Fall 2008 Urbana Soccer association Training Curriculum   U8 Age Group Training Sessions urbana soccer association Training curriculum Fall 2008 U8 Age Group Training Sessions Version 1.0 David Ward Copyright ã 2008 Urbana Soccer Association 12218 S. Debkay Ct. Monrovia, MD  21770 Phone 301.865.4600 www.urbanasoccer.org Introduction This document contains each of the U8 age group training sessions for the Fall 2008 season. An outline of the training sessions is given first followed by the details of each training session. The Urbana Soccer Association Training Curriculum Volume 2 - Training U8s manual contains more information on the overall U8 training curriculum and the details for all of the activities listed in the training sessions presented here. Training Dates and Times Day Date Time Wednesday August 6, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday August 13, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday August 20, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday August 27, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday September 3, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday September 10, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday September 17, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday September 24, 2008 6:00 – 7:15 Wednesday October 1, 2008 5:30 – 6:45 Wednesday October 8, 2008 5:30 – 6:45 Wednesday October 15, 2008 5:30 – 6:45 Wednesday October 22, 2008 5:30 – 6:45 Wednesday October 29, 2008 5:30 – 6:45 Training Outline The following table outlines the theme of each of the age group training sessions for the Fall 2008 season. Week # Theme Focus Area 1 Ball Mastery Dribbling moves - Zico, Spin, Screw 2 Ball Mastery Dribbling moves - Switchback, Shake 'n Bake 3 Striking the Ball Inside of the foot 4 Striking the Ball Inside of the foot 5 Mobility Forward/backward 6 World Cup 4v4 World Cup 4v4 – all teams/players 7 Ball Mastery Dribbling moves - Inside/Outside, Matthews 8 Ball Mastery Dribbling at speed 9 Striking the Ball Instep 10 Striking the Ball Instep 11 Ball Mastery Dribbling moves - Pull the V, Pull and Tuck 12 Mobility Forward/backward/shuffling/jumping Week 1 - Ball Mastery Theme            Ball mastery Focus Area    Dribbling moves - Zico, Spin, Screw Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, pinnies Time               60 minutes Pre-Session Activity Retriever Bring the ball back in fun ways – one hand and your head (at same time), one foot and one hand (at same time), etc. Warmup Ballnastics 2 minutes Foundation (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) Step Ups (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) Juggling 2 minutes Thigh, catch (alternate thighs) Thigh, thigh catch Most in 30 seconds (total juggles not consecutive) - 2 rounds Tell players they get a patch if they can do 10 in a row. Body Part Dribbling 5 minutes Call out body part for first few rounds, then just point. Last player to touch ball with selected body part must do a silly task. Main Activities Freeze Tag - Zico 3 minutes Demonstrate Zico Play 1-minute game with Zico as "safe" move. Pick a new Mr./Mrs. Freeze and repeat. Beat the Dummy 5 minutes Train Spin and Screw Knock Off 15 minutes Stress for players to try Zicos, Spins, Screws Small-Sided Game 4v4 Line Soccer 15 minutes One point awarded for dribbling ball across the line. One point awarded for successfully doing a Zico, Spin, Screw Wrap Up 2 minutes Get a patch for juggling 10 in a row (in front of a coach) - practice at home.   What 3 moves did we learn today? See if players can demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up all cones and must carry back on your head while dribbling. Week 2 - Ball Mastery Theme            Ball Mastery Focus Area    Dribbling moves - Switchback, Shake 'n Bake Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones (extras for Cone Hunt), 8 corner flags, pinnies Time               60 minutes Pre-Session Activity Gladiators   Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Foundation, Step Ups, Push-Pull (1 minute) Juggling 2 minutes Foot catch Foot, foot, catch Most in 30 seconds (total juggles not consecutive) Most in 30 seconds (beat your first score) Criss-Cross 5 minutes 1st round - have players do a Zico to turn. 2nd round - have players do a Spin to turn. 3rd round - have players do a Screw to turn. Main Activities Cone Hunt 3 minutes Demonstrate Switchback Play game having players do Switchbacks. Beat the Dummy 10 minutes Train Switchback (will just go up and back), Shake 'n Bake (will dribble past the dummy). Get Outta There (4 goals variant) 15 minutes One point for a goal, one point for successfully doing a Switchback or Shake 'n Bake. First player to 10 points wins. Small-Sided Game 4v4 Line Soccer 15 minutes One point awarded for dribbling ball across the line. One point awarded for successfully doing a Switchback or Shake 'n Bake. Wrap Up 2 minutes Get a patch for juggling 10 in a row (in front of a coach) - practice at home.   