First Touch Guide

First Touch Guide

First Touch Guide

First Touch Academy sessions will consist of 20-30 minutes of training and about a 30 minute match. Matches will be 3v3 or 4v4 on a small field with no goalkeeper. Teams will be formed after the training, usually 4-5 players to a team. Please encourage parent assistance to help with the players from the sideline.

Every player should bring a ball, because for most of the training every player will be working with their own ball at their feet. This maximizes the learning of foot skills, which is the first route to enjoying soccer. Mostchildrenatthisagehaveshortattentionspans,andmaynotwanttofullyparticipateduringasession,andthatisokay.Somesessionstheywillbeintoit,andsomesessionstheywillnotwanttoparticipateatall,whichisfine. Forcingachildtoparticipatewillmakethemonlydislikeplayingthegamefurther. Take frequent breaks during the training for water. Each drill/training activity should be done for no more than 5 minutes, and the whole training should be around 20-30 minutes. Then move on to the matches.

Matches are played 3 v 3 or 4 v 4. There are no goalkeepers. Begin by making sure the players know who their teammates are, and which direction they are trying to go. Roll the ball into the middle and play begins (no kickoff). If the ball goes out of bounds, a coachplaces a new ballon the touch line (sideline) and play continues. Other soccer rules are loosely applied, with the aim being to keep the kids playing rather than enforcing rules that they do not understand. The games consist of four 6-minute quarters. Score is not kept in these games – remember the only purpose is to have fun!

One coach should be on the field with the players, to encourage both teams. Learn the names of the players and help them to get involved. It’s really not a competition at this age. Keep the game moving, and feel free to throw the ball to a player on restart who is not very active. If every player in the game scores a goal at some point, then everyone will go home happy.Keep track of time and take plenty of breaks, especially on a hot day. There will be times when a player wants a break, or is just not interested in playing. Keep the other players playing and try to get the non-participant back after a minute or two.Important: if the game is a mismatch, then change the teams. During matches, emphasis should be on players making decisions on the field by coaches limiting their coaching points to natural stoppages (in between quarters) and ensuring the players learn the game as they play. Limit coaching points to one preferably, no more than two, at each break.

Note:“Wrong way”goalsare abigger deal fortheparentsthatthekids.Don’t makeabig dealout ofit,and ifit isthe onlygoal thechild hasscoredthisyear, givehim abig cheer.

After about60 minutes (including practice time), it is time to wrap up. Try to make sure each child goes home feeling good about the experience. Remember, they are only 2.5 to 3 and they will not always want to participate fully!

Objectives for First Touch Academy

  • Dribbling (main focus weeks 1-3 and continually focused on all season)
  • Shooting and Running with the ball
  • Ball control and turning

First Touch Priorities

  • Dribbling
  • Footskills (focus on just teaching the proper movement)
  • Have FUN!!

Soccerfor2-3yearoldsiscompletelyabouthavingfunandgettingthemusedtohavinga

ballattheirfeet.Play training gamesthat engagetheirimaginationsandhopefully getmostofthemparticipating.Besuretoencourageyourparentstobeactiveduringtraining.Havingthemparticipatecanhelptheshykidsgetinvolved.Thereisnothingseriousaboutsocceratthislevel.Makeitfunandbeenthusiastic!That’sallyouneedforthemtohaveagoodtime!

ExampleTraining

Warm-up Ideas

Kidsthisagedon’ttakelongtowarmup,butwewillalwaysbeginwithsomefunexercises.

  • Circle time to review each other’s name. Get them to state their favorite color.
  • Review how to dribble, NO NO MR. BIG TOE and then begin to dribble around in training space (half pitch).
  • Footskills (some should be done every week!)
  • Toe‐Touches
  • Tick‐Tock/Pendulum (Penguin)
  • Pull backs
  • Rollovers
  • Dribbling around the training area
  • Touching/tapping the ball with all parts of the foot (inside, outside, laces, soles)

Activity Example1:RedLight,GreenLight

Everyonetakesaballintothetraining area.Coachsays“GreenLight”andtheplayersmustdribbletheballaround,stayinginsidethearea.Thismakesthemchangedirectionfrequently.Coachsays“RedLight”andeachplayermuststopwithafootontheball.Thekidsenjoythesuddeninstructions,andlearntokeeptheballclosetothem.Oncetheyhavestoppedwithafootontheball,havethemrolltheballbackandforthwiththesoleofthefoot,thensidetosideandaroundincircles–thenrepeatwiththeotherfoot.

