To Allow Players to Develop in a SAFE, FUN and EDUCATIONAL Environment

SWAMPSCOTT YOUTH SOCCER U7 Coaching Guideline

Objective: To provide fun, active, age appropriate activities that foster comfort with the ball for each player. It is important, if possible, that all players have a ball in most activities so that they can have “LOTS” of touches as they attempt to dribble (propel) the ball.

Practice Sessions: The sessions last approximately 1 hour. The first 30 minutes should be spent on drills and the last 30 minutes should be spent scrimmaging another team per the game schedule. Please do your best as a coach to look at the drills prior to the session so you can set up quickly and move from one drill to another. We have provided eight weeks of lesson plans for you and they are modeled after the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association’s suggested curriculum. In each of the eight lesson plans, we have provided three drills. Each drill should run approximately 10 minutes but the time is flexible. If the kids enjoy one thing over another than go with that drill for a longer period.

Coaching Aim:

To allow players to develop in a SAFE, FUN and EDUCATIONAL environment.

Objectives:

1. Keep things brief and simple! Remember players at this level have a very short attention span. Be careful with the language you use when communicating with young players – always be as positive as possible and include all players.

2. Make things FUN! energy and enthusiasm need to come through in every practice. Allow players as much active time with a ball each as possible.

3. Use your imagination! A successful coach with this age range is one who can make his/her session relate to how the young player views the world. Use Harry Potter or Spongebob Squarepants as characters in your games to make them feel more involved.

4. ALL players should be given plenty of opportunities to succeed and ALL players need to be kept motivated and challenged. Come down to their level and be part of their world. To succeed in coaching players in this age range, you must have: Patience – they will not understand things right away. Although young they want and need you to be in charge. Be firm with what your expectations are but remember you are dealing with young children;

Flexibility – recognize when something is not working and change it;

A sense of humor – laugh with your players;

Positive attitude – give generous praise often; and

Lots and lots of energy .

THERE are four main pillars of soccer, which are evident at every level of the game – TECHNICAL, TACTICAL, PHYSICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL. Clearly there will be different emphasis placed on each one depending on the age and ability of the player.

It is important that a coach has clear goals for himself/herself and for his/her team prior to working with any age group.

1. TECHNICAL:

• At this age we should be looking to get players using both feet as much as possible. We want to start the process of getting them to be comfortable with the ball at either foot. Emphasis on dribbling is first and proper shooting position is worked in as the sessions progress.

2. TACTICAL:

• Basic principles of attack / defense. On attack we want a large spread field and on defense we want a small field.

• There should be no emphasis on playing set positions at this age range.

• Rules of the game should not overtake the game. Quick re-starts and players should be encouraged to get the ball in play quickly with their feet.

3. PSYCHOLOGICAL:

• The main psychological goal for players at this stage of their development is to have FUN. Coaches need to ensure that their players receive an exciting and positive introduction to the game of soccer to ensure future participation.

There should be absolutely no emphasis placed on winning games. This is hard sometimes for coaches to accept but it allows the kids more enjoyment than stressing about winning or losing

4. PHYSICAL:

• Players at this age find it fun to be active. Keep them moving with a ball as much as possible. Any fitness that they receive should be as a result of playing the game of soccer. Use soccer games to improve balance and coordination. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Free Dribble: All players are dribbling a soccer ball in a 20x25 yard  Challenge players to use grid using their inside, outside, and the sole of their foot. different surfaces of foot  Players must dribble Coach: Have players change direction and accelerate with their head up away. Have players demonstrate a move and accelerate away.  Encourage the players to try a new move

Version 2: Coach can put pressure on players dribbling. Version 3: Players can dribble at each other and perform a move and accelerate away.

Coaching Activity 2 Activity Description Considerations

Sharks and Minnows:  Keep ball close In a 20x25 yard grid have 3-4 players acting as the  Changing speed and sharks. The minnows are in one end of the grid with their direction soccer balls. When the coach say “GO” the minnows try  Running with the ball to dribble to the other end of the grid and the sharks are  Defending – 1v1 trying to kick the ball out. When the dribbler’s ball goes out, he/she becomes a shark. If the minnows reach the other end, they will wait for the coach’s command to play again. The game continues until all players turn into sharks.

Snake:  Keep ball close All players are dribbling a soccer ball in a 20x25 yard  Changing speed and grid with the exception of at least 2 players. The 2 direction players hold hands or lock arms to create a snake. The  Running with the ball snake works together to tag the dribbling players who then become a part of the snake. The snake must try to  Sudden stops and going stay connected and not break into little parts.

Coach: Encourage the snake players to hiss. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Shadow Dribble: Two players (Leader and Shadow) both with a ball  Keep ball close each and will dribble their soccer ball in a 20x25 yard  Changing directions grid. The leader will determine where they are going  Dribbling using while the shadow will try to keep up with the leader. different surfaces of the foot Coach: Call the change from leader to shadow

Version 2: Use only favorite foot or other foot. Version 3: Leader must make a move.

