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Post by special1 on Aug 29, 2014 15:04:42 GMT -5
Anyone has experience with coaching U5 boys? Pls share strategies to keep them engaged, fun and learning at the same time. How to address a situation when there is a troublemaker within the group at this age level. I plan on doing fun stuff and work on some basic skills. I know their attention span is very short. Thanks in advance
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Post by TheMadOx on Aug 29, 2014 15:57:58 GMT -5
My experience is more on the girls side, but ultimately at that age, everything needs to be a game...ie sharks and minnows, pass the ball into the coach, freeze tag games. No lines,no standing around...pick things where everyone is moving all the time. You will always have that 1 or 2 players in rec that don't want to be there. Don't push them, just encourage and focus on the entire group of players.
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Post by touchlinedad on Aug 29, 2014 16:12:17 GMT -5
I second what TheMadOx wrote, especially the part about avoiding any standing around or in lines. And always end practice with a short scrimmage. Sometimes, I miss those days, especially when the player who wasn't all that good scored a goal. Pure happiness.
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Post by special1 on Aug 29, 2014 16:14:54 GMT -5
sharks and minnows? what is that? so you suggest ignoring the 1 or 2 that don't want to be there and focus on the rest of the group
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Post by special1 on Aug 29, 2014 17:20:16 GMT -5
Thanks, just looked up sharks and minnows online and look like a lot of fun. will definitely use that
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Post by fanatic21 on Aug 29, 2014 18:34:27 GMT -5
Try these too:
Soccer freeze tag. One (or more, depending on # of players) tagger without ball. All other players have ball and are in a grid (inside cones, circle, etc.). If tagger touches player or player's ball or player's ball rolls outside of grid, the player is frozen. Puts ball on head and spreads legs. To unfreeze another player must nutmeg the frozen player (encourage them to spread their legs out wide so it is possible).
Numbers game. Divide into 2 teams. Give each player a number that corresponds with a player on the other team. Call #s and those players come out and play - 1v1, 2v2, depending on how many #s you call. Players have to wait their turn a little, but it moves pretty fast.
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Post by fan on Aug 29, 2014 21:41:05 GMT -5
My kids liked exterminator. Some of the kids (the Mosquitos) would walk or jog in front of the goal while the others (the exterminators) would try to take shots and hit the other kids. Probably not a great game once they can kick hard but should be fine for that age.
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Post by special1 on Aug 30, 2014 6:34:05 GMT -5
Thanks folks, How long should these mini games last for and how many of those do you reckon I can fit in 30 minutes. The plan is to use the last 30 mins for scrimmage. I have an hour with 6 boys. Anyway to make use of parents in practice?
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Post by reinalocura on Aug 30, 2014 9:07:25 GMT -5
U5 boys are 4 and 5 yrs old - remember that. They will be bundles of energy. ENJOY them!! Typically an hour is plenty at that age.
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Post by silverback on Aug 30, 2014 9:11:39 GMT -5
Echo comments of MadOx and others - make it fun and engaging. Another suggestion might be for each player to pick a favorite team (MLS, EPL, etc) and a favorite player and have them watch games on TV (or tape the games) and report back to everyone how the teams/players are doing. My son's coach did this and it served a few purposes: it got them watching soccer on TV and educating them on the teams and players, and it was also fun to hear each player talk of their teams/players - reminded me of when I was young and trading baseball cards with my friends.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Aug 30, 2014 14:13:58 GMT -5
definitely tell the parents that you have it covered, with only 6 kids, piece of cake.
when you scrimmage use 2 goals on both sides of the field. so each team has 2 goals to score on, encourage them to switch the field and go to the goal that no one is defending, by dribbling or passing.
with such a few kids, you don't have to worry about them waiting in lines.
i often would also do a lot of 1v1, have 2 lines one behind each corner of the goal, throw a ball out and have them go 1v1, first one to the ball is offense, 2nd defense etc.
red light/ green light is always solid also. throw in a new color light, like blue light, and on blue light they have to do toe taps etc. then maybe one more color orange light, on orange light they have to change direction.
be patient and have fun with them. i would only penalize a kid when they didn't behave etc. make him sit for 3 minutes because he was climbing the fence etc. give them water breaks, don't spend a lot of time talking to them, because its in one ear out the other.
i also never discouraged aggressive play unless it was extremely over the top or dirty.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Aug 30, 2014 14:19:42 GMT -5
sorry left off the most important piece. i had 5 kids at u6, 4 of the 5 are now on the national team............................................
not really..
