls down from a distance, just like bowling :)

The name is as it suggests and the video makes it self-explanatory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKGyrJGmJNk&feature=relmfu

U6 - 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.

In the Box!

It’s important that we teach our players to “get ready to play” and to get warmed up. So to start off, do the following: everyone will have a ball

• Start with dribbling around the box. Encourage players to change direction and not just go around in a circle
  • Remember to take lots of small touches, and not big touches. The ball should never be more than 2 feet away from you at any time
  • DO NOT use your toes, use the inside or outside of your foot
• As they get better at this, yell “stop” and have the players stop in place. Each time they are getting the hang of things, or you need to switch it up, do this and demonstrate one of the follow:
  • Turn: Place foot on ball and roll it backwards as you turn
  • Sit: Sit down on the ball until the coach says “up”
  • Cut: With the outside of your foot, wrap your foot around the ball and push it in another direction (if they struggle with this one feel free to skip it)
  • Change: Swap balls with another player by running up to them and gently passing the ball
  • Outside: leave your ball and run to a cone on the other side of the box and run back to your ball
  • Etc… Be creative. This is all about getting the players moving, and as many touches on the ball as we can.

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!)

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

U6 - Week 3

Hey Coaches! It has been great seeing you interacting with the players. Remember, they always LOVE it when you join in and have fun with them! Always encourage them and help them out. Here are a few more ideas for this week.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Ball

This is a simple but hopefully fun one! Start with ever player having a ball at their feet standing in a circle around you. As you call out a body part, they have to put that body part on the ball. For example, you say “ear” and they have to get down and put their ear on the ball.

As they get better at it, speed it up. Only give them a few seconds to touch the ball, then call out another one. To change it up even more, you can have them running around dribbling the ball and when you call out the body part they have to touch that body part to the ball.

Crocs and Swamps

Make a line of cones heading towards the net. Players need to pass to each other and not hit the crocs (cones) and then shoot on net. Have the kids work on passing around/past the crocs/cones and shooting on goal. Count how many times you score!

Don't Crash The Car

Red Light, Green Light made fun....check out all the variations! You may want to stick with the basics, but if you have a keen crew I would try some of the additions.

http://www.freeyouthsoccerdrills.com/youth-football-drills.html

INDY 500

Create an oval-shaped "racetrack" with your cones.

Players start from “Pit Row”. Player starts by exiting the pits and dribbling the ball in a clockwise direction around the track. If the ball exits the track they must make 3 toe taps on the ball to restart the engine. Encourage players to make “Vroom! Vroom!” car sounds while driving!

Easier – run the track first with no balls.

Easier – players carry ball in hands and run around track

Harder – Switch directions and have drivers go counter-clockwise.

Harder – Change direction before completing circuit on coach’s command

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

U6 - Week 4

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

U6 - Week 5

Today we’ll be working a little on kicking. Here are some kicking pointers:

We never kick with our toes. This hurts, and also we cannot aim with our toes. Say “no more big toe!” if they are kicking with their toes. Have players point out where their toes are and continually remind them not to use their toes.

Planting Foot - The foot that is not kicking should be beside the ball (not behind or in front), and pointing where you want to kick. The ball will go where your toes are pointing. If your foot is pointing to the side, the ball will go that way. Point this foot towards your target.

Kicking with Laces - Also known as the Instep Kick, you kick the ball with your laces. Feel your foot. Notice that big bone towards the inside, usually right along the side of the laces? You want to kick with that part of the foot. It’s the strongest part.

Kicking with the instep (inside of the foot) - This is like passing, but with a little more power. Biggest thing here is to open the body up so that the inside of your foot is able to hit the ball. Follow through with your leg.

Coach Says. Start off with this to get your players moving.

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

1-2-3 Kick

Line up balls in front of the net, one with each player. Have them wait their turn, and say, “1,2,3 (name) kick!” This will make them listen to you (hopefully), as well as not give them time to think. They won’t know when they are going to kick, and will help them not over-think shooting the ball.

Monster Kick

This game is practicing powerful kicks. Set up cones in a line to act as the “shooting line” where the players will shoot from. Have the kids kick the ball as far as they can *using proper technique*. Once they have all kicked, have them run and get their balls as fast as they can and dribble back. Be creative on how to encourage them to kick further and further. Have a coach or parent stand as a target, move the net out there, place a ball on a cone, lay down on the ground and have them hit you (it won’t hurt, they aren’t that strong :)

Hit the Coach

We’ve done this before, but again, the kids love shooting at your. Don’t you feel loved? Feel free to have parents step in as well ;). Run around your area and have them players try and hit you. This is a valuable skill to learn as they are practicing their aim and hitting a moving target. As they get older and we work more on passing this is exactly what they need.

Balls in the bag

This is really just a way to clean up before the game, but we might as well have fun! Make sure everyone has a ball, and hold your ball bag open on the ground. Have them shoot their ball into the bag. Once all the balls are in, say something like, “what’s that? Oh no! There’s a hole in the bag!” and dumb all the balls out. Do it again, but maybe move the bag a little, or have them stand further back.