Warm-Up (5 min): Pick Up Soccer
Activity 1 (10 min): Sharks & Minnows
Activity 2 (10min): Angry Birds
Activity 3 (15 min): Numbers Game - Get Outta There!
Activity 4 (15 min): Small Sided Games 3v3
Warm-Up (5 min): Pick Up Soccer
As players arrive, divide them up and let them play!
Activity 1 (10 min): Sharks & Minnows
Setup: 1/2 of game field. Two goals on the sides.
Instructions: All players have a ball except for 1 shark. Coach is also a shark to start. Minnows start at one end of the grid. Sharks on the opposite line. Minnows try to cross to the other side without losing possession of their ball. The sharks defend their area by trying to steal the minnows’ ball. Once a ball is stolen, the sharks must dribble it into one of the goals. If a minnow looses ball, they can try to steal it back from the shark before it gets into the goal. Minnows who successfully dribble across the sharks’s line go back for round two. Each minnow who loses their ball will join the sharks. Last minnow with a ball is the winner. Play two or three rounds.
Coaching Points: Keep soccer ball close and under control. Don’t leave ball to avoid being caught by a shark. Players must turn away from pressure into space.
Activity 2 (10min): Angry Birds
Setup: 1/2 of game field. Use cones to make 4 6x6 ft. squares. Place squares in each corner of the field. All “eggs” (soccer balls) are in the middle of the field. Divide players up into 4 teams. Each team is assigned a “nest” (one of the corner squares).
Instructions: Play 3 or 4 one minute games. All players start in their nest. Coach says “play”! All players then try to get the eggs back to their nest as quickly as possible. Players can steal eggs from other nests. No hands, no sitting on eggs, and no pushing. Team with most eggs wins.
1. Ask players how can they get more eggs before the timer runs out. Suggest that they work together.
2. Encourage players win the other teams’ eggs.
Coaching Points: Keep ball under control to dribble to their nest. Keep ball away from angry birds trying to steal their eggs.
Activity 3 (15 min): Numbers Game - Get Outta There!
Setup: Full field, split players into two teams and assign direction to goal. All balls and players on half line on the side. Use 1, 2, 3, or 4 as numbers.
Instructions: Coach passes a ball into the field, and calls out a number. Ex. “TWO”, then only the first two players from each line will play. Play until goal is scored or ball goes out of bounds. Coach then yells “Get Outta There”! Coach then passes a new ball onto the field and calls a new number for the next set of players. Change it up by calling different numbers. Players must know where they are in line and listen.
Coaching points: Just keep it simple and fun, try to keep players on the touch line and ready. Encourage players to think and be ready for the number called.
Activity 4 (15 min): Small Sided Games 3v3
Setup: Entire soccer field, divide players up to form 2 or 3 teams of 3
Instructions: Rotate players/teams out every few minutes
Coaching Points: Encourage players to turn away from pressure and dribble into space.