What 2 moves did we learn today? See if players can demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up 2 cones and put them on as earrings. Dribble back. Repeat until all of the cones have been picked up. Week 3 - Striking the Ball Theme            Striking the ball Focus Area    Inside of the foot Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 8 corner flags, pinnies Time               60 minutes   Pre-Session Activity Passer patches Alternate left/right foot passing on wooden walls. Ball can not stop and must come back behind 2-yard line. Keep track of best score. Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Foundation (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) Step Ups (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) Push-Pull (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) One round of 30 seconds calling out different ballnastics Pac Man 5 minutes Make sure Pac Men are passing the ball and keeping it low so that no one gets hurt. Main Activities Pong 10 minutes If you have an odd number of players, get a parent or sibling to play. Demonstrate proper inside of the foot technique. 1st game to 10 using right foot 2nd game using left foot. 3rd game using either foot If you have time, play Pong where players get to step back if make 3 consecutive points. Superman 15 minutes   1st game using right foot. 2nd game using left foot 3rd game using either foot Small-Sided Game 4v4 4 Big Goals 15 minutes One point awarded for a goal One point awarded for scoring with an inside of the foot shot. Wrap Up 2 minutes Striking the ball with the inside of the foot - ask players for some key phrases (toes up/heel down), or have them demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up all of the cones. When bring back balls to clean up area, can you get the ball back to the clean up area in exactly 5 touches? Week 4 - Striking the Ball Theme            Striking the ball Focus Area    Inside of the foot Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 8 corner flags, pinnies Time               60 minutes   Pre-Session Activity Passer patches Alternate left/right foot passing on wooden walls. Ball can not stop and must come back behind 2-yard line. Keep track of best score. Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Foundation (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) Step Ups (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) Push-Pull (quick demonstration, 2 rounds of 15 seconds each) One round of 30 seconds calling out different ballnastics Crows and Cranes 5 minutes Try to get players to strike the ball with the inside of their foot. Main Activities Under the Bridge 10 minutes Play 3-player variant using parents as goals. Demonstrate proper inside of the foot technique. 1st game to 10 using right foot 2nd game using left foot. 3rd game using either foot Swim the Channel 15 minutes   Players MUST use the inside of their foot.   1st game using the right foot 2nd game using the left foot 3rd game using either foot Small-Sided Game 4v4 4 Big Goals 15 minutes One point awarded for a goal One point awarded for scoring with an inside of the foot shot. Wrap Up 2 minutes Striking the ball with the inside of the foot - ask players for some key phrases (toes up/heel down), or have them demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up all of the cones. When bring back balls to clean up area, can you get the ball back to the clean up area in exactly 5 touches? Week 5 - Mobility Theme            Mobility Focus Area    Running forward, running backward Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 2 corner flags (to use as movable goal), pinnies Time               60 minutes   Pre-Session Activity Swim the Channel   Warmup Stinky Pinnie 3 minutes Have players work on spreading out and staying away from player with the ball (you would like to see this in your 4v4 and Double Nickel games, too!). Around the Cones (no ball) 5 minutes Various games running forward and backward. For agility, have players do a somersault when they reach the third cone. Main Activities Demonstration 3 minutes Demonstrate forward running form stressing arm movements. Have players skip to practice arm movements. Have player do "butt-kicks" where they try to kick themselves in the butt with their heel as they run. Have players do knee raises where they hold their hands out and try to hit their hands with their knees as they run.   Demonstrate backward running form stressing arm movements and quick feet. Dogs 'n Rabbits 5 minutes Work on tagger since we're doing mobility and not dribbling. Crackers/Crunch 10 minutes Do some games running forward and some games running backward. City Game 15 minutes Work on forward and backward running. Small-Sided Game 4v4 Movable Goal 15 minutes Have all players run backward, do a somersault, cartwheel, etc. to celebrate a goal (some sort of agility skill). Wrap Up 2 minutes Can players demonstrate proper arm movement for sprinting? Clean Up 2 minutes Team Cone Pick Up - When you say "Go!", players on each of the 4v4 teams have to pick up one cone (can only get one at a time!) and then put it in team's pile. Team with the most cones wins. Week 6 – World Cup 4v4 NOTE: THIS PRACTICE WILL BE FROM 6:00 – 7:30!!! Theme            World Cup 4v4 Focus Area    Fun Equipment     Pinnies, disc cones, 4v4 goals, whiteboard, markers, table Time               90 minutes Setup   Mark out eight 25x30 fields. Put up 4v4 goals.. Pre-Session Activity None Each player writes his/her name on an index card.   Cards will be grouped by school – Urbana ES, Centerville ES, and a third group for all of the rest.   