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Post by sidelinemama on Aug 30, 2014 14:54:34 GMT -5
sorry left off the most important piece. i had 5 kids at u6, 4 of the 5 are now on the national team............................................ not really.. I love it! |
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Post by special1 on Aug 30, 2014 15:33:05 GMT -5
definitely tell the parents that you have it covered, with only 6 kids, piece of cake. when you scrimmage use 2 goals on both sides of the field. so each team has 2 goals to score on, encourage them to switch the field and go to the goal that no one is defending, by dribbling or passing. with such a few kids, you don't have to worry about them waiting in lines. i often would also do a lot of 1v1, have 2 lines one behind each corner of the goal, throw a ball out and have them go 1v1, first one to the ball is offense, 2nd defense etc. red light/ green light is always solid also. throw in a new color light, like blue light, and on blue light they have to do toe taps etc. then maybe one more color orange light, on orange light they have to change direction. be patient and have fun with them. i would only penalize a kid when they didn't behave etc. make him sit for 3 minutes because he was climbing the fence etc. give them water breaks, don't spend a lot of time talking to them, because its in one ear out the other. i also never discouraged aggressive play unless it was extremely over the top or dirty. Thanks SoccerAdmin, I'm not so clear about the setup you suggested for the scrimmage. If you have the time and can post a picture or some sort of illustration, or even a more descriptive explanation what the goal setup should look like in that instance. Right now I'm picturing 2 goal posts on each side one facing one way and the other another? Scrimmage would be like a 3 v 3 in this case right? should I ref and coach at the same time during practice? Any suggestion for gameday instructions? I see some coaches yelling at the kids etc |
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Post by special1 on Aug 30, 2014 15:34:07 GMT -5
Tried to quote you. Thanks SoccerAdmin, I'm not so clear about the setup you suggested for the scrimmage. If you have the time and can post a picture or some sort of illustration, or even a more descriptive explanation what the goal setup should look like in that instance. Right now I'm picturing 2 goal posts on each side one facing one way and the other another? Scrimmage would be like a 3 v 3 in this case right? should I ref and coach at the same time during practice? Any suggestion for gameday instructions? I see some coaches yelling at the kids etc Read more: gasoccerforum.com/thread/552/rec-soccer-coaching-tips-boys?page=1&scrollTo=3143#ixzz3BuSKVUVw |
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Post by special1 on Aug 30, 2014 15:35:30 GMT -5
arggh didn't mean to paste the link. its the same page an error on my part
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Post by Soccerhouse on Aug 30, 2014 20:39:49 GMT -5
Coach them during scrimmage don't worry about officiating. Our club used to do new ball method. No throws in. No goal kicks and no kick offs after goals. U just throw a new ball out there. Gets them playing quick. No reason to raise you voice at that age. Let them play and direct them  |
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Post by special1 on Aug 31, 2014 20:30:23 GMT -5
Much appreciated socceradmin, totally different from the picture I had in mind. It should be one ball for the scrimmage right? in the illustration above, what drill is this?
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Post by TheMadOx on Sept 2, 2014 8:16:24 GMT -5
To clarify my statement...don't ignore any players, just don't get frustrated as a coach when you have those 1 or 2 players that want to pick the grass. Each player has a motivation button, run your session and if that one player just doesn't engage, keep moving on with the drill. You'll find their motivation, just don't hinder the rest of the group trying to push the 1 that's not motivated at the time.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Sept 2, 2014 8:44:18 GMT -5
yes, the picture is for the scrimmage i was telling you about where you set up 2 goals on each side vs 1 goal.
yes, use 1 ball like normal.
the key at that age, is try to keep a ball at their feet the entire time, dribbling through cones, gates, making simple short passes, toe taps, teach kids how to not use their toe. (if you have a fence around the field, have them practice shooting at the fence sometimes for warm up).
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Post by special1 on Sept 12, 2014 19:29:38 GMT -5
Had first practice, 6 kids, 2 kids my son and his friend were very motivated to play and did great, 1 kid was not really motivated but got into it after a while and coachable was happy to see him get into it. The other kids probably never kicked a soccer ball before. Not trying to be boogie but it seems the kids didn't want to be there and parents just forced them to be there. They went back to mom and dad every second and no reaction, no matter how animated or enthused myself or the other kids were....Honestly I don't see much hope for now..... If it doesn't rain, first game is Saturday. 3 v 3. I have no doubt that 3 of the kids should be fine but I need ideas with the other kids. I was glad to see that one of the parents of the non motivated kids came to ask what he could do to get his son going. I told him to try to kick around with him as often as possible and just have fun. I hope I don't sound mean..... Thoughts?
