Well, we started our practices for Fall 2005 today. After coaching U6 for 3 years (and assisting for a U8 team), I decided to jump up to U10 with my son and see how it goes. I’m nervous, but I’ve got a great group of kids so hopefully I can teach them a thing or two.
I’m a firm believer in no lines – the more kids stand in line the less time they have with the ball to learn. But keeping the kids moving at all times during practice definitely takes some doing and its got my parents scratching their heads. They’re so used to the kids lining up for drills I think my use of more chaotic activities threw some of them for a loop.
After working on throw-in technique for a few minutes towards the end of practice, we played a game of ‘soccer football’ – at least thats what its called around here. Basically the kids run around the field trying to score goals except if you have the ball you can’t move – you have to pass it to a teammate – then you can move. And they aren’t kicking the ball – they’re throwing it over their heads like a throw in. Its unorthodox – because they’re "using their hands" – but it teaches them the concept of passing the ball around instead of running all over the place, of getting open to receive a pass from a teammate when they don’t have the ball, and working on extending the distance of their throws. But a few parents we’re surprised that a coach was telling the kids to throw a soccer ball around! But hey, if it helps my kids add an extra 5-10′ to their throw ins, thats a serious advantage.
The kids had a blast and were quite exhausted. We’ll see how it goes next practice!
August 22nd, 2005 at 5:09 pm
Love the “no lines” techniqe. Our current coach does not do lines. We have several drills that involve ball handling techniques and some fun games. Soccer volley ball is a good example. Put some kids on each side of a rope tied to cones (no more than 1 foot high). Have them play volley ball, with their feet, but the ball must touch at least three players before it can be “kicked” over the rope to the other side. Our coach will also yell instructions during play; for instance – next play, get the ball higher so your third person can head it over, etc. He’s changed it up several times, but it’s the drill the kids like to play most often.
We also have a goalie kick-return net (ball fits in a little net on a bunjie cord- one end of the bunjie cord is staked into the ground. The other players line up (picture “red rover, red rover” and the goalie calls a persons name and that person, plus the player to the left and right of them step forward and the goalie attempts to kick the ball through them (indirect/direct kick practice). If they let the ball through-shame shame shame – they have to run laps. It teaches them how to stop the balls with their bodies and the importance of being a part of a WALL during these indirect kicks (I don’t know if it’s indirect or direct that you do the wall-sorry – I’m still good to recognize offsides – which I’m VERY GOOD AT); cover your jewels and don’t let the ball through. It’s good practice too, for the goalie to practice aiming a punt.