Winding Down

The season is quickly coming to an end.  We had our last practice last night, and had a light turn out.  The good side was that I was really to work on some specifics with the kids that were there.  We have 2 more games this week to close out the season.  Its this time of year that you start to realize how much time you actually put into coaching.  Its not just the time on the field working with the kids.  Its all the prep work that goes into a season.  From the registration, to getting set up with equipment and uniforms, planning practices, come up with new drills to keep things interesting.  It really is so much fun, and I find it to be so rewarding.  Once the season comes to an end, its time to wind down, and get ready for the next season, because football is right around the corner.

What to do with all this rain

With all the rain this week, I doubt we will have any time on the field.  I planned one scrimmage and one practice for the week, but it doesn't look good.  So instead of having to take the time to plan for these things, I decided to use the time to brainstorm some new drills.  I came up with two versions of the same drill.  I'm sure others have used something similar, but these are my interpretations.  I think they may be a bit too advanced for a K-1 team, but I like to give them the benefit of the doubt and try things out.  I got the idea from a drill we used to use for Ice Hockey, it was called the 'wheel drill'.  I came up with a half field and a full filed version of it.  I will try to explain, and if anyone would like a copy, I can send the diagrams.  Here goes the full field verions:

• Set up four lines, 1) Offensive Middies at at corner of box facing far goal. 2) Defensive Middies at restraining line in middle of field.  3) Attack at corner of opposite restraining box. 4) Defense at goal line extended on opposite side of field from attack.  One cone in middle of field halfway between box and midfield on same side of field as Attack and D.  Extra balls near Def line.
• OM starts with ball and runs down field, DM begins to chase.
• When OM feels pressure he feeds Attack.
• Attack goes to net for shot, as Def plays him 1 on 1.
• After the pass from the OM, the DM circles cone and heads back up field (towards where he came from) and gets ready for a pass.  The OM heads to midfield (gets ready to play D).
• After Attack shot: If goalie makes save, he is to feed Def for a clear.  If goal is scored, Def retrieves ball from side of net and heads up field.
• Def. feeds original DM for clear.
• Original DM now goes in 1 on 1 vs original OM. 
• Attack and Def return to their lines.  Middies switch lines.

The half field version is just a 1 v 1, then the clear, or you can bring a goal to half field, and let there be a 1 v 1 the other way as well.  Once I try this out, I will let you know how it goes.

The Need for Structure

   I was reminded at last night's practice that the team is only 4, 5 and 6 year olds.  After having success with new drills on the previoous practice, I figured I'd draw up a few more.  I started with a game of 'tag'.  The players that were 'it' needed to tag the other players stick heads.  I figured; one this will get them running around at the beginning of practice, and two it would get them to start moving their sticks more.  I feel that when they have a ball the just run with no awareness of the opposing team being able to get to their sticks.  This went ok, but they started getting a bit crazy so we ended it after a short while.
   Next i went into another new drill.  It was basically monkey in the middle.  It was four on one, inside a box.  I let the four players run around and pass the ball to keep away from the 'monkey'.  This quickly went bad, as they were paying no attention to the box they were to stay in and some kids were not really getting involved.
    It was at this point I knew we needed to get back on track.  I sent them off for a quick water break, and went back to more defined drills.  More run to this cone, do this, run to next and do that type of stuff. 
   In the end, I think we saved the practice, but learned a valuable lesson.  Keep things well defined, and don't leave 4, 5, and 6 year olds too much room for improvising.

Gonna try something different

   Last night I tried to change things up a bit.  Instead of starting practice with our standard line drills, and then moving into some of the usual drills, I moved right into some new drills.  We started with a semi circle half way between the cage and top of the box.  I passed or rolled balls out to them to get them working on receiving passes (and attacking ground balls) and then getting off a quick shot.  Also, since our goalie only practice in net once a week (side note: We have one goalie that plays half of each game, then middie the other half.  We rotate the other kids in net for the other half of each game), I wanted him to see some shots from off the top of the circle, since no matter how much I try to pound it into their heads that they don't have to stand on the crease to shoot, they always end up there.
   From there we moved into a give an go drill.  I had them start at mid-filed, pass to me on the run, head to the net for a pass back with a shot.  It went pretty well.  I started with rolling the ball to them to get them scooping on the run.  After a while, I started passing to them.  We had some mild success cacthing the ball which was a great confidence booster for everyone (me included).
   After a quick water break, which I throw in to keep them from getting too antsy waiting in line, I just had them start at the midfield line again, and pass to a teammate in the slot, that player would turn and shoot on the run.  The player who passed, would follow his pass to the slot, and get ready for pass.  Good, easy drill, that kept them moving, and flowed pretty well. 
   We finished up with 1 on 1 ground balls with ground ball winner getting to shoot, and other player playing defense.  Then 2 on 2 ground balls, and actually had some good communication and movement to open space without the ball.
   All in all it was a very good practice, everyone had fun, and I thought they had some good skill work. 
(FYI, if anyone every wants a copy of drills, just let me know and I will send them your way).

Wow, its been a while.

   So I guess the posting everyday thing has kinda been tossed out the window.  I guess I'll have to try and find more time in the day. 
   The weather has turned nicer, and things have really found a groove out on the field.  The kids are improving more and more every practice, and we are really finding a groove.  They are grasping the concepts, and are able to run more complicated drills.  Its really fun to see their hard work and enthusiasm paying off.
    After a rough streak of games against more experienced competition, he finally had a game with an evenly matched team.  It was nice to see the kids be able to do some of the things they have learned in a game, rather than chasing down older, faster kids all day.  Only a handful of weeks left in the lax season, and I am hoping to see a well oiled machine by the end :-).