Any Moms Coaching Soccer....?

Updated on May 03, 2010
A.M. asks from Chicago, IL
5 answers

I'm coaching 1st & 2nd grade girls recreational soccer this year. It was not my plan to be the coach, it just sort of happened. I have never played, and I have never coached. I understand the game, and this is my daughter's 4th season. I'm looking for good resources for drills to step up our game. It is recreational - no scores are kept or team placings tracked. However, a lot of the teams are really hand picked by experienced coaches and in 2 games' time now, ours doesn't stack up. These other girls seem to know what they're doing AND all know each other. I feel like that gives me a slight disadvantage. Also, I have 2 overweight girls who lack the energy and stamina to really run like they should be. I've been holding them back in defensive positions, where running is far less. I want them to have fun, and I also want them to get some exercise, but not at the expense of holding back players who do great as forwards & midfielders, especially those who are really there to learn skills and move up to competitive soccer in the fall. I have basic rules to follow - everyone must play at least 2 positions and half the game. I have a diverse group of girls, all of whom I really like, and I don't want to fail them by not knowing what I'm doing. I'm looking for any games/drills that get them to really learn. We practice once a week, and I'm struggling to find good and new ideas to incorporate. Plus, I have 2 male assistant coaches who, despite me asking for them to come up with some ideas, have failed to produce anything at all. They are just standing around waiting for my direction!!

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L.B.

answers from New York on

Play the game Get Out of My Backyard! (I assume each player has their own ball at practice)

designate 1/2 the field as the backyard

All the balls are in the backyard

The coach and 2 players go into the backyard and start kicking the balls around

The other players yell Get Out of My Backyard and run into the yard and try to get all the balls away from the coach and other 2 players by kicking the ball into the net (once the ball is in the net it stays there)

if the coach or one of the 2 players originally in the yard get the ball away from a player that player is out of the game. Once all the balls are in the net the player still in the yard is the winner.

Another game:

Divide into 2 teams, one team with the coaches on it (Team A)(this team has less players)

Draw an imaginary line or real line with grass chalk and have each team stand on each side of the line facing each other.

The coaches should start kicking the balls over the line to team B. Team B should run and kick the ball back to the Coaches side, the coaches kick back to Team B etc... The idea is to be quick and try to get all the balls off your side.

The first team to have 0 balls on their side is the winner.

I have one more game: This is a race

Divide the girls into two teams

place 2 rows of soccer cones so the girls can maneuver around the cones with their ball

Have each team line up single file in front of the row of cones

When you say go, the first girl in line maneuvers the soccer ball around the cones until she gets to the end of the row of cones, she then turns around and makes her way through the cones back to her team mates once she gets back, the next girl in line maneuvers the soccer ball around the cones and then turns around and races back maneuvering through the cones, then the next girl etc...

The first team to finish is the winner

I hope that I explained these games well enough for you to understand, I am not that great at writing game rules.

Good Luck and have fun, I love soccer
L.

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

I played for 25 yrs, ask me anything and maybe I can help! I LOVE soccer!
the overweight can also play goalie. have a lot of groups, like one group of 5 will be heading the ball, one group will be dribbling through cones to practice back and forth, one group will be kicking back and forth and practicing stopping and passing. You will also play scrimmages where you split the group in half and they practice games, etc good for you!

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K.H.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.. :)

I have never played...but was curious to see if there was anything on-line for you. I found some things by googling coaching young girls soccer. This site has many videos and suggestions:
http://www.ehow.com/video_###-###-####_coach-girls-soccer...
http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_###-###-####_coach-girls-socc...
http://www.soccerhelp.com/
http://www.ultimatesoccercoaching.com/youth-soccer/youth-...
http://www.soccerdrillsforkids.com/soccercoaching.php

Good luck. :)
K.

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A.T.

answers from Chicago on

Go on the AYSO.org web site. It has some good ideas. My husband has coached several years and my suggestion from watching him is for that age group to work on passing and goal shooting skills. Run 2 girls down the field, Girl A passes to B, B then passes to A, and A shoots for goal. Another skill is dribbling with the inside of their feet around an obstacle course. There's a game called Shoot the Skunk that they play as well. Kids are in 2 teams with a circle of short cones in the middle of field to make skunk pen (about 10' in diameter) and tall cones spread out in the center of small cones (these are the skunks -put out 4 or 5). Start at side of field with a throw in. Kids both kick and defend just like a regular soccer game. If kid can knock over a large cone the team gets a point. Must kick from outside the skunk pen. Once a point is scored then other team takes the ball out, does a throw in and starts all over. Play to 3 or 5 points depending on skill level.

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B.S.

answers from Rockford on

I am coaching 7-8 year olds now too. Try planning your practice around each aspect of the game. Do dribbling, passing, shooting drills but also remember to teach them throw ins, goalie skills, goal kick, corner kicks. Also have them play 4 on 4 (or 3 on 3) and try to have kids go against each other that have the same level of skill. You can play red light green light to try to dribble and keep the ball close to them (if the ball is too far and you say red light the kid will not have their ball in order to freeze). I am sure that if you contact whoever runs the league they will also be able to give you drills to do. the most important thing at this age is that they have fun and get exercise.

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