CONSIDER ADDING 2 ITEMS TO YOUR SESSIONS THIS WEEK:
Daily Five (Skills) - encourage QUALITY TOUCHES:
The U12 Boys and U8 Academy Boys have added the SKILL Daily Five to EACH practice BEFORE coaches officially start the session (the boys arrive, get into daily five with you prompting them in the first week sharing with them if they arrive before you they are to start SKILL Daily Five, and when all players arrive and are engaged the coach starts the session). This limits players standing around, hitting the ball on goal without being properly warmed up, and gets players touches on the ball daily.
I would love ALL U94 teams to adopt the SKILL Daily Five.
see this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9SUZ7l2Gao for isoccer ideas in SKILL Daily Five (we do 20 second assessments weekly but for Daily Five we go to 100 without time - player-paced)
#1 100 toe touches
#2 100 foundation touches
#3 100 juggles (if ball drops start at that the number that ball dropped on until reaching 100); Please start at 25 for younger teams and build to 100 (can change based on player's development).
#4 100 passes with a partner (1 touch or 2 touch)
#5 The U8s then jump into small-sided games (3v3 - coach presets up minifields) and the U12s play "Rondo".
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/50661/rondo-a-simple-practice-game-with-multiple-benefi.html (includes a video at the end)
HAND SHAKE CLOSURE:
At the end of the session we have EACH player approach the coach, look them in the eyes, and state a focus of the session (eg, play SKILLFUL; [defend] AT AN ANGLE; THINK AHEAD [before receiving the ball]; etc.). This week we will have them share a soccer focus (pass and move) and a character focus (enthusiasm; industriousness). I "borrowed' the idea from Soccer America Insider (sign up if you haven't). It's a great way to connect with your players, end the session on a good note, and review a topic from the session.
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/56700/making-critical-feedback-positive-and-motivating.html
That's all for now. I believe these two additons are easy to implement (they are already working with U8s and U12s) and will pay dividends for each player and the team as a whole.
Thanks!
Daily Five (Skills) - encourage QUALITY TOUCHES:
The U12 Boys and U8 Academy Boys have added the SKILL Daily Five to EACH practice BEFORE coaches officially start the session (the boys arrive, get into daily five with you prompting them in the first week sharing with them if they arrive before you they are to start SKILL Daily Five, and when all players arrive and are engaged the coach starts the session). This limits players standing around, hitting the ball on goal without being properly warmed up, and gets players touches on the ball daily.
I would love ALL U94 teams to adopt the SKILL Daily Five.
see this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9SUZ7l2Gao for isoccer ideas in SKILL Daily Five (we do 20 second assessments weekly but for Daily Five we go to 100 without time - player-paced)
#1 100 toe touches
#2 100 foundation touches
#3 100 juggles (if ball drops start at that the number that ball dropped on until reaching 100); Please start at 25 for younger teams and build to 100 (can change based on player's development).
#4 100 passes with a partner (1 touch or 2 touch)
#5 The U8s then jump into small-sided games (3v3 - coach presets up minifields) and the U12s play "Rondo".
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/50661/rondo-a-simple-practice-game-with-multiple-benefi.html (includes a video at the end)
HAND SHAKE CLOSURE:
At the end of the session we have EACH player approach the coach, look them in the eyes, and state a focus of the session (eg, play SKILLFUL; [defend] AT AN ANGLE; THINK AHEAD [before receiving the ball]; etc.). This week we will have them share a soccer focus (pass and move) and a character focus (enthusiasm; industriousness). I "borrowed' the idea from Soccer America Insider (sign up if you haven't). It's a great way to connect with your players, end the session on a good note, and review a topic from the session.
http://www.socceramerica.com/article/56700/making-critical-feedback-positive-and-motivating.html
That's all for now. I believe these two additons are easy to implement (they are already working with U8s and U12s) and will pay dividends for each player and the team as a whole.
Thanks!