Week 1 Theme: Dribbling U6

Warm-up (5-10 minutes)

Follow the leader

At first players follow coach and imitate without the ball. Repeat with players using their ball. Dribble all around the field. With older players, see how they handle it if you cut through the snake.

Progression Without ball: skip, leap, jump With ball Later have players follow another player.

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Throw Away

Coach calls players to the center of field. Asks a player for her ball.
Throws it away from the group and says to the player "Go get it and dribble it back to me"
(This works best if you showed them what "dribble" means in the warmup)
Repeat with each player.
When a player returns with ball, ask for it again,
Throw it somewhere different, and say "Go get it again!"

Progression any way different way ("This time dribble right foot only") players imitate animals

Island Dribble

Coach randomly places pinnies Coach tells players "Run to Red" (then Blue, then Green, etc.) Alternatively, Coach tells players "Jump over (Red, Yellow, Blue, etc)"

Progression Without ball With ball

Red Light, Green Light

All players dribble their ball around on field When coach says "red light" players stop the ball using their foot When coach says "green light" players start dribbling again

Progression Without ball With ball Directions from coach: Slow down, Speed up, turn left, turn right

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players often so every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance scoring & playing time. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal. Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Dribble around your house once per day

Week 2 Theme: Striking U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Throw Away

Same as Week 1:
Throw player's ball and have them dribble back.

Progression

Anyway Hands Feet No hands/no feet Animals

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Juggling

Hold ball out front and kick with laces Bounce kick Bounce kick catch How many times can you juggle?

Circle time

Make a circle Coaches in the middle Coaches strike ball to players around the circle Players strike ball back to coaches

Keep Your Yard Clean

Object of the game is to "clean" all balls out of the "yard" Make a boxed area ("yard") with cones Half the players in the box with balls, all others outside the box with balls Players in the box kick balls out of the boxed area Players outside of boxed area roll or kick balls back into box Switch players in the box with players outside the box

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players often so every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

 Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

 Find a target (tree, wall, fence) in your backyard and practice striking the ball at it.

Week 3 Theme: Shooting U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Juggling

Hold ball out front and kick with laces (instep) Bounce kick Bounce kick catch How many times can you juggle?

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Moving goals

Object of the game is to get the players to look up before they shoot. Moving the target (goal) makes them look. Coaches stand with legs apart (Good game for parent involvement) Kids shoot through Coach moves to a different place

Rolling Ball

Players stand with back toward goal Players bend at waist, roll ball between legs toward the goal Turn, chase ball, and shoot at goal

Progression One player at a time All at once (mad scramble)

Over Your Head

Players stand with back toward goal Throw ball toward goal over head Turn, chase ball, and shoot at goal

Progression Coach throws Player throws One player at a time All at once (mad scramble)

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players every few minutes so that every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time as needed. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Make a backyard goal (two old shoes, two hats, whatever). Step back five steps and shoot at the goal. Did you score? Get your ball and this time step back six steps and shoot again. Shoot until you miss. How many steps back did you go?

Week 4 Theme: Body Movements U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Throw away

Same as Week 1:
Throw player's ball and have them dribble back.

Progression Anyway All left foot All right foot Left foot, then right foot (alternate feet)

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Everyone is it

Object of the game is to get players to control ball while making quick moves Tag as many people on their back, without ball Tag as many people on their back, while dribbling your ball

Juggling

Jump over the ball from different angles Tap ball back and forth between feet Roll ball back and forth with bottom of foot

Progression Lift ball into the air
(toe on ball, pull back, toe under ball, and lift) Sit, hold ball out with hands,
try kicking straight up with laces

Gates

Make many small goals with cones on the field Players run through as many gates without the ball Players run through as many gates with the ball

Progression Time them for 1 minute,
have them count gates they run through See if they can do more gates the next time (increase time a bit)

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players every few minutes so everyone gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time as needed. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Spin soccer -- throw ball high in the air, spin around twice, then chase your ball and dribble it back

Week 5 Theme: More Dribbling U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Throw away

Same as Week 1:
Throw player's ball and have them dribble back.

