So I'm taking over this spring/summer skills and drills program for a local Y. We meet once a week for 50 minutes for each age group. I've got 6 u10s, 12 or 14 u8s and 35 (!) u6s. My first year coaching 35 years ago was u6s and I haven't had them that young since. I have no idea what to do with 35 kids this young. There are a lot of parent volunteers so I can break the kids down in smaller groups, and one or two of those parents might have even played soccer. I will have all the space I need and I may even have four goals. One limiting factor is balls: I may only have one ball for every two players. I've got six sessions. What would you recommend?
For the u6 just create a list of fun games. It’ll get them lots of touches in a fun environment. End with 1v1 or 2v2. U8 can be more soccer like activities like 1v1, relays, and competitions U10 trend toward more soccer activities. Massachusetts youth soccer has a whole set of session plans by age. Maybe don’t sort by age. Call them Anteaters, Birds, and Cheetahs- not age related sorting because there may be 7YOs that respond better to playing the kiddie games
Thanks El.... The kids will already be sorted and I've got stuff to do with the order kids. I just don't know games to play with u6.
I have 5 training plans for each age group posted on our club's website: https://logansoccer.com/resources. I would break your 6Us into four groups and rotate them through stations with each station being a different activity from one of the training plans. Have one parent stay with each group as they rotate and one parent stay at each station. That way there's always someone herding each group of kids, and there's always someone at each station who knows the game.
I like that idea. I don't know if I have 8 parents, but I was told I had a "lot" of adult help. We'll see how it goes. Thanks.
Red light green light Freeze tag Fox tails Crocodiles- coach in middle zone and they try to get past you Kick the coach-hit the coaches with balls 1v1/2v2
Thanks. I will use a couple of games you provided, esp the Wreck-it Ralph game. I can see several variations on that game that I can build on throughout the course. Very nice, @stphnsn