F Certificate

1. F Certificate U6-U8 Module

2. Introductions – Instructor and Participants • Kate Samsot – Brief Soccer Resume • Recreational coach for many years • USSF “A” License • National Youth License • Current Technical Director for DC Stoddert Soccer’s Recreational Program • Former Director of DC Stoddert Travel Program • VYSA Coaching Education Staff • Former VYSA ODP Staff • Former player at UNC-Chapel Hill • Participants

3. Schedule • Classroom • 12:00-2:00 – Orientation & Age Characteristics of U6s and U8s • Field • 2:00-2:45 – Model Practice for U6s (Pre-K kids) • 2:45 – 3:00 – Break/Snack, take notes • 3:00 – 3:45 – U8 Activities (course participants) • 3:45 – 4:00 – Course Summary, Q & A

4. Why Are We Here? How did we enter the coaching realm? What are the various levels of coaching experience within this course? Why do kids play?

5. What Makes a Good Coach? • Get in groups of 4 – discussion • X • X • X • X • X • X • X • X

6. Role of the Coach • Facilitator • Creates safe practice environment • Teaches with enthusiasm & gives good feedback • Sets up practices so players can achieve success if they work hard • Positive Role Model • Behaves with class on and off the field • Respects players on both teams and referees • Displays good sideline etiquette and demands the same from team parents and players • Conducts Age-Appropriate Activities • Understands the differences among individual players & teaches to specific audience

7. 4 Components of Soccer • TECHNIQUE • TACTICS • PHYSICAL • PSYCHO-SOCIAL All are part of the Long Term Athlete Development Model. The four components must be connected and be relative to the developmental stage of the athlete.

8. Developmental Stages of a Soccer Athlete • INITIAL (FUNdamentals) – U6-U8 • BASIC (Learning to Train) – U9-U12 • INTERMEDIATE (Training to Train) – U13-U14 • ADVANCED (Training to Compete) – U15-U18 • SPECIFIC (Training to Win) – U19-U20 • PERFORMANCE (Active for Life) - Senior

9. Age Characteristics of U6s • Cognitive – short attention span, use their imagination, focus on only one task at a time • Psychomotor – constantly moving, do not pace themselves, can balance on good foot, catching skills are not well-developed, about 36-40 inches tall & weigh 30-50 pounds • Psychosocial – love to show off (spotlight), parallel play, influential person in life is a parent (usually mom), like to mimic goofy actions

10. Components of U6 Training • Techniques - Dribbling, Kicking, Catching • Concepts – Sharing, fair play, emotional management • Movements – Balance, running, jumping, rolling, hopping, skipping • Tactics – where is the field, which direction is the team is going, dealing with the ball rolling away or toward

11. Age Characteristics of U8s • Attention span is greater than that of U6 but individual is still more important than team • Can work in pairs (2 players:1 ball) • Staying in motion at all times is second-nature (twitching, jumping, etc.) • Emotionally sensitive (get embarrassed in front of peers) • Boys & girls still similar • Imitate heroes • Lack sense of pace (run until they drop)

12. Things to Expect with Pre-K Players • Most players cry immediately when something is hurt. Some cry even when something is not hurt. • No matter how much we shout or practice, they will NOT pass the ball. • Someone will come off the field in need of a toilet. Someone will stay on the field in need of a toilet. • Twenty seconds after the start of the game, every player will be within 5 yards of the ball.

13. More Things to Expect with Pre-K Players • Several players will slap at the ball with their hands or pick it up. Several parents will yell at them not to do that. • A loud bird or a butterfly will get 99% of the players’ attention. Be flexible – stop what you are doing and go see it for a few minutes! • During a season, you will tie at least 40-50 shoelaces. • Players will do things that make you laugh. LAUGH!! Enjoy yourself while you coach!

14. Components of U8 Training • Techniques – Dribbling, Passing, Receiving, Shooting, Tackling, Catching • Concepts – Working in pairs, sportsmanship, dealing with parental involvement, social cooperation (how to play), emotional management • Movements – introduce warm-up, agility, leaping, tumbling, eye/foot and eye/hand coordination • Tactics – being exposed to all positions, 1 v 1 attacking & defending, 2 v 1 attacking, introduce positional names, shapes (triangle, diamond)

15. Laws of the Game and Small-Sided Soccer • Key differences , small-sided vs.11 v 11 • Set pieces • Off-side rule • Substitutions • Use of referees • Spirit of the Law vs. Letter of the Law • Role of parents on sidelines

17. Recurring Issues on Game Day • COACHES: • Coaches who are more focused on winning games than developing players • Too much yelling from the sidelines • Coaches walking on the playing field • Coaches giving their teams unfair advantages when putting ball back into play • No positional rotation • PLAYERS: • Goaltending by players • Slide-tackling misused

18. Team Management Scenarios • Team meeting – review plans & expectations • Practice schedule & policies • Parent sideline behavior • Delegation - assistant coaches, snacks, etc. • Communication on game and practice days • Task delegation • Age-specific “Laws of the Game” • Recreational players and playing time • How to manage varying abilities of players • Split-game format • Rotating player positions

19. RESOURCES • usyouthsoccer.org • ussoccer.com • http://worldofsoccer.com • http://www.soccerxpert.com • http://www.soccerpilot.com • soccerspecific.com • http://www.soccerkix.com/

20. THANK YOU! Kate Samsot kate@stoddert.com