Coaches pick 4 or 5 cards from the appropriate group and that is their team. Then they pick a country to represent. Small-Sided Game World Cup 4v4 60 minutes Do a World Cup 4v4 – 4 round-robin games and then a championship round. All games are approximately 10 minutes in length. Cool Down/ Clean Up 2 minutes All players not on the winning team have to pick up cones!!     Week 7 - Ball Mastery Theme            Ball Mastery Focus Area    Dribbling moves - Inside/Outside, Matthews Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 8 corner flags, pinnies Time               60 minutes Pre-Session Activity Everybody’s It   Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Foundation, Step Ups, Push-Pull (1 minute)   Pull the V (quick demonstration) Pull the V - 30 seconds (count your V's) Pull the V - 30 seconds (beat your first score) Juggling 2 minutes Foot catch Foot, foot, catch Most in 30 seconds (total juggles not consecutive) Most in 30 seconds (beat your first score) Criss-Cross 5 minutes 1st round - have players do a Zico to turn. 2nd round - have players do a Switchback to turn. 3rd round - have players do turn of their choice. Main Activities Dribble the Line 5 minutes Right and left foot Red Light/Green Light 5 minutes Demonstrate Matthews Play game having players do Matthews Gates 5 minutes Must do a Matthews move before you can go through a gate.   Try a variant and put a parent in each gate. Every 10 seconds or so, the parent steps out of the gate so that it is open and players can dribble through. After another 10 seconds or so, the parent steps back into the gate to close it. This way, players need to get their heads up and look around. Run the Gauntlet 10 minutes Give extra point if use Matthews move Small-Sided Game 4v4 4 Goals 15 minutes One point awarded for a goal. One point awarded for successfully doing a Matthews move. Wrap Up 2 minutes What 2 moves did we learn today? See if players can demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up 2 cones and put them on as earrings. Dribble back. Repeat until all of the cones have been picked up. Week 8 - Ball Mastery Theme            Ball mastery Focus Area    Dribbling at speed Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 8 corner flags, pinnies Time               60 minutes Pre-Session Activity Sharks 'n Minnows   Warmup Ballnastics 2 minutes Foundation, Step Ups, Push-Pull (1 minute)   Pull the V (quick demonstration) Pull the V - 30 seconds (count your V's) Pull the V - 30 seconds (beat your first score) Around the Cones (with ball) 2 minutes Just let them do the best they can now - we'll work on technique in main activities. Main Activities Demonstration 30 seconds Demonstrate technique for dribbling at speed. Square Chase 5 minutes Make enough squares so you have no more than 4 or 5 players at each square. Crackers/Crunch (with ball) 5 minutes Stress proper dribbling at speed technique. City Game (dribbling at speed variant) 10 minutes Cities should be about 15-20 yards apart. Small-Sided Game 4v4 4 Goals 10 minutes Regular game. Wrap Up 2 minutes What are some key points to dribbling successfully at speed? Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up one cone and dribble at speed to put away. Who can put away the most cones? Week 9 - Striking the Ball Theme            Striking the ball Focus Area    Instep Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, real goal (2 would be better), pinnies Time               60 minutes   Pre-Session Activity Slam Play regular 2-touch, use any foot game. Ball can NOT stop (or lose a life).   Create two games (one on each side of shooting wall). Use rebound walls as get more players. Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Foundation, Step Ups, Push-Pull, Pull the V, Rollover   Rollover (quick demonstration) Rollover (right foot) - 15 seconds (count your rollovers) Rollover (left foot) - 15 seconds (beat your first score) Juggling 2 minutes Foot catch Foot, foot, catch Most in 30 seconds (total juggles not consecutive) Most in 30 seconds (beat your first score) Main Activities Demonstration 30 seconds Demonstrate shooting with the instep. Clean Up Your Room 10 minutes Instep only - first game only right, second game only left, third game either foot. Step on the Crack 10 minutes First game - right foot Second game - left foot.   Can have both teams shoot on the same goal Dribble and Shoot 10 minutes Make it a competition to see which team can get to 10 first. Both teams can shoot on same goal.   Must shoot with instep for goal to count!   Make sure players follow through their shots by running 3 or 4 steps after they shoot!   First game - shoot with right root Second game - shoot with left foot. Small-Sided Game 4V4 SHOOT! 15 minutes One point awarded for a goal One point awarded for scoring with an instep shot. Optional - make a 2-point line (if score from behind that line, you get 2 points) Wrap Up 2 minutes Striking the ball with the instep of the foot - ask players for some key phrases (toes down, land on shooting foot), or have them demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up all of the cones. When bring back balls to clean up area, can you get the ball back to the clean up area in exactly 2 touches? Week 10 - Striking the Ball Theme            Striking the ball Focus Area    Instep Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, pinnies, real goal (2 would be better) Time               60 minutes   Pre-Session Activity Slam Play regular 2-touch, use any foot game. Ball can NOT stop (or lose a life).   