1st and 2nd REC FALL 2024 Sessions

1st and 2nd Grade REC FALL 2024 Training Sessions

Hi Coaches,

First of all I want to thank all of you for coaching our youngest wave of aspiring soccer players. Believe me when I tell you that you are the foundation to tomorrow's players. To assist you in coaching your team I have found a few games that would help build skills and are really fun. The last 15 minutes of each practice please have them play 4 vs 4 plus a rotating keeper.

We will keep working on this and keep getting it out there in a more fluid timeframe. If you have any questions you can email me at ojhfcyouth@gmail.com.

Practice Session - Games and drills to choose from.

Hungry Hippos-Click Link
Fill The Bucket-Click Link
Sharks and Minnow-Click Link
Dribble the Gates-Click Link
Touch The Net Shooting Race-Click Link
Kick the Coach-Click Link. They will love trying to hit you!

Hungry Hippos

Length of Session: 10 mins
Skills to Learn: dribbling at speed, keeping head up
Equipment: a lot of soccer balls, pinnies, and small goals are optional.
Description: Two teams compete to see who can bring the most balls back to their area.
Drill Set-up:

Split the kids into two even teams.
Give each team pinnies to distinguish.
Create a large rectangle with a small zone on each end.
Place all of the balls in the center of the space.

Drill Instructions:

Place each team at either end of the rectangle.
Each team can send one player at a time to go retrieve a ball and dribble it back.
Optional: add a mini goal. The player must shoot the ball into the small goal to earn it for their team.
If a player goes out of bounds, they must put the ball back in the middle and go back to their team for a new player to go.
Perform as a race until all the balls are gone.

Sharks and Minnow

Length of Session: 10 mins
Skills to Learn: dribbling, keeping head up, ball control
Equipment: balls for each player, cones, pinnies optional.
Description: Kids try to dribble from one side to the other without getting tagged by the shark. Anyone tagged becomes a shark.
Drill Set-up:

Create a large rectangle suitable for the number and age of players. For example, 35 meters long by 20 meters wide for 12-15 6-year-olds.
Give each player a ball and line them up on the starting line.
Select a “shark” to start.

Drill Instructions:

Line up all of the “minnows” with their balls.
Choose 1-2 sharks and place them in the middle of the space.
When you say go, have the minnows try to dribble across the other side without getting tagged by a shark.
Anyone who is tagged must become a shark for the next round.
Challenge players to see who can be the last minnow standing.
Younger kids, 4-6, can focus on just tagging the player. For kids 6-8, change the rules so they must knock the ball away from the minnow to count. For kids 8-10 or with advanced skills, you can require them to take full possession of the ball.
Another way to make the drill more challenging is to make the space smaller.
You can also add specific dribbling challenges within the game (weak foot only, must complete 2 moves before crossing, etc.

Dribble the Gates

Length of Session: 10 mins
Skills to Learn: Ball control, keeping the head up while dribbling
Equipment: enough balls for each player and cones
Description: Randomly place gates that are approximately 3 meters wide. Kids will aim to dribble through each gate once or as many gates as possible in the set time.
Drill Set-up:

Set up a large area around 30 meters by 30 meters (use a larger space for more kids)
Randomly set up 6-10 3m wide gates using cones
Give each kid a ball.

Drill Instructions:

Kids 4-6 can have more gates and larger gates to minimize collisions.
Give kids a set time and goal. For example, you can see who can get through the most gates in 60 seconds, or who can get through every gate first.
Make the drill more challenging for older players with restrictions, like right or left foot only. You could also require older kids to complete a move before dribbling through the gate.

Kick the Coach

Length of Session: 5 mins
Skills to Learn: passing
Equipment: balls for each child
Description: The coach runs between two lines of kids who are all trying to hit the coach’s legs with the ball.
Drill Set-up:

Create two lines facing each other. Place a cone for each kid.
The lines should be 10-15 yards apart.
Place each kid on a line and give them a ball.

Drill Instructions:

Kids line up facing each other.
The coach will run through the middle of the lines.
The kids try to pass (NOT shoot) their ball to hit the coach.
Only contact below the knee counts.
Ideal for younger kids just learning how to pass.

Additional Youtube Videos With Good Instruction