Henlopen Soccer Club

1. Henlopen Soccer Club Recreational Soccer Program – U8 Age Group

2. U8 Age Group ROLE OF THE U8 COACH The role of the coach in the U8 age group is to be a sensitive and patient teacher with an enthusiastic and imaginative approach.  It is helpful if they have the ability to demonstrate and very important that they understand technique. We as a club also ask you to identify players in the 2012 birth year (boys and girls) who would benefit from the Player Development Program (PDP). Please forward all contact information for players that would be candidates for the PDP team to Patrick Kilby: Patrick.kilby7@gmail.com Information on the Henlopen Player Development Program (PDP) can be found by clicking on the following link: https://www.henlopensoccerclub.org/pdp

3. Characteristics of a u8 Soccer Player Although U8 children seem to be more advanced than U6 children, we must remain patient and not try to force them to develop too quickly. Dribbling still needs to be the primary focus of our efforts, though passing and shooting should be introduced at this age as well. U8 players tend to work best when in pairs and we should allow them to work in pairs (coach selected) often. Similar to the U6 children, we need to make sure that fun is a central theme in practice. Player development will occur most appropriately and expeditiously if all players are enjoying themselves. This is the age where players can begin to understand the concept of working with a teammate.  The notion, or willingness, to intentionally pass the ball to someone is just beginning to take hold.  Coaches will have more success encouraging players to pass the ball in the seven to eight year old age group.  In this age group, the player begins to think beyond their personal needs and actively begin to cooperate with a teammate.  However, players in this age group must continue individual ball work.    

4. Weekly Skills Training Weekly Skills Trainings will be held to supplement the recreational experience. The sessions will be run by our select team coaches on Tuesday evenings at Mariner Middle School. These trainings are included with your rec fees. The skills sessions will be held on the following dates: September 10, 17, 24 AND October 1 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: u4, u6, and u8 Age Groups 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: u10, u12, and u15 Age Groups

5. Coaching Activities/Curriculum Here are links for coaches to access fun and easy games to coach your u8 players in a very interactive approach. The games listed below can be used WITH THE HELP OF PARENTS to engage your players in loads of soccer fun! Goalie Drills Beginner Goalie Drills Intermediate Goalie DrillsAdvanced Goalie Drills U7 Drills World Cup Passing - U7Color Game - U7Truck & Trailer - U7Mirror Image - U7 Through the Gates - U7King of the Ring - U7Tunnel Ball - U7 Battleship Destroyers U7 U8 Drills Shadow Play - U8 1v1 to win - U8 Ankle Slaps - U8 Show the Coach - U8 Chain Game - U8 Cone in the Middle - U8 1,2 Pass - U8

6. Practice Schedule Practice Schedules should be confirmed/approved with Stephanie Parker: parkerhenlopensc@gmail.com We ask that coaches try and not practice on Tuesday nights as we encourage all rec players to attend our skills sessions. We ask that at the end of each practice all goals are put away on the side of the blue shed (opposite side of the shed from the porta-potties). This needs to happen so that the Mariner Custodians can cut the grass during the week. (If you practice on a Friday evening you may leave your goals set up on the fields, please place them on the fields properly on the goal line as they are set for game day.) A master list of practice schedules will be posted on the club website under the rec soccer tab: https://www.henlopensoccerclub.org/recreational

7. Game Day Format 1.) Your team will share a field each morning, with a different team each week. The field will be either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. (Field map is located on the next slide.) Your one hour time slot will begin at 11:00 AM and end at 12:00 PM. The schedule will be posted at the concession stand each week. 2.) 10-15 minutes to Warm Up, Two - 20 minute halves with a 5 minute half time. There will be referees working your games. ALL GAMES WILL BE 7v7. SIX FIELD PLAYERS AND A GK. 3.) Please make sure you encourage your players to bring a size 4 ball to practice and games. 4.)AT THE END OF THE HOUR: We ask that each coach bring a goal to the blue shed. Our rec coordinators will put them away. We need to remove all goals so that the school custodians can cut grass each week. 5.) If a coach cannot administer their weekly game here is the protocol: • Ask your parents to fill in for you. Try and give your team plenty of notice of your absence. • If you cannot find a replacement coach. Please contact our rec coordinators and one of them will cover your session. (Contact info for rec coordinators can be found on slides nine and ten.) 6.) Please note that our Player Development Team competes in the u8 age group. This team trains twice a week with Bill Swontek our Director of Coaching. The purpose of this team is to transition rec players to our select program.

8. Field Map

9. On – Site Rec Coordinators Eric Schweitzer, Tyler Nichols, and Billy Swontek will be present each week to: 1.) Line Fields, set up goals, prepare the facility for the day. 2.) All on site questions should be directed to these gentlemen. *If your questions are not answered, then direct your questions to the Rec Soccer Coordinator – Patrick Kilby: Patrick.kilby7@gmail.com 3.) Make sure the grounds are clean, goals are put back, and shed is locked. 4.) Assist our parents, players and coaches in having a smooth and efficient day.

10. 2019-2020 Henlopen Rec Soccer Coordinators Club President Stephanie Parker: parkerhenlopensc@gmail.com Rec Coordinator Patrick Kilby: Patrick.kilby7@gmail.com/302-331-6412 On Site Coordinators Eric Schweitzer: eschweitzer2@verizon.net/586-484-9080 Tyler Nichols: tnichols9@gmail.com/302-430-1120 Billy Swontek: swontekbilly@gmail.com/302-752-8349 Scheduling/Rosters Dennis Vieira: dennisvieira216@yahoo.com Referee Coordinator John Robinson: rjjr6@aol.com