Westside Warriors Soccer Club
Micro-Soccer Program
Westside Warriors Micro-soccer program is two fold, learning the basics of soccer through high repetitions and creative exercises. In micro-soccer the main emphasis is on teaching, not coaching, to learn from teachers not coaches. The very basics of soccer through creative exercises and high repetitions with the ball and ultimately the “best teacher of the game” which is the game itself.
The natural progression in life, begins at birth where the mother is the primary influence in a child’s life. This lasts until age 8 when the father becomes a main influence. After this, the peers become the influences and at 14 and over outside figures such as coaches take on this extremely important responsibility. Up until this 14+ age group, we have to have the mindset of a teacher, who is teaching students the most important and basic fundamentals of the game.
Program needs to be all inclusive
Fundamentals of Soccer
Development of motor skills
Synchronization
The Building Blocks of SoccerCoordination
Agility
Skill building
Nutrition
And eventually the game
“The game becomes the teacher”
“Creating a environment to learn the game”
“Taking a different approach”
Becoming the teacher, not the coach
In the “micro program” the main emphasis is on teaching
Format of a training session
Format for first four training sessions
6:00 – 6:10 Warm up & stretch out
6:10 – 6:30 Exercise 1(Working in Lines)
6:30 – 6:45 Exercise 2 (Every Player with a ball)
6:45 – 7:00 Fun Game (cool down)(Soccer Wars)
The goal of using the two exercises is to build the players confidence with the ball.
Include water breaks at the end of each exercise and game.
On a tighter schedule it becomes more effective to have each exercise set up and ready to go, before each training session.
Format for the next four weeks Games & Training sessions
6:00 – 6:10 Warm up & stretch out
6:10 – 6:30 Exercise 1(Every Player with a ball)
6:30 – 7:00 Game (3 v 3)
“Working in Lines”
1st Organizational Drill
Player = X
Cones = O
XXXXXOOO
XXXXXOOO
XXXXXOOO
Players line up in one line
Cones are 5 yards apart; each line is 4 yards apart
Each player goes to the cones, and as directed, can go around, circle and come back or proceed to next cone.
Emphasis is on the process.
Coaches’ points to make:
Learning to organize
Developing coordination
Developing motor skills
Learning to communicate
Learning teamwork
Learning leadership
Create a creative environment. Stimulate players. IF you want the players to be creative, the teacher must be creative.
The different variations to use…
1.)Running with no ball
2.)Carrying the ball
3.)Hold ball on top of head
4.)Hold ball behind back
5.)Hold ball between knees
6.)Hold ball between feet (hoping)
7.)With a partner hold ball chest to chest
8.)With a partner hold ball back to back
Continued on next page…
9.)Dribbling with ball, inside of right foot(to first cone and back)
10.)Dribbling with ball, inside of left foot(to first cone and back)
11.)Dribbling with ball, outside right foot(to first cone and back)
12.)Dribbling with ball, outside left foot(to first cone and back)
13.)Repeat 9-12 going to second cone
14.)Dribbling with ball, inside of right foot, go to first cone (do 360) and go to second cone, another 360 and return to line
15.)Dribbling with ball, inside of left foot, go to first cone (do 360) and go to second cone, another 360 and return to line
16.)Dribbling with ball, outside right foot, go to first cone (do 360) and go to second cone, another 360 and return to line
17.)Dribbling with ball, outside left foot, go to first cone (do 360) and go to second cone, another 360 and return to line
18.)Combination, do above using both feet.
19.)Speed dribble, dribble to cone and leave it, return, second player retrieve ball and return, this can be expanded on by not using a ball, and carrying ball.
“Every Player with a ball”
25 YARDS
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*** PLEASE NOTE, THE BELOW MENTIONED HEADING EXERCISES ARE TO DEVELOP WHERE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PLAYERS FOREHEAD ON THE BALL, IT IS NOT TO BE A HIGH IMPACT EXERCISE**
1.)Ball in hand, head ball as you cross to other line and back, 4 times
- This is not a race
- Bring ball to head, bring head to ball, arch back towards ball
- Find spot on forehead, just above eyebrows
2.)Throw ball in air and head, 4 times
- Find spot on forehead, just below hairline
3.)Hold ball, bring thigh up to ball, find spot on middle of thigh to hit ball straight back up in the air to catch, right leg 2 times, left leg 2 times
4.)Combination, use both thighs down and back 2 times, down left and right, back right and left
5.)With the feet, drop ball, volley back up to hands with right foot
6.)With the feet, drop ball, volley back up to hands with left foot
- Curl toes back
- Bend knees slightly
- Flick ball back towards you
- Keep feet low
- Do 4 times
7.)Drop ball, volley straight up in the air, step forward and catch the ball, right foot, 4 times
- Drop ball, volley straight up in the air, step forward and catch the ball, left foot, 4 times Toes pointed out
- Foot is flat
- Knees are more bent
- Foot is higher off the ground
Continued on next page…
8.)Dribbling, down and back, Right foot 2 times, left foot 2 times
- Use inside and outside of the foot
- Not kick and chase, one step one touch
- Check that ball stays inches away from the feet
9.) Dribbling with whistle, when you blow the whistle, player turns 360 first with the inside of right foot, and then with the inside of
left foot, 2 times each
10.)Same as 9 but with outside of right and left foot
- Keep knees bent
- Arms out for balance, and protection of the ball
- To be more flexible and agile
- Lower center of gravity
- Helps to develop twisting action with center of torso
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