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Post by momager on Sept 15, 2014 23:59:23 GMT -5
Good advice here. And kudos to you for stepping up and volunteering to coach this group of boys! It takes a LOT of patience and time to handle these little bundles of energy. You could give them "homework" like watch a few minutes of a professional game that is on TV that week/weekend. Then at next practice you will all spend only 5-6 minutes talking about what they saw, learned, liked, etc. If they have a favorite player ask them to ask the parents to use the computer to look up a video or two of that player (or team). Then work on emulating (as best you can-LOL) a play or a style that they boy admires or likes. I know that my youngest son is a soccer freak! At 7 years old he stopped watching cartoons and picked up watching Serie A (Italian soccer league) and La Liga. He can name the entire Barcelona team. :-)
There are some free apps on the iTunes store that may give a little guidance and variety too. I'm sure there are similar options for Android phones, if needed.
Again, thank you for volunteering your time to work with these kids. Even though I don't know you or which club you're talking about, I do know how hard it is to get parents to get involved. So please know that it is appreciated even if the players parents don't always say it.
Best of luck for a fun season!
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Post by special1 on Sept 16, 2014 8:18:24 GMT -5
Thanks momager, I need the luck but i'm hoping by seasons end they will at least get into it a bit. This is not a club, just church rec league. Its fun, just sad a couple of the kids are not really into it, even if it were just to run around the field, rather, they just pick up their ball and walk away from the group or go to their moms then mom is literally pulling and begging them to get back on the field type of issue. I end up just working with the others. One of the kids dad joined the coaching and seemed to work, so i'm thinking maybe I should involve the parents.... maybe the kids are a bit nervous, not very social or shy.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Sept 16, 2014 8:29:12 GMT -5
special1 I wouldn't recommend adding any more parents to help. kids do much better when their parents aren't around. for the kids that aren't that into it, ask them what they like - legos, superheros, transformers, dolls etc. use that in your training sessions. instead of follow the leader, maybe follow the ninja turtle. instead of keepaway, don't let optimus prime get it. just don't over think it. some kids you can't change, just don't worry about it. if they don't want to go, let them sit out, don't let the other 5 sacrifice. they are young and new to team sports, some take the entire season, then the last few practices they finally start to get in and enjoy it. are yall playing "new ball method" or ball out of bounds with throw in etc. Whenever a ball goes OUT OF PLAY or a GOAL IS SCORED, a coach announces "New Ball!" and rolls another ball into play. NO KICK OFFS after a Goal! NO KICK-INS! NO GOAL KICKS! NO CORNER KICKS!
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Post by special1 on Sept 16, 2014 8:43:29 GMT -5
special1 I wouldn't recommend adding any more parents to help. kids do much better when their parents aren't around. for the kids that aren't that into it, ask them what they like - legos, superheros, transformers, dolls etc. use that in your training sessions. instead of follow the leader, maybe follow the ninja turtle. instead of keepaway, don't let optimus prime get it. just don't over think it. some kids you can't change, just don't worry about it. if they don't want to go, let them sit out, don't let the other 5 sacrifice. they are young and new to team sports, some take the entire season, then the last few practices they finally start to get in and enjoy it. are yall playing "new ball method" or ball out of bounds with throw in etc. Whenever a ball goes OUT OF PLAY or a GOAL IS SCORED, a coach announces "New Ball!" and rolls another ball into play. NO KICK OFFS after a Goal! NO KICK-INS! NO GOAL KICKS! NO CORNER KICKS! socceradmin, I got one kid that would not say a thing, he just does what he feels like. for instance, if I asked what do you like, he might just walk away. then 2 minutes later after mom pleads with him to get back, he would reluctantly just around with ball in hand. If I ask, him to put ball down and just dribble around he would run away from me. The other 5 kids, I see them getting into it, though 1 of the 5's dad is now helping out. His dad even told me that he won't really do anything unless he is around or he bribes him with candy, toys etc. so Im fine with that and he seems to be getting along with the other kids. The other problem is I have 3 kids that are way advanced and should probably be playing u6, so the rest of the kids may be intimidated or don't get to touch the ball when we do scrimmage or on game day. we play new ball method and no out of bounds unless it is way out. we just normally keep the ball in play |
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Post by special1 on Nov 5, 2014 12:17:54 GMT -5
Just wanted to say thanks to all those who contributed here because after all it ended up a successful season, except for one kid, everyone else got in the game, as a matter of fact, they all want me to do it again in the spring season and I think I will. It was fun and I definitely some improvement, even if not skill but passion for the game.
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Post by rifle on Nov 5, 2014 18:32:59 GMT -5
Way to go. At that age, for first timers especially.. if they like it and want to play again, you have succeeded.
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