Soccer Quote by Phil Woosnam - 1974
The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it till it does.
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COACHES PLEASE REMEMBER TO GIVE YOUR PLAYERS PLENTY OF WATER BREAKS, ESPECIALLY ON HOT & HUMID DAYS
 Red Light, Green Light (Under 8 Version)
- Playing this game in the U8 division is a little more challenging then when you may have played with the U6's. In the U8's; as coaches we want them to be more aware of their surroundings by looking up more; but remember we still need to keep it FUN.
- What's required
- A starting line marked with cones
- A finish line marked with cones
- All the children should have their own ball
- Coach will need a Red and a Green Pennies (anything red and green will do)
- Ask them what the Green penny mean (hopefully they said "GO")
- Ask them what the Red penny mean (hopefully they said "STOP")
- Once they know what the Red & Green Pennies mean you can start the game
- Start with the Ball
- Show the "RED" penny and see if any of the players move (they usually start giggling)
- Show the "GREEN" penny
- Show the "RED" penny
- If they don't stop tell them they should check their brakes
- Show the "GREEN" penny and make sure to tell them they should all stop when they get to the finish line
- The Finish line now becomes the Starting line (Start over)
- Repeat the process in whichever order you want (mix it up)
- After you have tried this once or twice tell them that if they do not stop the ball, they must go back to the starting line and start over by getting their brakes fixed
- This is just one way that you can get your players to start looking up so that they are not bumping into other players, and that they are constantly looking for other players to pass too, or shoot on goal. I will add more as the weeks and months go on...
Island Dribble- Move all the players into an area you have marked off with cones. For 6 players you should make the island about 10 yds by 10 yds. Use your own judgment so that the area you are using is appropriate for the amount of players you have.
- Tell your players that you want them to stay on the Island (within the coned area) and that if they go off the Island they will need to juggle the ball 5 times before getting back on the island (or use any other activity of your choice)
- Stat off with them dribbling the ball how ever they want
- After about 45 seconds ask them to stop and ask if they know what parts of the foot the can use on the ball.
- Let's say Shaun tells you that you can use the inside of your foot. Say...
- "Shaun that's a great idea can you show everyone."
- After Shaun has shown you tell him that he did a very good job!
- Now; Can everyone try to use the inside of your foot to dribble the ball
- Let it go for about 20 seconds, and then ask for someone else to tell you another part of your foot that everyone could use.
- This time Paul say's "Coach we can use the outside of our foot."
- Great idea Paul; can you show everyone how to use the outside of your foot
- Paul that was really good
- Now tell everyone to give it a try
- Keep stopping and asking until you have heard the following:
- Inside of the foot (dribbling and passing)
- Outside of the foot (changing direction, dribbling and passing)
- Bottom (Sole) of the foot (stopping , quick stop & go, quick direction change and fakes)
- Back (Heel) of the foot (back pass)
- Laces (Shooting)
- Toes
- As coaches; most of you are probably trying to get your children to stop using their toes as there is not a lot of control when they kick with them
- However; although it is not the preferred method, it does come in useful sometimes when stretching to make a pass or a shot on goal. If you watch a professional game you may see one or two of the pro's even kicking with their toes.
Dribble - Turn - Dribble
- Now that the children are in the U8 division they should be learning how to control the ball, keep it close to their feet, and change direction quickly and efficiently, as well as changing the speeds at which they run with the ball. This may sound like a lot to teach, but you will be surprised at how well some of your players will progress with this next activity called Dribble - Turn - Dribble.
- This is actually a good activity to play after Island Dribbling
- You will need to set up an area measuring 15 yds by 15 yds or larger based on the amount of children you have at your practice.
- Explain the rules:
- Very quickly explain how this will help them to dribble around players
- Every time you ask them to turn they must change direction by using one of the methods from island dribbling to change direction and continue dribbling the ball. If they get towards the edge where the cones are they can change direction on their own
- If you see one of the players that is turning and using various parts of the foot compliment them and ask them to show everyone else how they do it. then ask everyone to try
- After a little while take one or two players (without their balls) and have them move towards a player who has a ball without trying to take the ball from the player so the player with the ball is forced to dribble around them
- Switch these players in and out so that everyone gets a chance at dribbling around a player without the ball
- The art is getting the children to think for themselves, and having them use their creativity as to how they can dribble around players
Goal Math
- Not all children like to do math in school but they all love Goal Math. This activity allows each player to practice keeping the ball close, looking up while playing in order to look for the goals and to avoid other players, while giving them a challenge of remembering how many goals they are scoring at the same time (Goal Math)
- What is required:
- You will need about 20 cones/disc's, and try to have two different colors
- Each player must have their own ball
- Lay out the cone's/disc's so that each goal has an opening which is approx. two (2) feet apart, and lay out the goals so that they are far away from each other as to not confuse the players. Approx two (2) yds between goals should be sufficient and in a pattern that is visually apparent to the players as to where they can score. I will explain why you need two (2) colors in a minute.
