I. The Value Of Communication And Knowing Who To Trust

I got this activity from Rick Rassier when we took the Mounds View Girls HS soccer team up to his Jump Challenge Course in Sauk Rapids, MN.  His teamwork and motivational techniques are awesome.  His experiential learning techniques make an immediate impact that is not only remembered, but more importantly it is understood.

I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.

I would recommend any team, business, or school take this training.  Click Here for more info.

Blind Folded Dodge Ball

This is the best activity I have ever seen that shows the importance of communication to the kids, but also how parents yelling from the side lines, well meaning of course, impacts what the players on the field do in a negative way.

Set Up:

-Players and Parents each have a partner.  One partner is blindfolded and placed in the middle of the grid.  The other partner can move around on the outside of the grid.

-The grid contains land mines in the shape of cones and hula hoops

-The grid also contains soft nerf balls or any other type of ball that does not hurt to get hit with

-The coach may be in the grid to hand out balls to players but he may not always help you

Rules:

-The partner who is not blindfolded may only direct their teammate in the middle of the gird vocally.  You may not touch your teammate or enter the grid

-If you run into a land mine, (cone or hula hoop) you are out

-If you get hit by a ball that is thrown by another player you are out.  (In order to get out by a  ball, it must have been thrown by somebody inside the grid.   The ball cannot bounce, once the ball hits the ground it is dead.  It also does not count if you run into somebody while holding a ball.  The ball must be thrown for it to count.)

Procedure:

When the coach says go the players in the middle spin around 5 times and begin the game.  Play until there is a winner

What happens?

If you are interested email me or call me and I will explain.  I don't want to give away all the key points to the players before they do the exercise.  As I stated before, not only is this game great for communication, but if you are interested I can tell you how it is very eye opening for parents too.  The best thing I've ever done with parents to get them to understand how side line talk can have a negative impact on our team.

II.  3v3 Transition

Since we were only going for an hour today I wanted the girls to play a game that would really get them moving for the last 40 minutes.  3v3 transition is a great way to get the kids moving and work on the aspect of youth soccer that happens the most in every game.  Transition play.  So many teams are constantly booting the ball up the field and giving away possession of the ball.  The teams that can counter quickly have the better chance of winning. 

Putting the time restraint on the games really keeps the kids moving, looking to keep the ball, but also looking to attack every opening they get. 

I love this activity because it can be used for so many different topics:

-Transition Attack

-Transition Defense

-Possession

-Through Balls

-Conditioning

-Beating players 1v1 to create numbers up

-Creating space for shots

ect