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Soccer Parents KICK, November 2003 -- Soccer for Christmas??
October 30, 2003
Hi,

Soccer season continues but at a more measured pace.

We are approaching the end of the season in Arkansas and attention is starting to shift to the holidays.

Toward that end I have been quizzing my 10 year-old on what he wants for Christmas. Not much, of course. I hope you find his suggestions helpful.

As always, email me if you have a content suggestion for an upcoming newsletter.

Table of Contents

1. HELP WANTED!
2. A FREE Audio Download
3. The Laws of The Game – Two-touch Rule
4. Help for Parents – Christmas Ideas from a Soccer Kid
5. Four Corners - Dribbling and Vision

1. HELP WANTED!

Does your local soccer league have skill guidelines for the volunteer youth soccer coaches? These are guidelines that give a description of the knowledge and skills a soccer player should have for their particular level.

For example, after one year at U-6 a child should have the following skills:

I have searched high and low on the web and haven’t found any suggestions for this type of a guideline at the U-5 to U-12 levels. If you have any suggestions or know of some existing guidelines please let me know. I am actively working to develop these guidelines for my local soccer league for the Spring Season.

Thanks for your help!

2. A FREE Audio Download

Last but not least, I was able to obtain a sample of Coach Karl Dewazien explaining the Laws of the Game. This file is the first 15 minutes of a two-hour discourse on soccer rules and covers the first three Laws of the Game:

  • The Field of Play
  • The Ball
  • The Number of Players

    Click HERE for the file. (mp3 format)

    My own review of Koach Karl’s FIFA audio files and access to all of the files can be found on my review page.

    3. The Laws of The Game – Two-touch Rule

    This is the second part of a new series I have started on The Laws of The Game. Each newsletter will have a section on the Laws and a simple description of how they apply to youth soccer.

    Two-touch Rule

    A player cannot touch the ball twice in a row when putting the ball in play. You will see this called many times in youth soccer. It applies everywhere. You will see it frequently on kick-offs or direct and indirect kicks. If a kid barely hits the ball and decides to take another swipe at it, that is a two-touch.

    This also applies to throw-ins. A kid cannot throw the ball in and then kick it. Nope. No way. No can do.

    An infraction of the two-touch rule results in an indirect free kick for the other team.

    For a more complete discussion of soccer rules visit the Soccer Rule Page.

    If you really want to learn the rules yourself you should try the two-hour audio download of youth soccer expert Karl Dewazien explaining the Laws of The Game. Check out my review and you will see why I can recommend this without qualification!

    4. Help for Parents – Christmas Ideas from a Soccer Kid

    About a week ago the grandparents started bugging my son, Dustin, for Christmas ideas.

    Of course Dustin said he really didn’t want anything for Christmas. NOT!

    He promptly sat down and put together a list of his “most wanted” soccer items. Naturally I was interested in the list as well since we all need help sometimes with Christmas ideas.

    Then it hit me.

    ALL parents need ideas for Christmas. Even better, most parents would like to know what their kids want for Christmas without asking them. Isn’t it better to get a present you really, really like but didn’t ask for? Of course it is!

    Well, here you go. I have posted my 10 year-old son’s Christmas wish list along with the cheapest and best online sources I could find. I hope this helps you out.

    5. Four Corners – Dribbling and Vision

    Here is a game that has several good teaching points around vision while dribbling. This should work well at the U-10 to U-12 level. I wouldn’t run this exercise too long, maybe 5-10 minutes.

    Courtesy of http://www.NASL.com

    Four Corners – Dribbling and Vision

    Originally posted on the SoccerClub Website

    Have players form 4 lines each at one corner of a 30x30 or 40x40 square. The first player in each line has a ball.

    On the coach's signal the first player dribbles diagonally across the square to the other side. Ideally, players will meet somewhere in the middle of the square and if they don't keep their eyes up, they will run into each other. After passing the middle players continue on to the opposite corner where they give a short pass to the next player. Then all 4 of those players go.

    If run continually this can be a pretty good workout, because it goes pretty fast.

    Variations:

  • Have players do a "move" somewhere in the middle.
  • Have players change speed as they go across square.
  • Have players use different parts of their foot or their weak foot.
  • Have each group try to "pass" the person in front of them. (This messes up the timing of the meeting in the middle, but encourages speedier dribbling and accurate passes.
  • Just for fun, have them try to dribble across with their eyes closed and teammates must direct them, or they can try to juggle their way across.

    From: Jane Shields U-12 Girls Hamilton Heights Youth Soccer (Indiana)

    More soccer drill resources can be found on the Soccer Drill Page.

    Until next time.

    Randy

    P.S. The New Year is fast approaching and the 2004 soccer calendars have arrived! A great idea for soccer fans, both the men’s and women’s U.S. National Soccer Team have pictures of your favorite players in action. Check them out on the Soccer Gift Page.

    Pass It On - Feel free to KICK the newsletter downfield to any friends, parents, or coaches who could use the information.

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