Swanton Recreation
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Soccer, Fall

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Soccer Ball in Net

Itty Bitty (3/4 years old) (50-60 minutes max 1 day per week)



 The mission of the Swanton Recreations Itty Bitty Program is for all of the kids to have fun, make friends, and learn some soccer skills that will help them should they decide to continue to the next level.   Our goal is to introduce them to basic concepts like dribbling and kicking while make it enough fun that they want to keep playing as their bodies and minds mature.  Coaching children under six years of age presents some additional challenges due to their immaturity, short attention span, and less developed muscles. Our frame of mind will be to go down to their level of thinking rather then trying to bring them up to ours. What was fun when you were four years old? Players will have fun when they kick the ball or at least when he/she makes an attempt and gets praise instead of criticism.
Here are the principles that will be followed:





  • Practices and matches will be kept fun. Games will be played that cause kids to learn skills, not "drills." If practice is fun, the kids will want to attend. Maximize touches on the ball per player in practice will be focused on.   Long lines will be avoided as the kids won't behave well while waiting for their turn to play the ball.


  • Minimize lecturing - they have very short attention spans. You have maybe ten seconds to make your point.


  • Lots of small-sided games will be played. 3v3 is ideal for this age. Our goal is to have players receives many touches on the ball in each training session or game.


  • A high degree of concentration will be placed on improving individual skills, i.e., dribbling, trapping, shielding the ball, shooting, getting around an opponent, etc. Players will develop a good skill base this way. Some passing will develop naturally if you play small-sided games, but passing at this age level will not be highly emphasized.


  • Skills will be broken down into smaller components. For example, passing may be learned by one child rolling the ball to another, who tries to pass it back. Then have the children slowly push the balls with the inside of their feet and finally have them pass it back and forth at regular speed.




Encouragement of 15 min of practice at home on the days we do not practice. Parents will be encouraged to participate in the warm-up exercises with their own child. This allows the coach to teach the proper technique to the parents, too, so that if they work with their child, they will reinforce proper technique. The coach may give the parents others suggestions for at home practice, i.e. dribbling and passing (working on leading your partner).



Have the kids hold a ball for the stretches where it is appropriate. This increases the fun and familiarizes them with the ball so they won't be alarmed when the balls comes their way on game day.



Skill development will be implemented into soccer related games. Players will have the ball at their feet almost all of the time. Success is related to the attempt not the outcome. As a program, we get excited about the attempt, not the outcome (if the attempt is genuine the outcomes will continually get better). This is difficult, because we as coaches (and parents) are conditioned to see the end results.   An emphasis on technique rather than speed will be followed.



At this age, there will be less emphasis on progression than with older groups because they are too young to put several moves together successfully and they will get bored if there is not much variation between drills.  However, a new drill or soccer related game can work on the same type of skill.



 
Pre K –K age group (4/5 years old; 60 minutes 1 day per week)



 The objective of Swanton Recreations Pre K-K level  is for all of the kids to have fun, make friends, and learn some soccer skills that will help them should they decide to continue to the next level.   Our goal is to introduce them to basic concepts like dribbling and kicking while make it enough fun that they want to keep playing as their bodies and minds mature.  Coaching children under six years of age presents some additional challenges due to their immaturity, short attention span, and less developed muscles.   Our goal will be to introduce important soccer terms and phrases while working on basic skill development.



Practices and matches will be kept fun.  Games will be played that cause kids to learn skills, not "drills." If practice is fun, the kids will want to attend. Maximize touches on the ball per player in practice will be focused on.   Long lines will be avoided as the kids won't behave well while waiting for their turn to play the ball.



Pre K- K players will be split into 3 or 4 stations each week to work on specific skill development with one of the coaches for 8-10 minutes per station.  Each coach will be responsible for a station with players waiting for direction to go to the next activity.



 After the station portion of the day, players will meet with their coach and teammates to play a game against one of the other teams.  



 A small sided game with pop up goals will be used using the side lines as the goal lines.  Each team will have 4 players on the field at a time with no goalkeepers. (4 v 4 no GK’s)



(20-25 minute games)



Our goal is to have players receives many touches on the ball in each training session  and/or game.



A high degree of concentration will be placed on improving individual skills, i.e., dribbling, trapping, shielding the ball, shooting, getting around an opponent, etc.           Players will develop a good skill base this way.  Some passing will develop naturally if you play small-sided games, but passing at this age level will not be highly emphasized.



Skill development will be implemented into soccer related games. Players will have the ball at their feet almost all of the time. Success is related to the attempt not the outcome. As a program, we get excited about the attempt, not the outcome (if the attempt is genuine the outcomes will continually get better). This is difficult, because we as coaches (and parents) are conditioned to see the end results.   An emphasis on technique rather than speed will be followed.



At this age, there will be less emphasis on progression than with older groups because they are too young to put several moves together successfully and they will get bored if there is not much variation between drills.  However, a new drill or soccer related game can work on the same type of skill.



 



 Grades 1-2 (1 practice for 60 minutes & 1 game day per week (2 - 20 min halves)



 The objective of Swanton Recreations is for all of the kids to have fun, make friends, and learn some soccer skills that will help them should they decide to continue to the next level.   Our goal is to introduce them to basic concepts like dribbling and kicking while make it enough fun that they want to keep playing as their bodies and minds mature.  Our goal will be to introduce important soccer terms and phrases while working on basic skill development.  A sense of team, individual improvement and an understanding of the game will be the focus of the coaches at this level.



 Each team will have a coach and assistant/parent helper to conduct practices and games.



 Teams will play full field when playing games with age appropriate goals.  Each team will



  have 6 players on the field plus no goalkeepers (6 v 6 No GK’s).



 
Grades 3-4 (1) 60 minutes practice and 1-2 games per week



 The objective of Swanton Recreations is for all of the kids to have fun, make friends, and learn some soccer skills that will help them should they decide to continue to the next level.   Our goal is to build on the basic concepts like dribbling and kicking and make it enough fun that they want to keep playing as their bodies and minds mature.     Coaches will continue to incorporate important soccer concepts of the game while working on overall team chemistry and respect as well as personal skill development. 



 Each team will have a coach and assistant/parent helper to conduct practices and games.



 Teams will play full field when playing games with age appropriate goals.  Each team will
 have 6 players on the field plus a goalkeeper (7 v 7  which includes a Goalie).



 


Mandatory Coaches Clinic
  • This clinic is mandatory for anyone in all age groups who will be coaching or is willing to help a coach
  • Dates will be Monday August 22 and Thursday August 25 from 6-7:00 at the Swanton Rec upper field.
  • Please wear cleats or sneakers to run through some activities.
  • Instructor is Jon Nielsen

Soccer times
Every Saturdays starting August 27th-October15th 
Itty Bitty 9:00-10:00 AM
PreK/K 9:00-10:00 AM

Every Saturday Plus week day practices 
1st & 2nd grade every Saturday 10:00-11:00 AM. Additional practices will be determined by the coach

3rd-4th grade every Saturday 10:00-11:00 AM. Additional practices will be determined by the coach

Registration is opened to Swanton residents only unless your town does not offer a soccer program.

For Grade 3-4 we will be hosting a Soccer Jamboree TBD

Keep in mind that a coach may change the weekday practice from time to time. Coaches will inform you if there is any change.

Registrations close August 20, 2016.

For any registration cancellation there will be a $3.00 fee charged

* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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