Gate Dribbling:  Keep ball close In a 20x25 yard grid set up as many gates (two  Changing direction cones about 2 yards apart). All players with a ball must dribble through the gate in order to score a  Acceleration after going point. through a gate

Coach: Have players keep count of how many points they  Decision making scored in 30 seconds or a minute. Repeat asking the players to beat the score by one or more points. You can also ask them to dribble with the left or right foot only. Version 2: Add “bandits” or defenders Coaching Activity 3 Activity Description Considerations

Steal-Shield:  Body sideways on to Pair up the players with one ball. One player starts opponent with the ball and at coach’s command his/her  Use arm to protect and partner tries to steal the ball away. Play 30-45 know where defender is second matches. The player who ends with the ball going gets a point. If the ball goes out of bounds, one of  Knees bent the players must get it back in play very quickly.  Turn as defender attacks or reaches for Coach: Show proper shielding technique during the the ball demonstration. Fix technical shielding errors throughout the activity to assure that the group is doing it properly. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

 Passing and receiving Paint the Field- Passing: technique In pairs, players will pass the soccer ball back and forth  Weight of the pass in a 20x25 yard grid. Explain to the players that their  Ability to pass through soccer ball is a paint brush and wherever it rolls it will traffic paint the area. Their task to pass (kick) the soccer ball to  Communication and paint as much of the grid as possible in the allotted time. mobility of the players

Version 2: Tell the players to use the other foot

Ball Tag: All players are dribbling a soccer ball in a 20x25 yard  Dribbling technique grid. The players try to hit another player’s feet or soccer  Passing and receiving ball with their soccer ball. Players should keep count of technique how many times they tag another player.  Weight of the pass  Accuracy of the pass Version 2: If the players tag the coach, they are awarded 10 or 20 points. If the players tag other selected players, they are awarded 50 or 100 points.

Team Tag: Split the players into two teams (Dribblers and  Dribbling technique Taggers). The taggers are trying to tag the dribblers’ feet  Passing and receiving or soccer ball with their soccer ball. The taggers need to technique keep track of their tags. The dribblers are trying to keep  Weight of the pass their ball from being tagged by shielding it. After a  Accuracy of the pass determine time, the teams switch roles.  Protecting the ball

Coach: Can help taggers adding their points.

Version 2: Taggers can only tag the dribblers’ ball. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Free Dribble: All players are dribbling a soccer ball in a 20x25 yard  Challenge players to grid using their inside, outside, and the sole of their foot. use different surfaces of foot Coach: Have players change direction and accelerate  Players must dribble away. Have players demonstrate a move and accelerate with their head up away.  Encourage the players to try a new move Version 2: Coach can put pressure on players dribbling. Version 3: Players can dribble at each other and perform a move and accelerate away. Coaching Activity 2 Activity Description Considerations

Doctor, Doctor: Divide the group into two teams. Send them to their  Dribbling Technique hospital (corner boxes). Each team selects a doctor.  Protect the ball He/she will cure (unfreeze) his/her team’s players.  Passing technique Teams try to freeze each other by hitting the players  Wight and accuracy of with their soccer balls below knees or striking their the pass balls. When frozen, players must put ball above head, remain in place, and yell “Doctor, Doctor”. The Doctor is without a ball, and is safe in the hospital, but when he comes out, he can be frozen. When the doctor is frozen the game is over.

Clean Your Backyard:  Basic Shooting Split the players into two teams to play in a 20x25 yard technique gird. With cones, divide the field into three portions. The  Simple decision making central portion (the buffer zone) is 6yds wide and no one  Shoot, Shoot, Shoot! can enter it. Place three goals (3yds each) at the far ends of the grid. Players on each team will try to shoot/pass and score below knee height in any of the other team’s goals. Coach: Allow players to enter the buffer zone to retrieve any ball that has stopped in there. Version 2: Allow teams to defend the goals using their hands. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Juggling: All players with a soccer ball in their hands drop the  Hand, foot, eye ball down and try to kick it back up to their hands. coordination Players will try to use their thighs and feet to keep the  Use foot and thigh ball in the air. Coach: Have the players count how many times they touch the ball before it hits the ground. Version 2: Controlled juggling - Thigh, foot, catch. Thigh, thigh, foot, catch. Thigh, thigh, foot, foot, catch.

Tag:  Dribbling with head up All players dribbling a soccer ball will try to tag each  Use different surfaces other with their hands. Players cannot abandon their of the foot own ball to tag.  Change of direction

Coach: Have players keep count of their own tags. If playing more than one game, have players improve their tags by 1, 2 or 3 more than before.