- Ask for a volunteer to show everyone how to dribble through the goals
- Let's say the volunteer is Mike; go ahead Mike, show us how to dribble through the goals.
- Great Job Mike! Let's see if everyone can do it.
- After about 30 seconds ask them to stop.
- Good job everyone!
- How many of you do math in school? You should get a lot of hands raising or players yelling "I Do coach"
- OK! This time I would like you to go score more goals but each of you count how many goals you score
- Give them about 15 - 20 seconds and stop; ask them to come back to you and tell you how many goals they scored
- Mike 5: well done Mike!
- Paul 4: well done Paul!
- Shaun 7: well done Shaun!
- Peter 10: well done Peter
- David 2: well done David
- etc,.
- OK! Now I would like you to go see if you can beat YOUR last score, but remember how many you scored the first time too. Go!
- It is very important that you have them beat their last score and not the biggest score as every child plays at a different level and you should be challenging each individual at their own level
- You should give them more time then you did the first time so that you are allowing them to have success without realizing you are giving them more time. So maybe you can stop them after 45 seconds or a minute
- OK! Let's see how you did
- Ask them to tell you how many they scored the first time and how many they scored the second time
- Mike 5 - 12: WOW! You more then doubled your score...Great Job!
- Paul 4 - 13: WOW! What an improvement...Great Job!
- Shaun 7 - 14: Brilliant....Very Good!
- Peter 10 - 15: Very Good! You scored more than last time...keep it up!
- David 2 - 6 Awesome! Well done David
- etc,.
- OK! So why the two colored sets of cones/disc's
- The next time you do the activity tell them that the goals that are Yellow are worth one (1) goal and the orange goals are worth two (2) goals
- Save yourself some explaining...try not to mix the colors when creating goals (i.e. one yellow disc and one red disc)
Golden Goals
- Now that your players are 8 years old they should be working more as a team. This activity is very good at developing Cooperation, Communication, and Passing Skills while on the move
- What is required:
- Approx. 20 disc's and try to have two (2) different colors
- Teams of two (2) players: each team has one (1) ball
- QUICK & SIMPLE: Explain the Rules
- Each team has to score as many goals as they can without the players stepping through the goals
- A goal is scored ONLY if the ball goes between the disc's (set up as a goal). If the ball HITS either of the two (2) disc's or a player steps in between the disc's, they cannot count it as a goal
- Have them count their goals
- Play
- Stop after 30 seconds and have the teams come give you their scores
- Congratulate each team and have them repeat to see if they can beat THEIR last TEAM score
- Give them more time the second time to allow success
- Stop after about 1 minute, have them tell you their first score and then their second score
- Again congratulate each team on improving on their last score
- Sometimes you will get a team that did not improve on their last score. Don't bring that to attention unless the players seem down; then tell them that they can try again
- Give a little more time again and look to see why they may not be beating their last score. Stop them and ask them what they think they could be doing to help each other score more goals. Believe me they will come up with ideas, give them some encouragement.
- After you have played this activity for a couple of times switch the teams
- Have the players team up with a new team mate and play again
- You should probably move onto another activity after about 5 minutes. You can always use this activity another day
4 vs 4 Gates
- This game allows your players to work as a team and fosters communication between the players. The players must always be scanning the field for open players, gaps to pass through, and open goals to shoot at.
- What is required:
- 8 disc's in order to make 4 goals
- 4 Parents to volunteer to stand in the goals
- 4 Pennies so players know who is on their team
- 1 Ball
- QUICK & SIMPLE explanation of the rules
- Tell the Players that there are four (4) goals
- As a team they must dribble and pass the ball to keep possession
- If the parent is stood inside the goal the players cannot shoot at the goal
- If the parent is NOT stood in the goal the players can shoot at the goal to score
- ALL Parents start by standing inside the goals
- When you point to a parent they should step outside of the goal (opening the goal for the players to shoot on)
- When you point at the parent again they should move back inside the goal (closing the goal)... and so on
- Play
- Let them play and congratulate them on nice passes, dribbling, and shots on goal
- If you need to correct a player about a play, take them to a safe area and discuss the play and have them go back in and play
- Don't stop the game because of one (1) player
- If you need to stop the game to discuss a good or bad play with everyone, do it quickly and get them playing again
- Mix up the players so as not to have the same players on the same team every time
- Believe it or not, this can be difficult for the parents to keep looking at you as they get caught up in the game
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