St. Marys Soccer Rec U10-18 Player and Coaches Development Night - Spring 2023 Event Details

St Marys Soccer Rec (U10-18) Player and Coaches Development Night (PCDN) SPRING 2023

St Marys Soccer Rec (U10-18) Player and Coaches Development Night (PCDN) What: Date: Where: CRRP Field 4 Time: 5:15-7:00 (U10 and U12) 7:15-9:00 (U14 and U18) Cost: Bring your old, useable cleats to recycle to other SMS families Bring: Soccer ball and water Wear: Soccer gear Limit: First 100 in each time slot Tactical training stations and games April 27th 2023 (Second Session)

Event Details Goal: Offer a fun, yet informative venue to enhance both player and coach skills; Build a stronger sense of Club Community. Economically provide the opportunity (ie free); Enable Rec teams the opportunity to experience practice times on artificial turf (they get games on turf but no practice); Description: Two events...with the first happening a couple weeks after coaches have had their team and the second a few weeks later; First session on a Wed and the second on a Thurs to help encourage participation from teams who typically have a mon/wed or tues/thur practice cadence First event: technically focused rotating stations...rotations every 25ish minutes; Topics: Ball control, passing/receiving, shooting, GK catching/distr0; Technical progression that ends in a small-sided game (SSG) Second event (April 27th): tactically focused on the principles of play possibly utilizing a "play-practice-play" mentality but also in groups that rotate every 25 ish minutes; Small-sided game (10 minutes) followed by some training followed (5 minutes) by a small sided game (10 minutes). Typical topics might include: Support, width/depth, penetration, pressure/cover, balance; Possibly adding GK-specific station(s) Leaders/Coaches Under Instruction: Rec coaches leading each station as a student coach; The Club Director of Coaching and other senior coaching staff assisting the Rec coach; Additionally, there will be ambassador travel players as helpers Field set-up: 10 grids (limiting attendance to 100 players)...pug goals and pinnies at each section to enable the small-sided games Welcome Tent: At the Field 4 gate entrance by the parking lot (manned by volunteer) Sign-up: Players sign-up using a Google Doc online (100 players for the 5PM session and 100 for the 7PM session) Date: April 27th (tactical); April 12th (technical); Where: Field 4: U10/12: 5:15-7:00 (coaches/guest coaches/guest players show at 5:00 for orientation); U14/18: 7:15-9:00 (coaches/guest coaches/guest players show at 7:00 for orientation) Fee: Bring your old, useable cleats to recycle to other SMS families tie them together (at welcome tent ) Volunteer hours available for guest players

Big goal pinnies Pugg goal 1 Field 4 Set-up cones Grid # 7 1 8 9 2 G K 1 Width/Depth 5 Width/Depth 9 Width/Depth 7 Pressure 3 Pressure 2 Support 6 Support 4 Cover 8 Cover Grids 6 4 5 3

Training Session Activities Tactical Session (Apr 27th) Technical Session (Apr 12th) Support Ball control Dribble around Freeze tag with safe zones SSG with goals and end-lines Passing/Receiving Passing/moving with a couple balls Rondo (4v1 in half the grid) SSG Shooting Passing/moving with a couple balls Progress to increase distance of longer hit balls Long ball partner passing SSG to large goals Goalkeeping Catching (basket and contour catches) Throwing/bowling SSG of Handball SSG Rondo (4v1) SSG Width/depth SSG Rondo (4v1) SSG Pressure SSG 1v1 lane SSG Cover SSG 2v2 lane SSG

Detailed Descriptions of Tactical Activities (April 27th)

Width/Depth Play (10ish minutes) Organization: As players arrive, organize them into 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 play Execution: Players play for 3 minutes; Short break and ask rhetorical, guided questions then play again for 3 minutes; Short break and ask guided questions and players answer this time, then play a final time for 3 minutes Player action: Pass and dribble forward while spreading out Guided questions/answers: How do we create openings on the pitch? Ans: We spread out; How do we move the ball forward through the opening? Ans: We dribble, pass or shoot through the opening Practice (5 minutes) Organization: Divide players into two groups and play 4v1 keep away Divide groups in two with each group using one half of the grid independently; Attackers pass the ball around to retain possession while defender tries to win it; If defender wins the ball, attackers have to win it back and begin again; Play (10 minutes) Play a 5v5 game to goal with kick-in or dribble in to keep play moving Possible Guided Questions How do we create openings on the pitch? Ans: We spread out; How do we move the ball forward through the opening? Ans: We dribble, pass or shoot through the opening