Progression Have player count how many touches (kicks) it takes to bring ball back to coach

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Body Part Dribble

Everyone has ball and dribbles in area Coach calls out different body parts to use to stop the ball Elbows, chin, forehead, belly, knee, feet, etc

Gates

Make many small goals with cones on the field Players run through as many gates without the ball Players run through as many gates with the ball

Progression Time them for 1 minute,
have them count gates they run through See if they can do more gates the next time (increase time a bit)

Tiger Ball

Each player has a ball, except for the tiger The tiger tries to steal the ball away from a player To win the ball, tiger must dribble it to coach The player who lost the ball becomes a tiger, too The last player with a ball is winner and becomes the first tiger in next round

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players every few minutes so that every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time as needed. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Make a backyard obstacle course and dribble around it (don't for get to clean up after)

Week 6 Theme: Ball Control U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Everyone is it

Object of the game is to get players to control ball while making quick moves Tag as many people on their back, without ball Tag as many people on their back, while dribbling your ball

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Keep Your Yard Clean #2

Object of the game is to "clean" all balls out of YOUR "yard" Divide the field in half with cones Half the players on each half with balls Players kick balls out of their yard in to other team's yard Players retireve balls that you out of the field and kick them back at opponents First team to "clean their yard" (their half empty of balls) wins!
Teaches players teamwork, to kick hard, & control balls kicked at them (so they can kick them back at other team)

Ouch!

Each player has a ball The coach moves around field without a ball Each player tries to hit the coach with his ball Coach tries to dodge each shot When coach gets hit, yell OUCH!

Relay Race

Divide group into teams Set up a race course with cones Race from one cone to another & back without out a ball
(first player runs to cone, returns, then next player until done) Race again while dribbling balls

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players every few minutes so that every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time as needed. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Throw your ball up in the air and try to touch it with your foot before it hits the ground

Week 7 Theme: More Striking U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Marbles

Randomly place balls in playing area Each player starts with their own ball Players play all at once Object of game is for each player to strike their ball and hit random balls One point for each time players ball hits random ball

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Tiger Ball

Each player has a ball, except for the tiger The tiger tries to steal the ball away from a player To win the ball, tiger must dribble it to coach The player who lost the ball becomes a tiger, too The last player with a ball is winner and becomes the first tiger in next round

Kick Away

Coach lines up players 5 yards from goal Players kick ball towards at the goal Players who score move back 5 more yards and try from ther. Players who miss from 5 yards retrieve ball and try again See who can score a goal from the farthest away

Fox and Hunter

Players inside field are foxes, no balls Players on the sideline are hunters, with balls Hunters dibble into area and try to kick the ball to hit the foxes below the knee w/ ball If foxes get hit they stand still w/ hand on their head Other foxes try to free frozen foxes by tagging them Once all foxes frozen the players switch roles

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players every few minutes so that every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time as needed. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Find a target (tree, wall, fence) in your backyard and practice striking the ball at it.

Week 8 Theme: Wrap Up U6

Warm-up (5 to 10 minutes)

Marbles

Randomly place balls in playing area Each player starts with their own ball Players play all at once Object of game is for each player to strike their ball and hit random balls One point for each time players ball hits random ball

Individual Activities (20 minutes total)

Switch Soccer

All players dribble around in unrestricted area Coach calls out "Switch" Each player leaves their ball, finds another one and continues to dribble Repeat 5-10 times

Ouch!

Each player has a ball The coach moves around field without a ball Each player tries to hit the coach with his ball Coach tries to dodge each shot When coach gets hit, yell OUCH!

Fox and Hunter

Players inside field are foxes, no balls Players on the sideline are hunters, with balls Hunters dibble into area and try to kick the ball to hit the foxes below the knee w/ ball If foxes get hit they stand still w/ hand on their head Other foxes try to free frozen foxes by tagging them Once all foxes frozen the players switch roles

Play the Game (25 minutes)

3 v 3

Divide team into two teams, one side uses pinnies. Play 3v3 soccer with no goalies. Substitute players every few minutes so that every one gets plenty of playing time. Trade players between teams to balance out scoring and playing time as needed. Let the kids play and have fun. Don't keep score! Provide positive encouragement at all times -- No negatives

Warm-down (5 minutes)

Everybody Scores!

Dribble ball into goal Shoot at goal (one player at a time, or all at once)

Homework

Play soccer with your friends over the Summer. See you again in the Fall!