Kids play soccer because it is fun! Scoring is fun, dribbling and shooting are fun. Being outside with a bunch of other kids running around is fun!
If kids think something is fun, they will do it more. You have to struggle to get your kids to clean their room because it isn’t enjoyable for them. Do you have to argue with them to play more video games? Or do you have to ask them twice to eat more candy or watch their favorite TV show?
No, of course not. They like to do the things they enjoy.
Well, we all know that to get good at something, you have to practice at it. You need a lot of repetitions. If soccer isn’t fun for your kids, then they won’t want to play or go to practice. If they don’t play, they won’t get any better.
So I decided that whatever I did with my boys and their teams, it would be fun. Well, guess what my plan worked!
To see what I did to get my teams going, go to:
www.soccerdrillsforkids.com
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Futsal for Kids
One of the kids on my high school team is from Brazil. It was from Fernando that I first heard of the term “Futsal”. The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition in YMCAs. The game is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls.
The term FUTSAL is the international term used for the game. It is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for “soccer”, FUTbol or FUTebol, and the French or Spanish word for “indoor”, SALon or SALa.
It really took off in Brazil where the love of creative football is most manifest.
Pele, Zico, Socrates, Bebeto, Ronaldinho and other Brazilian superstars developed their skill playing Futsal.
For kids, this is a great way to continue to develop their game and get touches on the ball. Remember, the main goal for the young soccer player is to have fun and get touches, touches & more touches.
The Futsal ball is small and is not geared for heavy bounces so it can be played indoors in pretty much any basketball court without fear of breaking things. We are working right now on getting approval from our school to use the gym for offseason futsal games with our players.
Here is a great article that really explains the advantages of Futsal over traditional walled indoor soccer.
www.lifutsal.com/whyfutsal.htm
The term FUTSAL is the international term used for the game. It is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for “soccer”, FUTbol or FUTebol, and the French or Spanish word for “indoor”, SALon or SALa.
It really took off in Brazil where the love of creative football is most manifest.
Pele, Zico, Socrates, Bebeto, Ronaldinho and other Brazilian superstars developed their skill playing Futsal.
For kids, this is a great way to continue to develop their game and get touches on the ball. Remember, the main goal for the young soccer player is to have fun and get touches, touches & more touches.
The Futsal ball is small and is not geared for heavy bounces so it can be played indoors in pretty much any basketball court without fear of breaking things. We are working right now on getting approval from our school to use the gym for offseason futsal games with our players.
Here is a great article that really explains the advantages of Futsal over traditional walled indoor soccer.
www.lifutsal.com/whyfutsal.htm
Teaching Tactics to U7 Players
A couple of years ago, I went with my son to his U7 soccer game. The coach was unable to be there, and the other parents, knowing I was a high school coach, thrust the leadership of the team on me.
Talk about culture shock. Controlling the U7’s on the field was much like trying to herd a bunch of cats. It didn’t work really well. My first thought was man, whoever coached these guys needs some help. Having spent that time coaching the kids, however, I came to appreciate the task of working with kids in the 5-8 year old range.
I see the question asked over and over (and asked it to myself as well)…”How do you teach soccer tactics to the youngsters”
I have read, researched, studied and labored over this question. And the bottom line answer is…YOU DON’T
To much tactics too early will just burn your kids out on the sport. A 6 year old doesn’t want to stay back on defense, he wants to chase, trap and dribble that darn ball. After working hard to get a hold of that thing, he doesn’t want to pass it, he wants to kick it around a bit.
I’ve come to this conclusion about the development of the youngest players. I want them to love the game of soccer. I want them to love to dribble, love to shoot and love to chase that ball around the junior sized pitch. If they love the sport, then tactics and technique will come in their own time and can be introduced bit by bit. I just want my boys Donovan & Deven outside in the backyard knocking the ball around as much as they can.
Talk about culture shock. Controlling the U7’s on the field was much like trying to herd a bunch of cats. It didn’t work really well. My first thought was man, whoever coached these guys needs some help. Having spent that time coaching the kids, however, I came to appreciate the task of working with kids in the 5-8 year old range.
I see the question asked over and over (and asked it to myself as well)…”How do you teach soccer tactics to the youngsters”
I have read, researched, studied and labored over this question. And the bottom line answer is…YOU DON’T
To much tactics too early will just burn your kids out on the sport. A 6 year old doesn’t want to stay back on defense, he wants to chase, trap and dribble that darn ball. After working hard to get a hold of that thing, he doesn’t want to pass it, he wants to kick it around a bit.
I’ve come to this conclusion about the development of the youngest players. I want them to love the game of soccer. I want them to love to dribble, love to shoot and love to chase that ball around the junior sized pitch. If they love the sport, then tactics and technique will come in their own time and can be introduced bit by bit. I just want my boys Donovan & Deven outside in the backyard knocking the ball around as much as they can.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Making the Transition to Coaching U8
For the past 5 years I have been the assistant soccer coach at a private high school. This has been an incredible experience and I will continue on in this arena with no end in site. However, my two boys (now 8 & 6) have reached the age were soccer is becoming an pretty important part of their lives.
I watched them through the first couple years of their soccer development and have coached them from time to time, but I’ve finally decided to step up and really work with them on developing their skills.
While I have notebooks full of great drills and strategies for working with High Schoolers, the cupboard was a bit bare with regards to the little guys. So I’ve been on a quest for the last year to pull together and test as many drills, tactics and techniques as possible for working with the younger generation.
It has been a great learning experience and has really opened my eyes to a greater appreciation of the beautiful game.
I watched them through the first couple years of their soccer development and have coached them from time to time, but I’ve finally decided to step up and really work with them on developing their skills.
While I have notebooks full of great drills and strategies for working with High Schoolers, the cupboard was a bit bare with regards to the little guys. So I’ve been on a quest for the last year to pull together and test as many drills, tactics and techniques as possible for working with the younger generation.
It has been a great learning experience and has really opened my eyes to a greater appreciation of the beautiful game.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