Coaching Activity 3 Activity Description Considerations  Body sideways on to Steal-Shield: opponent Pair up the players with one ball. One player starts with  Use arm to protect and the ball and at coach’s command his/her partner tries to know where defender is steal the ball away. Play 30-45 second matches. The going player who ends with the ball gets a point. If the ball  Knees bent goes out of bounds, one of the players must get it back in play very quickly.  Turn as defender attacks or reaches for Coach: Show proper shielding technique during the the ball demonstration. Fix technical shielding errors throughout the activity to assure that the group is doing it properly. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Paint the Field- Passing:  Passing and receiving In pairs, players will pass the soccer ball back and forth technique in a 20x25 yard grid. Explain to the players that their  Weight of the pass soccer ball is a paint brush and wherever it rolls it will paint the area. Their task is to pass (kick) the soccer  Ability to pass through ball to paint as much of the grid as possible in the traffic allotted time.  Communication and mobility of the players Version 2: Tell the players to use the other foot

Coaching Activity 2 Activity Description Considerations  Changing speed and British Bulldog: direction All players are dribbling a soccer ball from one end to the other end of a 20x25 yard grid. The  Running with the ball coach begins as the “bulldog” and tries to kick the dribbling players’ soccer balls out of the grid.  Keep the ball close Once a player’s soccer ball is kicked out of the grid, he/she becomes a “bulldog”.  1v1 defending Coach: Have players change direction and accelerate away. Have players demonstrate a move and accelerate away. Version 2: Players who dribble the soccer ball close to their feet do not get attacked by the bulldog. Coaching Activity 3 Activity Description Considerations Clean Your Backyard: Split the players into two teams to play in a 20x25 yard gird. With cones, divide the field into three  Basic Shooting portions. The central portion (the buffer zone) is technique 6yds wide and no one can enter it. Place three  Simple decision making goals (3yds each) at the far ends of the grid. Players in each team will try to shoot/pass and score below knee height in any of the other team’s goal. Coach: Allow players to enter the buffer zone to retrieve any ball that has stopped in there. Version 2: Allow teams to defend the goals using their hands. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Cone Kicking (in 2’s)  Passing technique 15x20 yard grid. Opposing players are positioned  Weight of the pass across from each other about 5 yards from center cone.  Accuracy of the pass The center cone has a soccer ball placed on top of it. One player starts with the soccer ball and tries to knock the soccer ball off the center cone with a pass. Player receives one point if she can knock the cone down. Opponent must place the soccer ball back on the center cone before taking her turn. Game is played to 3 then switch opponents. Coaching Activity 2 Activity Description Considerations Team Tag: Split the players into two teams (Dribblers and  Dribbling technique Taggers). The taggers are trying to tag the dribblers’  Passing and receiving feet or soccer ball with their soccer ball. The taggers technique need to keep track of their tags. The dribblers are trying  Weight of the pass to keep their ball from being tagged by shielding it.  Accuracy of the pass After a determine time, the teams switch roles.  Protecting the ball

Coach: Can help taggers adding their points.

Version 2: Taggers can only tag the dribblers’ ball. Coaching Activity 3 Activity Description Considerations

1v1 to Cross Goals:  Keep soccer ball close In a 12x12yd grid, set up a two yard goal (two red and to feet blue goals) on each side of the grid. Divide the team  Sudden change of into two groups. One attacker starts with a soccer ball, direction trying to score by dribbling through any of the two  Burst of speed further goals. The defender is trying to defend the  Defending – tackling goals closest to them, If the defender gets the ball,  Shielding he/she tries to score in the opponent’s goal.  Decision making The game ends when one player scores or the ball rolls out. Two new players go. Coaching Activity 1 Activity Description Considerations

Gate Passing: In a 20x25 yard grid, set up many gates (two cones about  Passing and receiving 2 yards apart). Players are now in pairs with a soccer technique ball. They must pass the soccer ball through the gate to  Dribbling Technique their teammate in order to score a point.  Decision Making Coach: Players count how many points they score in a  Weight and accuracy of minute. Repeat asking the players to beat their score by the pass one or more points. You can also ask them to pass with  Communication and the inside or outside of the foot, and using their favorite mobility foot or with the other foot.

Team Freeze Tag: Divide the group into two teams. In a 20x25 yard grid,  Dribbling technique one team (Dribblers) is dribbling their soccer balls while  Passing and receiving the other team (Taggers) tries to tag the dribblers, who technique then freeze with the soccer ball above their head.  Weight of the pass Dribblers can unfreeze their team-mates by kicking the  Accuracy of the pass ball through their legs.  Protecting the ball Coach: First play the game making the Taggers tag with their hands and then play it making the Taggers tag the dribbler’s soccer ball or below the dribbler’s knee with their soccer ball.

Catching Robbers:  Passing technique All players are spread around a 20x25 grid. Only two  Weight of the pass players (the cops) have soccer balls. When the coach  Accuracy of the pass says “let’s catch some robbers”, the cops attempt to catch the robbers who are running around the grid by striking their legs below knee height with their soccer balls. Once a robber is caught, he/she goes and gets any

ball from the perimeter and becomes a cop.

Coach: Place the balls that are not being used around the perimeter of the grid.