Support Play (10ish minutes) Organization: As players arrive, organize them into 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 play Execution: Players play for 3 minutes; Short break and ask rhetorical, guided questions then play again for 3 minutes; Short break and ask guided questions and players answer this time, then play a final time for 3 minutes Player action: Pass and dribble forward while spreading out and moving to provide options for the player with the ball Guided questions/answers: Where do we move so that the player with the ball can pass it to use? Ans: We move to the openings so the player with the ball can see us. How do we create openings on the pitch? Ans: We spread out; How do we move the ball forward through the opening? Ans: We dribble, pass or shoot through the opening Practice (5 minutes) Organization: Divide players into two groups and play 4v1 keep away; Divide groups in two with each group using one half of the grid independently; Attackers pass the ball around to retain possession while defender tries to win it; If defender wins the ball, attackers have to win it back and begin again; Guide players to move to openings where the player with the ball can pass them the ball Play (10 minutes) Play a 5v5 game to goal with kick-in or dribble in to keep play moving Possible Guided Questions Where do we move so that the player with the ball can pass it to use? Ans: We move to the openings so the player with the ball can see us. How do we create openings on the pitch? Ans: We spread out; How do we move the ball forward through the opening? Ans: We dribble, pass or shoot through the opening

Pressure Play (10 minutes) Organization: As players arrive, organize them into 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 play Execution: Players play for 3 minutes; Short break and ask rhetorical, guided questions then play again for 3 minutes; Short break and ask guided questions and players answer this time, then play a final time Player action: Protect the goal; Get between the ball and the goal, apply pressure, be patient Guided questions/answers: How do we protect the goal? Ans: We put ourselves between the player with the ball and the goal; Who puts pressure on the player with the ball? Ans: The player closest to the ball that is goal side ; Practice (5 minutes) Organization: Divide players into two opposing lines and play 1v1 Execution: One line of players facing another line of players; The defender serves the ball to the opposing line who will receive it and try to dribble across the servers goal line Guided question: How do we approach the player with the ball? Ans: Fast then slow then low (close down quickly then slow your speed and crouch to retain balance); What happens if you are unbalanced or too agrressive? Ans: The attacker dribbles by us. What happens if you are impatient? Ans: The attacker dribbles by us. Play (10 minutes) Play a 5v5 game to goal with kick-in or dribble in to keep play moving Possible Guided Questions How do we protect the goal? Ans: We put ourselves between the player with the ball and the goal; Who puts pressure on the player with the ball? Ans: The player closest to the ball that is goal side ;

Cover Play (10 minutes) Organization: As players arrive, organize them into 2v2 or 3v3 play Execution: Players play for 3 minutes; Short break and ask rhetorical, guided questions then play again for 3 minutes; Short break and ask guided questions and players answer this time, then play a final time Player action: Protect the goal; Get between the ball and the goal, apply pressure, be patient; Other defenders move behind and close to the first defender Guided questions/answers: How do we protect the goal? Ans: We put ourselves between the player with the ball and the goal; Who puts pressure on the player with the ball? Ans: The player closest to the ball that is goal side ; How will other defenders help the defender closest to the ball? Ans: We will be behind the first defender and close to him/her (at about a 45 degree angle to support the first defender); Practice (5 minutes) Organization: Divide players into two sets of opposing lines and play 2v2 Execution: One set of players serves the ball to two opposing/attacking players; The two attacking players try to dribble across the defenders goal line while the two defenders apply pressure and cover; Players rotate from the defending lines to the attacking lines Guided question: How do we approach the player with the ball? Ans: Fast then slow then low (close the distance quickly then slow your speed and crouch to retain balance); What happens if you are unbalanced or too aggressive? Ans: The attacker dribbles by us. What happens if you are impatient? Ans: The attacker dribbles by us; Where do we position the 2nddefender? Ans: At approximately 45 degree angle, 5 yards behind Play (10 minutes) Play a 5v5 game to goal with kick-in or dribble in to keep play moving Possible Guided Questions Guided question: How do we approach the player with the ball? Ans: Fast then slow then low (close down quickly then slow your speed and crouch to retain balance); What happens if you are unbalanced or too aggressive? Ans: The attacker dribbles by us. What happens if you are impatient? Ans: The attacker dribbles by us; Where do we position the 2nddefender? Ans: At approximately 45 degree angle 5 yards behind

Detailed Descriptions of Tactical Activities (April 12th)

Ball Control Dribble around All players with a ball dribbling around half the pitch; Introduce multiple surfaces (inside of foot, outside of foot, sole of foot, laces of foot); Encourage changes of speed/ direction; Introduce inside cut, outside cut, sole roll, lean and push, scissors, stepover, Maradonna, Matthews, etc Sharks and Minnows/The Empire vs The Rebels/Freeze tag (with island , asteroids or safe zones ) All players with a ball; Two players don a pinnie and are the sharks ; Tag other players with your hand (while dribbling) (tagged players have to do 10 toe touches outside the grid and then can enter play again); Players who are minnows avoid sharks to remain free; Arrange a couple small safe zones (3ftX3ft squares with four cones) within the grid where 1 player can stand where taggers cannot freeze them (if another player wants to enter the safe zone, the occupying player must leave) SSG with goals and end-lines Standard 5v5 game to goal, but players can also score by dribbling the ball to any part of the goal line and stopping the ball with their foot on top of the ball to score a goal Possible Coaching Points (pick a couple to use) Guided question: How do we unbalance a defender? Ans: Change speed and/or change direction Guided question: How do we assess where to dribble? Ans: Keep head up to identify space/defender/teammate/goal Be creative (be unpredictable and fun) Be confident (confidence is a learned skill through repetition) If you mess up, try it again and again and again Praise learning and failure

