Spring 2021 Season Outline
Provided is an outline for our spring season. Each practice has a theme, which serves as the main focus for all activities of the week. While players learn and execute these skills, certain points will be emphasised to serve as takeaways. All players are expected to conclude practice with an understanding of those takeaways. With only 3 hours a week dedicated to practices, players also have the opportunity to do their soccer “homework” which includes activities that can be performed outside of practices to improve in both soccer ability and athleticism. The hopes of this [fairly] lengthy outline is to have everyone on the team (coaches, players, and parents) on the same page with the same goals.
Practice Themes
Each practice has a theme, which focuses mainly on one topic for the day. The technical skills taught, the activities performed, and the rules/restrictions set for games are all designed to promote a certain aspect of the sport. While practices progress from technical skill work in the beginning, to game-like scenarios to apply those skills, the common theme translates across all phases to ensure players gain an understanding of what is being taught. Having a central topic to a practice allows players to see how individual, technical skills apply to game scenarios with defenders and teammates.
Coaching Takeaways
Players are expected to finish a practice with an understanding of the main points taught from that day’s theme. I will make sure to emphasize the key aspects of the theme and ask leading questions during practices to test the players’ ability to listen and learn. Due to the nature of the sport, these lessons carry over into subsequent practices and build upon each other. These takeaways can be reviewed prior to and after each practice by the player. The goal is for the players to actively remember these key points and be able to apply them to their own ability and the team as a whole.
Homework
Players are encouraged to do their supplemental soccer “Homework” outside of practices. These homework sessions should be effortful, meaningful, and purposeful. Homework includes soccer-related activities that focus on simple skill mastery and fitness activities to improve the player’s physical abilities. All homework activities are self-paced, meaning players can conduct the activities at the speed which personally works for them. The goal with our soccer homework is to encourage players to take pride in self-improvement by dedicating time in their weeks to master their soccer skills and become stronger athletes. It will become evident, as weeks go on, as to which players are improving.
Soccer-Related Activities
While the videos for the soccer-related activities can be short, they are meant to be completed in several repetitions. As a general recommendation, each activity within the video should be practiced for 2 minutes each, with appropriate rest between sets.
Some of the soccer-related activities include the use of a few cones and another person. A parent can take the place of one person or a wall/hard surface may be used instead. If possible, players working together to complete their homework is highly encouraged! If the player does not have cones or poles, any small object will do! For games that use different colored cones (red, blue), numbers (red=1, blue=2) can substitute. If there is confusion on any of the activities, feel free to reach out to me!
Learning requires focused repetition using the proper body position and touch of the ball. Ultimately, mastering ball skill comes down to how often, how carefully, and how focused the player rehearses these moves on their own or with a training partner. While the role of a trainer/coach is to teach and demonstrate the proper technique, motivated players will continue to practice and be passionate about perfecting a particular skill. There is no substitute for consistent, effortful practicing.
Fitness-Related Activities
Provided are 3 types of fitness activities for the players to complete. All 3 are simple in set-up and space and are meant to cover four core aspects of movement in soccer: lateral movements, short sprints, changing of direction, and longer sprints with jogging to recover. Each of the 3 types of activities are repeated across the season to encourage improvement. As the weeks go on, the number of recommended sets increases to scale up with the players improvement in athleticism. Again, homework is self-paced and players can complete these activities at their own speed. Likewise, effort and improvement are required. At the bottom of the document contains a Fitness Appendix which explains in more details how to set up and complete the fitness activities. Again, I am happy to help with any questions!
| Week | Practice | Theme | Coaching Takeaways | Weekly Homework |
| 1 | 1 | Dribbling Technique (pt 1) |
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Dribbling (Inside-Outside)
Dribbling (Pull-back and Roll) Lateral Shuffle: Recommended 3-5 sets with 1-2min rest time between sets. |
| 1 | 2 | Passing Technique (pt 1) |
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| 2 | 1 | First Touch Technique (pt 1) |
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Short Passing and First Touch
Shuttle Runs: Recommended 3-5 sets, with 1-2min rest time between sets. |
| 2 | 2 | Shooting Technique (pt 1) |
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| 3 | 1 | Game-Related | Dribbling (Pull-back outside and accelerate away)
Dribbling (Pull-back inside and accelerate away) Dribbling (Step over and accelerate away) 400m Sprint Circuits: Recommended 2 sets with 2-3min rest between sets. |
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| 3 | 2 | Dribbling Technique (pt 2) |
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| 4 | 1 | Passing Technique (pt 2) |
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Passing and agility exercise
Passing and Opening Up with First Touch Lateral Shuffle: Recommended 3-5 sets with 1-2min rest time between sets. *complete before soccer components today Recommended 5 sets on each side (10 total). Rest 30 seconds between sets. *complete before soccer components today |
| 4 | 2 | First Touch Technique (pt 2) |
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| 5 | 1 | Shooting Technique (pt 2) |
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Dribbling (acceleration and deceleration)
Shuttle Runs: Recommended to do 5-7 sets, with 1-2min rest time between sets. |
| 5 | 2 | 1v1 Attacking |
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| 6 | 1 | Review weak points | Double Inside Lift
400m Sprint Circuits: Recommended 3 sets with 2min rest between sets. |
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| 6 | 2 | Game-Related | ||
| 7 | 1 | Possession Basics |
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Passing and agility exercise
Passing and Opening Up with First Touch Lateral Shuffle: Recommended 5-7 sets with 1-2min rest time between sets. *complete before soccer components today Recommended 6 sets on each side (12 total). Rest 30 seconds between sets. *complete before soccer components today |
| 7 | 2 | Combination Play |
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| 8 | 1 | 2v1 Attacking |
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Shooting activity
Dribbling (Pull-back and Roll) Shuttle Runs: Recommended 7-10 sets, with 1-2min rest time between sets. |
| 8 | 2 | Progressive Passing |
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| 9 | 1 | Possession Advanced |
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Dribbling (take on defender with skill) pt 1
Dribbling (take on defender with skill) pt 2 Dribbling (take on defender with skill) pt 3 Dribbling (take on defender with skill) pt 4 Dribbling (take on defender with skill) pt 5 400m Sprint Circuits: Recommended 3 sets with 2min rest between sets. |
| 9 | 2 | 3v2 Attacking |
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| 10 | 1 | Team Defending |
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Shooting activity |
| 10 | 2 | Shooting Games |
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Fitness Appendix
Shuttle Runs: Two cones, 10m apart. Player to sprint from one cone to another and back continuously for 10 repetitions, with running 1 length as 1 repetition (i.e. there and back is 2). Ensure ample rest is provided to encourage maximum effort during the sprint. Shuttle Run example or an alternate example.
Lateral Shuffles: Two cones, 10m apart. Player to side shuffle from one side to the other. Player to complete 6 repetitions (there and back is 2). Ensure ample rest is provided to encourage maximum effort during the activity. Example of the movement
400m Sprint Circuits: Player starts at the beginning of the straight part of the track. The player sprints the straight 100m as quickly as they can. Instantly, the player goes into a slow jog (quicker than walking pace) around the curved part of the track. Once the player reaches the straight part, the player is to instantly sprint the straight 100m. Again, the player is to jog the next curve before reaching the start. If doing multiple sets of these, provide ample rest between to ensure the player is recovered before the next set.