Activity Example 2:DribbleandShoot

Thisissimplytoprepareforthegame.Eachplayertakesaturnatdribblingtheballthelengthofthefieldandintothegoal.Discouragealongshotwiththetoe,andhavethem usetheinsideofthefoot,sotheyfeelwheretheballshouldtouchthefoot.Thisdrillgivesthemtheconfidencethattheycandoitduringthegame,somakesuretheyeventually gettheballintothegoal,evenifittakesseveraltries. Use multiple disk goals on different sides or different locations on the same lines to get multiple players playing at once and to avoid lines.

First Touch Focus on Dribbling

Thefirsttechniquethatchildrenshouldlearnisdribbling.Theabilitytodribbleisabsolutelycriticalsincedribblingisthefoundationskillandpreparationforalltheotherfundamentaltechniquesofsoccer,suchasreceiving,passingandshooting.

Whenplayersarereceivingtheballandmakingpreparationtouchespriortopassingorshooting,theyareessentiallyengagedinamini‐dribble.

Youngplayersneedtolearntodribblewithinavarietyofplayingsituations,suchasdribblingforwardunopposed,changingspeedanddirectionwiththeball,shieldingtheballfromopponents,dribblingpastanopponent,anddribblingtogetawayfrompressure.Alimitedabilitytodribbleleadstoalimitedrangeofpassingorshooting.Therearealsotimesinthegame,whentheplayerwiththeballhasnopassingoptionsandtheonlywayoutoftightpressureistodribble.

Asidefromthefactthatdribblingformsthefoundationforalltheotherskills,therearemanyotherreasonswhyweneedtofocusondribblingatU‐4/U‐7.Firstofall,ittakesyearstobecomeacomfortableandconfidentdribbler.Playershavetolearntocombinebodycontrol,agility,coordinationandbalancewiththemechanicsofdribblingandthesoonertheystartthebetter.Justlikeanycomplexbio‐mechanicalskillsuchasskatingorgymnastics,thelateryoustart,theharderitistoachieveperfectform.Secondly,theprocessoflearningtodribbleinvolvestrialanderror.Atfirst,theplayers’rudimentaryattemptsatdribblingwilloftenresultinfailureastheydiscoverthecontrastbetweenasofttouchandahardtouchontheball.Theplayerswillslowlydevelopa‘feel’fortheballastheyexperimentatcontrollingandpropellingit.

Youngplayersdon’tgetdiscouragedeasilyiftheydon’tsucceed.Playersofthisagedonotpossesstheanalyticalthoughtprocesstolookbackorthinkahead.Theyliveforthemoment,inthehereandnow,andthefactthatthelasttimetheytriedtodribbleitdidn’tworkwillnotevenentertheirminds.Butifwewaitfortheplayerstomaturebeforeweemphasizedribbling,manyofthemwilllosetheirconfidenceiftheydonotsucceedandwillbecomereluctanttodribble.

Thirdly,in3v3and4v4play,thefieldsaresosmallthatdribblingisalwaysanoptionsincetheballisalwaysjustafewyardsawayfromshootingrange.Oncethegamemovestothelargersizedfields,dribblingbecomeslesseffectiveonitsownandmustbecombinedwithpassingtogettheballfrompointAtopointB.Andlastly,it’sbettertogothroughtheprocessoftrialanderrorwhengameresultsarenotimportantandstandingsarenotkept.AttheU‐10andolderages,gameresultsassumemoreimportance,makingithardfortheparentsandcoachestoshowpatienceandtoleranceformistakes,andputtingaddedpressureonplayersto‘getridoftheball’ratherthanrisklosingit.Oncegamesbecomecompetitive,theresultantenvironmentisnotidealtostartlearninghowtodribble.

Dribbling the ball with the feet is the most important skill to acquire. Dribbling is essentially a series of small touches on the ball with your feet. Practicing this skill should be incorporated into every session. Tips:

  • Make sure that players keep the ball close to their feet by reminding them that it’s like “keeping a puppy on a leash.” Tell them that they don’t want to let their puppy run away.
  • Keep your head up / try not to run into anyone – This builds field awareness. If a player is staring at their feet, they will run into someone at some point (remember that accidents do happen, so just encourage them to keep their head up at all times). Give players space on the pitch to help them avoid others while learning to keep their head up.
  • Dribbling is NOT kicking and chasing the ball.
  • Encourage them to use both feet.
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