Create two games (one on each side of shooting wall). Use rebound walls as get more players. Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Body Parts - will need help from lots of parents to act as tossers.   Demonstrate each (head, chest, thigh, foot) and have players try twice. Stinky Pinney 3 minutes Try to get players to spread out so they will be able to get more room to shoot in later games. Main Activities Demonstration 30 seconds Demonstrate shooting with the instep. Clean Up Your Room 10 minutes Instep only - first game only right, second game only left, third game either foot. Step on the Crack 10 minutes First game - right foot Second game - left foot.   Can have both teams shoot on the same goal Dribble and Shoot 10 minutes Make it a competition to see which team can get to 10 first. Both teams can shoot on same goal.   Must shoot with instep for goal to count!   Make sure players follow through their shots by running 3 or 4 steps after they shoot!   First game - shoot with right root Second game - shoot with left foot. Small-Sided Game 4V4 - SHOOT (with goalies) 15 minutes One point awarded for a goal One point awarded for scoring with an instep shot. Optional - make a 2-point line (if score from behind that line, you get 2 points) Wrap Up 2 minutes Striking the ball with the instep of the foot - ask players for some key phrases (toes down, land on shooting foot), or have them demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up all of the cones. When bring back balls to clean up area, can you get the ball back to the clean up area in exactly 2 touches? Week 11 - Ball Mastery Theme            Ball mastery Focus Area    Dribbling moves - Pull the V, Pull 'n Tuck Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 8 corner flags, pinnies Time               60 minutes Pre-Session Activity Musical Cones   Warmup Ballnastics 2 minutes Body Parts - will need help from lots of parents to act as tossers.   Demonstrate each (head, chest, thigh, foot) and have players try twice. Juggling 2 minutes Most in 30 seconds (total juggles not consecutive) - 2 rounds Body Part Dribbling 5 minutes Call out body part for first few rounds, then just point. Last player to touch ball with selected body part must do a silly task. Main Activities Dribbling Relays 5 minutes Put a cone at 10 yards   Demonstrate Pull the V Each player in relay must do a Pull the V with right and a Pull the V with left foot on the way up and on the way back. Demonstrate Pull 'n Tuck Each player in relay must do a Pull 'n Tuck with right and a Pull 'n Tuck with left foot on the way up and on the way back. City Game 10 minutes 1st game - 2 Vs between each city 2nd game - 2 Pull 'n Tucks between each city 3rd game - Let players choose move Get Outta There (4 goals variant) 15 minutes One point for a goal, one point for successfully doing a Pull the V or Pull 'n Tuck. First player to 10 points wins. Small-Sided Game 4v4 4 Goals 15 minutes One point awarded for a goal. One point awarded for successfully doing a Pull the V, Pull 'n Tuck Wrap Up 2 minutes What 2 moves did we learn today? See if players can demonstrate. Clean Up 2 minutes Pick up all cones and must carry back on your head while dribbling. Week 12 - Mobility Theme            Mobility Focus Area    Running forward, running backward, shuffling, jumping Equipment     1 ball per player, disc cones, 2 corner flags (to use as movable goal), pinnies Time               60 minutes Pre-Session Activity Crows and Cranes   Warmup Ballnastics 3 minutes Foundation, Step Ups, Push-Pull, Pull the V, Rollover For each, do once and count touches. Beat your score on the second try. Around the Cones (no ball) 2 minutes Shuffle to 1st cone and run back. Run backward to 2nd cone and run back. Run forward to 3rd cone, do 5 jumps and run back. Relays Body Hurdles 3 minutes 1st relay - hurdle over players 2nd relay - 2-footed jump over players 3rd relay - weave between standing players Main Activities Demonstration 3 minutes Demonstrate forward running form stressing arm movements. Have players skip to practice arm movements. Do "butt kicks" and "high-knees", too.   Demonstrate backward running technique.   Demonstrate shuffling technique. Dogs 'n Rabbits 5 minutes Work on tagger since we're doing mobility and not dribbling. Crackers/Crunch 10 minutes 1st two games - running forward 3rd game - running backward 4th game – shuffling City Game 15 minutes City A->B: Run forward City B->C: Run backward City C->D: Shuffle in a zigzag pattern (use disc cones to lay out course) City D->A: Jumping (2-footed jumps Small-Sided Game 4v4 Movable Goal 10 minutes Have all players do a somersault, cartwheel, etc. to celebrate a goal (some sort of agility skill). Wrap Up 2 minutes Can players demonstrate proper arm movement for sprinting? Do you cross your feet (or even let them touch) when shuffling? (No!) Clean Up 2 minutes Do a somersault, pick up two cones, run back balancing cones on your head. Repeat. Who can bring back the most cones?