Soccer Season
Spring is in the air, the sun is shining, the grass is turning green, the buds are opening on the tree branches, and I even saw some tulips popping up in the neighbour's flower bed! So you know what that means around here....Outdoor Soccer season is around the corner! Actually, it's one sleep away for us! Harrison's Varsity Tykes U6 Outdoor Soccer season starts tomorrow evening, with me as the Coach! It seemed like a good idea when I got wrangled into it at registration day in February. However, here I am the night before the start of our season, scrambling to come up with some fun games and drills for them,
looking at the jerseys spread across my dining room table, and the giant equipment bag spilling it's contents all over my kitchen floor as I try to figure this all out! 
Have I gotten in over my head? What was I thinking when I agreed to be the coach? I've never even played soccer...what do I know about coaching it? Do I have what it takes to keep nine little 4 and 5 yr olds busy on the field for our 20 min warm up/practice of games and drills, before our 40 min game against another team?! We are the Panthers and play every Tues and Thurs evenings for an hour starting at 6:15pm, so we can still be home and in bed at a decent hour. The league is sponsored by Tim Hortons just like the minor hockey teams. Our jerseys are black and say Tim Hortons across the front, and TimBits across the back, with a big white number below that and the community logo on one sleeve. Very sharp looking!
Here is my favorite Assistant Coach, making sure all the equipment works! I actually get 2 Assistant Coaches...mostly because I have no idea what I'm doing! I'll post another entry with some pictures of the first couple games. Wish this Rookie luck!
Did you ever play soccer as a kid? Have you ever coached a team? Do you have any last minute advice or words of wisdom to offer?!
posted by Lady J @ 10:00 p.m.
5 Comments:
Yes you probably got in over your head but only for the first few practices and then your going to rock!!!! If Ali was playing soccer I would definatly want you as the coach. If anything else, the kids will have great fun with you leading the way. Have a blast, I wish I was there to be your assistant coach.....:)
Don't sweat it so long as you keep the kids running, they will love it. You are going to be awesome! Although, I have never played soccer so I am totally just throwing things out there! Have fun!
I never played soccer, but I did teach riding lessons. I suggest reading, a lot of reading. With the internet I'm sure you can find lots of drills and games to play.
Good luck!
Drill ball handling with their feet around little pylons, posts, etc. like a skiing slalom. Maybe relay races with two lines and each taking turns through the obstacle course and back etc. They need lots of practice at moving the ball around defenders while keeping it in control, as well as running faster forward tapping the ball up just ahead of you towards the goal. Don't let them get into fighting, or pushing, or tripping the opposing players who rough them up, cheat, etc. We gave our little guys a little run to a marker and back for any infraction so they got more and more in condition and realized we would not put up with excuses for why they resorted to the scrappy guys' tactics. Keep them focussed on the ball and you will do well. To have fun you need skills and sportsmanship, including knowing how to win and lose graciously.:+)
Thanx for all your support guys! I'll post pics next week...I was in over my head at the first practice and didn't even remember I had my camera with me, so I'll enlist the help of someone to take pics for me on Tues!
Thanx Unlce Dwight for checkin out my blog, leaving a comment and all the great tips!!!
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