Teamwork and Keep-away
Yes, individual skills training is a bit boring, unless you work on fancy moves which kids love. But that's for a bit later. It's time to start getting the kids used to teamwork.
I call this game "keep away" and it's a great practice to start learning the basics of running into space, receiving the ball and passing to the open player.
1. Just use hands: Divide the kids into teams of 5 or 6 players max. Too many players on one side means they will all bunch up and you won't achieve what you are looking for. If you have 20 players, make 4 teams out of it. If you have 10 players, make two teams.
The game itself is very simple. There are no goals. Take the kids to the penalty box and divide the box into two equal halves. Two separate groups (5 vs. 5) can play in one half and the other groups play in the other half. Whoever has the ball, passes it to his teammates while the opposing team members try to steal the ball in mid-air. If they succeed to steal the ball, they will pass it amongst themselves and the other team gets to defend. Explain to the kids the concept of running into space and asking for the ball. Nobody should be standing around. After a few minutes the kids get it.
Note: it's important that you join them in this game (at least initially) to show them how to play it. I usually tell them: "I am with any team that has the ball".
Take a water break. This exercise is very exhaustive.
2. Repeat the same exercise using feet. It's important that when switching from hands-play to foot-play, you increase the size of the box to cover the whole penalty box. Have the kids run into spaces and ask for the ball.
3. After a while, tell the kids that you are going to count the number of consecutive passes. Start counting aloud and the kids will try to pass quicker.
First time I did the hands-play, the kids loved it so much I had to force them to stop.
Note: if the ball falls on the ground and the kids all converge on it, call it a jump-ball. Overall, this is a great exercise as the kids start learning the value of running into spaces and finding their teammates on the field.
I call this game "keep away" and it's a great practice to start learning the basics of running into space, receiving the ball and passing to the open player.
1. Just use hands: Divide the kids into teams of 5 or 6 players max. Too many players on one side means they will all bunch up and you won't achieve what you are looking for. If you have 20 players, make 4 teams out of it. If you have 10 players, make two teams.
The game itself is very simple. There are no goals. Take the kids to the penalty box and divide the box into two equal halves. Two separate groups (5 vs. 5) can play in one half and the other groups play in the other half. Whoever has the ball, passes it to his teammates while the opposing team members try to steal the ball in mid-air. If they succeed to steal the ball, they will pass it amongst themselves and the other team gets to defend. Explain to the kids the concept of running into space and asking for the ball. Nobody should be standing around. After a few minutes the kids get it.
Note: it's important that you join them in this game (at least initially) to show them how to play it. I usually tell them: "I am with any team that has the ball".
Take a water break. This exercise is very exhaustive.
2. Repeat the same exercise using feet. It's important that when switching from hands-play to foot-play, you increase the size of the box to cover the whole penalty box. Have the kids run into spaces and ask for the ball.
3. After a while, tell the kids that you are going to count the number of consecutive passes. Start counting aloud and the kids will try to pass quicker.
First time I did the hands-play, the kids loved it so much I had to force them to stop.
Note: if the ball falls on the ground and the kids all converge on it, call it a jump-ball. Overall, this is a great exercise as the kids start learning the value of running into spaces and finding their teammates on the field.
posted by Softour at
10:45 AM
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