Do you incorporate exercises specifically for your goalkeepers (GK) in your practices?  Many don't know how to even approach it.  Attached is a great article from the strength and conditioning coach of DC United professional soccer club on how to better train your GK's.

MYSA is currently in the process of scheduling “E” and “D” courses beginning in November 2009. Courses will be offered in various sites from November through April. All coaches are invited to improve their knowledge and ability through coach education opportunities and should check the MYSA website regularly for course details and an updated schedule:

www.mnyouthsoccer.org/coaches/clinics.cfm

‘D’ License - 36 hour course (‘E’ prerequisite)
Tuition: $300 (plus any facility charge) Register with MYSA

Consists of 30 hours of instruction and 6 hours of testing. The course is designed to prepare coaches for training players U-13 and above by expanding the player's tactical awareness and development of their technical ability. Course curriculum will build upon the basic principles covered at the 'E' course in addition to individual and team tactics. Applicants must be 17 years of age and have held an ‘E’ for at least one year. Maximum class size: 24.

License Upgrade (Fee: $40)
To upgrade the ‘D’ license from a State to a National licensure, please contact the Director of Coaching at the MYSA state office to make arrangements. A copy of the upgraded license will not be processed without payment.

‘E’ Certificate - 18 hour course (no prerequisite)
Tuition: $150 (plus any facility charge) Register with MYSA

Consists of 15 hours of instruction and 3 hours of testing. Course material will cover proper technical execution and education in addition to an introduction to the tactical, physical and psychological aspects of the game. Applicants must be 16 years of age.

As a reminder:  The Orono Thunder Soccer club may reimburse you for your licensing costs.

By Mike Woitalla, Soccer America, Friday, March 20, 2009

By this approach the logic could be extended to say that since kids will someday be driving a car then you should have your 6-year-old practice driving back and forth in the driveway. This flies in the face of common sense. So to the question of teaching heading to Under-6 and Under-8 players - put simply … DON'T!

Soccer players do indeed need to learn how to head the ball. It is an important and unique skill in the game. To execute the skill correctly though requires some developed athleticism and ability to read the flight of the ball in the air. US Youth Soccer recommends that heading be introduced at the earliest in the U-10 age group.  Young children have great difficulty tracking moving objects, especially if they are in the air.  Most will duck or throw hands in front of the face if the ball comes toward the head.  Children younger than 10 are very reactionary in their movement behavior.  Anticipating where the ball might be played is a skill that has not yet developed.  This ability does not really develop until age nine or 10.  Prior to age nine visual tracking acuity is not fully developed.  Players have difficulty accurately tracking long kicks or the ball off of the ground.  Beginning at approximately age 10, one's visual tracking acuity achieves an adult pattern.  Even then it will take years to reach a point of being able to precisely determine the height, pace, curve and spin of a ball in the air.  How many high school players mistime headers?  There is no need to be in a rush to teach heading skill to children.  Just like geometry in school they get to it in time.

Heading the ball is a difficult skill to learn. When should players start? Introduce heading in the Under-10 age group. Teach heading to score and to clear in the Under-12 age group both standing and jumping. Teach heading to pass, backwards heading (flicks) and diving headers in the Under-14 age group. These age groups recommendations are the average, middle of the bell-curve so to speak. A few players may start some of these techniques earlier, especially if they have older siblings playing. Others will start latter, as their confidence grows.

Players who can make exact passes with the head, who can save dangerous situations at their own goal by heading the ball away and who can make use of chances at the opponent's goal by means of lightning quick headers are indispensable to their team. The ball can be headed from a standing position, on the run or by jumping up to the ball with one or both legs; the ball can be headed forwards, i.e. in the direction the player is facing, to the side and even behind.

Early experiences can be painful if careful progression in building up confidence is not applied. When introducing the technique of heading the ball for the first time, I suggest you start with a Nerf type soccer ball or an underinflated volleyball. Gradually work your way up to a fully inflated soccer ball. Begin with juggling with the head so that the player controls the pace, height, frequency of repetition, movement, etc.   Next go to head juggling with a partner. A good group game for heading is Toss-Head-Catch. In this activity the ball is being served from the hands, so the force is less than a crossed ball and is more accurate. The increased accuracy will allow for more repetitions of correct headers.

The whole body is used to head the ball. The movement begins with the legs, the movement of the stomach muscles throws the trunk and upper body forward and the head, from the neck upwards, follows through quickly. The position of the forehead to the ball determines its flight path.

Here are the key coaching points for the basic header:

Head: chin tucked in, neck stiff, never close the eyes. It is important to watch the flight of the ball until the moment of impact.

Upper body: brought back early into the curved position – and then snapped forward. Contact is made with the ball when the body is perpendicular to the ground.

Legs: bent at the knees to support the forward thrust.

Area of contact: middle of the forehead, sometimes the side of the forehead, never the temples or the top of the head.

Among young players there is a physical barrier to overcome when talking about heading and that is simply fear. The earliest and most elementary lesson about heading is never let the ball hit you. Go out and meet it, and make contact with the front part of the forehead where the skull is the thickest. You must attack the ball! You hit it, not the other way around.  The main surface of contact is of course the forehead. The ball must be struck, not cushioned. The neck and back muscles should be rigid to generate power. The part played by the eyes is important! Although it is likely that the reflex blinking action causes the eyes to be closed at the moment when the ball is struck by the forehead, players should be encouraged to watch the ball right onto the forehead; only by doing so can a player time the actual heading movement accurately. There need be no fear of danger to the eyes since they are well protected by the heavy bone structure immediately above them.

