Equipment Question

[jmnva]

I've got a quick question for rec coaches. Do you require kids to bring their own balls or do you get a bag of balls from your club that you use for practices? The reason I ask is that my club has always provided balls and now a member of the board alleges that "team balls disappear" and we should require that kids bring their own.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

[Twenty26Six]

I think that the kids should be asked to bring their own, but as a coach, you should always have an extra 4-5 balls at your disposal for them to use.

[ranova]

The youth leagues in which I coached made a ball part of the list of things that players were expected to bring (and a water bottle). If it had not, I would have made it (and the water bottle) a team rule for practices. The league supplied a couple of game balls, but at practices you want a ball for every player. Doesn't matter what level of play or age. Leagues don't want to fund that. As an added benefit, requiring each player to bring a ball to practice also insures that players have access to a ball to practice on their own. For the coach, the suggestion to bring some extra balls is a good idea. I bring extra shin guards and a pair of soxs too.

[cleansheetbsc]

kids need to bring a water bottle, shin guards and a ball.

We give each of our teams 2 balls since a few kids will usually show up without one.

Yes the balls dissappear, but it is amazing how many balls we gain from the lost and found.

[Crimson Ace]

On the club level, I always make my kids be responsible for their own ball. Ball... most important need for a soccer player. No ball, no play. It's a responsibility issue. You'll notice that not too many kids show up to swim practice without their suits. ;)

Now, you're talking about rec. Sometimes you have financial issues to consider. Use your best judgment, but keep communication open so that every kid/parent knows what they're responsible for... and what consequences will be, if any, for violations.

[jmnva]

Thanks all. One point of clarification. When I noted that the club provided balls, I should have been clearer. The coach actually got enough balls for the entire team in his bag so everyone would have a ball at practice.

[threeputzzz]

Our rec league also requires players to bring their own ball, but it always helps to have extras on hand not just for those that forget but a few of the practice games I've used for the past few years for u-littles are best with lots of soccer balls (eagle's nest, egg hunt, keep your yard clean, shooting gallery).

When I started with my daughter's age group when they were not yet in kindergarten, I brought 8 new size 3 balls mostly white space in design and a bunch of permanent markers for them to color them with. I had a couple of players still using their personalized balls last season, 4 years later.

[Monkey Boy]

I've coached for many different leagues and at many different levels. In each case, the league provided the equipment, which included balls for practice and games. I've never had a problem with losing equipment.

For Ulittles I actually made it an end of practice game where they dribble and then kick the ball they use into the bag.

For all of my teams, I encourage the parents to stay for the practice if possible. Then I use the parents to help -- if their kid falls down, they can handle the situation while I continue the practice with the rest of the group. Parents can act as passing walls. I prefer to use parents as cones rather than real cones -- real cones encourage a player to look down while dribbling, while parents simulate a more realistic game situation and helps with encouraging kids to dribble with their head up. Another benefit is that I can work in a few activities that parents can do with the kids at home.

Anyway, the main point is that I also use parents to help keep track of the equipment and they almost always help me clean up after practice. Makes managing such things a lot easier. I also am aware of the ball count and other equipment that I have before practice so that it's easy to verify everything's been collected.

[threeputzzz]

For Ulittles I actually made it an end of practice game where they dribble and then kick the ball they use into the bag.

That is a great idea, and reminds me of another tip with u-littles, even my u-8 girls last season were enthusiastic about it. I inevitably end each practice with lots of cones out on the grass, so the last game I play each practice is "treasure hunt" - basically see who can find the most treasure(pick up the most cones) and bring it back to me (standing next to my equipment bag). The game needs only be explained once - one point per cone. In subsequent practices just say "treasure hunt - go!" - and go they will.

[Monkey Boy]

That is a great idea, and reminds me of another tip with u-littles, even my u-8 girls last season were enthusiastic about it. I inevitably end each practice with lots of cones out on the grass, so the last game I play each practice is "treasure hunt" - basically see who can find the most treasure(pick up the most cones) and bring it back to me (standing next to my equipment bag). The game needs only be explained once - one point per cone. In subsequent practices just say "treasure hunt - go!" - and go they will.

The best practice games for Ulittles take around 5-15 seconds to explain and demonstrate once. If it takes much longer than that, they are likely confused and you will end up wasting a ton of time.

I've used the treasure hunt game, but including the ball. Each kid having a ball and cones scattered all over. The kids have to touch the cone with their ball before they can pick it up. The kid with the most cones wins. If you have too large a range of skills, then do the game twice. The kid who improves the most wins -- which typically boosts up the weaker players as they tend to improve the most the second time.