Proper Learning Environment

1. Proper Learning Environment • A good elementary school teacher, particularly a good gym teacher -- creates an environment that is …………. comfortable, fun, and non-threatening. • The children are under control & interested • The teacher is well prepared, organized, knows the subject well and communicates effectively.

2. “ Dry Swimming “ • Think about learning to swim without getting in the pool • What is soccer ? • A game played with a ball, skills, on a field with boundary lines and goals, with rules, teammates and opponents • Teach soccer as it is meant to be played, not as “dry swimming”

3. Ball Friendly • The ball is the first and biggest obstacle • Body – ball coordination is crucial • Teach skills in fundamental progressions • Allow young players plenty of time and space to perform skills • At first, it’s just 1 player with a ball • Player must get friendly with ball • Develop both sides of the body equally

4. Fundamental Stage • First, with just the ball and a player • Dribbling – big area, with stop and restart, change direction & speed, avoid obstacles • Ball Touches – rhythm, balance • Passing -- inside of the foot technique - dead ball, 1 step approach, alternate feet, 2-3 steps to dead ball, moving ball to player, moving ball and moving player, add a target to pass through (cones)

5. Fundamental Stage -- 2 • Shooting – instep technique -- toe down, heel up, ankle locked – follow through to target – land on kicking foot -- • dead ball, 1 step approach • Dead ball , 2-3 step approach • Moving ball, standing player • Moving ball and moving player

6. Player Development • It takes about 10-12 years to produce an established soccer player. • While most young players are introduced to the game about the age of six or seven, • It is unlikely that they will begin to master the skills requiring eye-foot coordination or fully understand the principles of play before they are about sixteen years of age.

7. Player Development-- 2 • The progress and development of the young player is dependent upon good coaching. • Coaching is first and foremost creating situations where players develop skills and insight into the game. The development of the soccer brain is paramount to the total development of the player. • It is necessary that players practice in a stimulating, challengingandgame-related environment.

8. Coaching Young Children • A challenge in patience and understanding and in creating an atmosphere on the practice field that is conducive to learning • Young children (U6-U8) may be more interested in having fun and being in a happy environment, than they are in learning how to become a soccer player

9. Age - Appropriate • Just exactly what can a 6 year old do • What is he capable of doing • Motor skills • Learning capacity • Attention span • Interests – relate soccer to their interest “ Star Wars ” -- “ Cowboys and Indians “

10. Organization / Learning • The proper equipment can enormously increase the enjoyment value of a drill • A coach can make a drill harder or easier by making organizational changes • Ex: size of the field, number of goals, how to score, number of players • Any change in the setup can influence the learning process of a soccer player without requiring much explanation from the coach

11. Organization / Learning -- 2 • Clear and challenging organization ensures that the players can grasp and experience the game objective • Changing the organization is a good way of enabling soccer players to learn something new without any need for explanations