There is no better feeling in soccer than beating an opponent in the air to plant a header in the net. Once you have done it, there is a hunger to do it again. It is a spectacular way of scoring goals, or come to that of stopping them. Defensively it is a great thrill in consistently clearing the ball in the air, beating opposing forwards and establishing control. The young player who fails to add heading to his or her armory of skills will never go far in the game.

•       Technical skills – ball control, passing, tackling, defending
•       Tactical skills – field awareness, decision making, positioning, communication
•       Physical skills – speed, strength, endurance
•       Psychological skills – desire, attitude, effort, sportsmanship

We also ask that you indicate which players on your team played as a goalkeeper throughout the season.

Evaluations will be used in conjunction with the tryout results to help in team formations.  They will remain confidential.

Please return the completed form to Orono Thunder either via email to:

oronoclubadmin@gmail.com

-or-

mail to:

Thanks for your help in this matter and all your hard work throughout the season!!

Orono Thunder Soccer Club

PLAYER/ADULT PROTECTION GUIDELINES

For the purposes of this document, we will define ADULT as those persons in their roles as coach, assistant coach, board member, team manager or volunteer who works with, for or around PLAYERS. This would include anyone older than the age group they are interacting with; for example, a 15-year old assistant coach of a U-11 team would be considered an ADULT for the purposes of these Guidelines.

PLAYER defines all persons who are members of or play on a soccer team. This definition does include those players who participate at the U-19 level, even though they may be of legal age.

In the example of the 15-year old assistant coach: if s/he is also a rostered participant on a U-16 or higher team, that person is also subject to the guidelines applicable to a PLAYER.

GUIDELINES

These guidelines recognize that the lines of authority and separation between adults and players must be recognized and respected. Generally, players are children and as such, deserve special protection. These guidelines provide that protection while setting levels of acceptable conduct for adults.

I. Physical Contact

ADULTS must be aware that any physical contact with PLAYERS can be misinterpreted. Physical contact should be limited to that necessary and appropriate to teach a skill, treat an injury, or console or congratulate a player. In the instance of teaching a skill, minimal contact should be involved and none which places the ADULT in a position of power and/or intimidation; for example, taking a PLAYER by the shoulders and physically moving them to another field or body position.
Sexual contact of any kind or type is prohibited between ADULTS and PLAYERS, whether or not contact is consensual. [The exemption to this guideline would be in the event of player/coach spouses or legally-declared domestic partners.]

II. Social Contact

A. ADULTS should not socialize or spend time alone with PLAYERS except at games, practices, or team functions. An ADULT in a one-on-one situation with a PLAYER is generally inappropriate.

ADULTS should avoid instances such as driving alone with a non-family PLAYER. However, in the event that a PLAYER remains on a field waiting for transportation, the ADULT should wait with the PLAYER on the field to guarantee the PLAYER’S safety and well-being. (ADULTS should stress with their PLAYERS’ parents the responsibility for safe and timely transportation to and from the field.)
During out-of-town tournaments, a non-parent/custodian ADULT shall not share any sleeping arrangements with a PLAYER or PLAYERS.
ADULTS should respect the privacy of PLAYERS. If shower or changing room facilities are available, schedules should be arranged so that ADULTS and PLAYERS have separate use. If using a changing room, ADULTS should provide privacy for PLAYERS to make necessary preparations before entering for pre/post-game discussions. In addition, ADULTS should not allow others to enter except by the expressed wish of the PLAYERS still present.

III. Health and Well-being

ADULTS share the responsibility for the PLAYERS’ health while at practices, scrimmages, and games. ADULTS should have PLAYERS’ release forms and medical kits with them at all times. ADULTS are also responsible for seeing that the field conditions are safe for the PLAYERS and that the field equipment is in good, safe condition prior to the start of any activity.
Head injuries resulting in disorientation should result in a PLAYER remaining out of the game.
ADULTS transporting players must model safe driving techniques and enforce seat belt use with PLAYERS and other vehicle occupants.
ADULTS need to be aware of signs of neglect and abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual) of the PLAYERS. Observations should be reported to the local law enforcement agency.

IV. Language

Offensive and insulting language by ADULTS or PLAYERS is unacceptable. ADULTS should model good communication skills.
Language that is denigrating in nature, content or tone or refers to one’s gender, race, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or religion is unacceptable.
Inappropriate language targeting officials, opponents, or spectators may be grounds for PLAYER penalties or ADULTS’ removal from the game and/or the premises.

V. Violations

A. Violations of these guidelines by ADULTS or PLAYERS will subject them to disciplinary actions, including but not limited to, warnings, sanctions, suspensions or release by the Affiliate Member and/or MYSA.
B. Appropriate legal authorities may be called upon based on the nature of the violation.
C. Anyone witnessing a violation of these guidelines should report the violation to the office of the State Risk Manager/MYSA Vice President.
 

There are a great deal of resources available on the internet for games and activities to use at your soccer practices.  These are designed to be age appropriate, which is very important as you work with your kids.  Below are some links where you can find some good examples:

http://www.justsoccerdrills.com/

http://www.eteamz.com/soccer/pills/jpill.htm

http://mnyouthsoccer.org/coaches/articles.cfm

http://www.coachingsoccer101.com/drills.htm

http://www.socceractivities.com/

http://www.soccerxpert.com/DrillsAgeSpecific.aspx?l=877