Passing/Receiving Passing/moving with a couple balls Divide group into two groups (one with pinnies) with one ball each; Players pass the ball within their group while moving; Two touch passing; Variations: number players and have them pass in order and then reverse order; Progress to one-touch Rondo (4v1 in half the grid) Divide groups in two with each group using one half of the grid independently; Have one player in the pinnie-less group don a pinnie (have one pinnie player remove their pinnie) this one player will be the 1 defender; Attackers pass the ball around to retain possession while defender tries to win it; If defender wins the ball, attackers have to win it back and begin again; Variations: Have the two larger groups compete against one another Most passes in 60 seconds wins; First team to 10 passes in a row wins; etc SSG Standard 5v5 to goals Possible Coaching points (pick a couple to use) Guided question: What part of the foot offers a player the most control to receive?: Ans: the inside of the foot Guided question: How do we communicate to a teammate where we want the ball? Ans: With our voice or our body shape or with our hand Guided question: How do we create an opportunity for a player to pass us the ball? Ans: we move to a space where there is an open passing lane for the player with the ball to pass through Passing: Accuracy; Proper weight; Raise toe up to look ankle if using inside of the foot; Non-kicking foot beside ball; Knee of kicking foot over ball at strike; On the ground (typically) Use different surfaces; Disguise Receiving: Look around you and know where pressure and space are; Get into line of flight of the ball; Choose surface; Cushion into space or away from pressure; sideways on body shape open to the pitch

Goalkeeper Catching/Distribution Catching (contour or W catches and basket catches) Divide group into partners each with a ball; Play catch with the ball receiving it above the waist; Transition to catching below the waist; Transition to bowling the ball and receiving it on the ground SSG of Handball / ultimate frisbee Divide the group into two; half don pinnies; Players score by bowling or throwing ball into the net; Players may not run with the ball and advance the ball forward by throwing it to a teammate; If the ball falls to the ground, the ball is turned over to the opponent; Defending players may disrupt passes in the air or on the ground with any body part if the attacking player does not complete a pass to a teammate when they distribute, the ball is turned over to the other team Possible Coaching Points (pick a couple) Goalkeeper ready position (athletic stance feet shoulder width apart with knees bent and hands in front and above the waist pointed towards the sky Contour catches: For balls above the waist, ready position with hands slightly separated, hands extended in front of body fingers pointed up; Catch the ball with relaxed fingers and hands and cushion the ball allowing your elbows to band and arms to collapse; both hands should form a W with opposite index fingers and thumb, or a diamond <> shape with index fingers and thumbs Basket catch: For balls below the waist, ready position at first, transitiong to hands below the waist; Catch ball in hands and cradle ball towards chest like you re hugging your favorite teddy bear Sling throw distribution: tbd Bowling distribution: tbd

Shooting Passing/moving with a couple balls Divide group into two groups (one with pinnies) with one ball each; Players pass the ball within their group while moving; Two touch passing; Progress to longer distance passing and moving Partner long-ball passing/shooting Partner up and play long balls back and forth SSG Standard 5v5 game to big goals with no GKs Possible Coaching points See target, see ball Accuracy before power Prep touch to set up shot Non-kicking foot beside ball Strike with instep or inside of foot or toe Make sure ankle is tight at contact (lock ankle) Follow through to target to get a harder shot Land on kicking foot if shooting off of a dribble

Aerial Receiving Juggling Each player with a ball juggling; Variations: to make it easier, players can juggle, bounce where player uses their body once and then lets the ball bounce off the ground for the next touch; to make it more challenging, take two small touches followed by a larger touch into the air; Soccer tennis Divide the group into two, each group occupying one-half the grid; Use one ball and have players serve aerial balls back and forth over a pretend tennis net; How many volleys over the net can you make? SSG Standard 5v5 game to small goals (for U14/18, 5 points for scoring a goal with head) Possible Coaching points Balanced, athletic stance (feet shoulder width apart, standing on balls of feet); Eyes/focus on ball as it contacts body part Heading: Eyes on ball; Contact through middle or top of the ball for passing or finishing; Contact through bottom to clear; Keep trunk tight during contact; Follow through or guide or glance to target