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Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 24, 2015

6/23/2015

Tonight's Announcements

Hey everyone! It was a blast hanging out with so many of you last night at Flatbread. Last night's cancellation was a bummer, but we are super pumped about tonight's forecast and excited to see you all on the field!

Tonight's skill: Control, Throw-ins, & Dribbling (you will have some choice in your drills to combine last night and tonight's skillwork). Please look over yesterday's post to review the dribbling drills.
Tonight's theme: Perseverance
Please review your time slot: Logistics = 4:30pm, Registration & Lead Staff = 5pm, All other volunteers = 5:30pm, or 7pm
Parents' Game Tonight: tonight we'll have a special parents vs. coaches game starting at 8:10pm. Please pay close attention to the schedule listed below and make sure to listen for Brian's announcements during the night. Also please read the parents game how-to below.
After Hours Thursday - Volunteer Scrimmage: Tomorrow night after kids depart we will be having our traditional volunteer scrimmage on the field! Don't be shy if you're not a soccer player - this is a game for everyone and it's always a blast.
Assignment changes: I know we had to switch a few of you around last night due to some coaching holes, so thank you for being flexible. We will be making a few more changes tonight to ensure that each team is well-staffed and no coach is left by him/herself. If you have to move teams tonight, I apologize!
#soccernights2015 - if you have pictures from the week, post them using #soccernights2015 so we can see them! You can also tag @soccer_nights on twitter and instagram !

Tonight's Schedule

5:30PM: Registration, coaches warm up with kids
5:45PM: Coaching staff meets with Brian at bleachers to go over daily drills (in 2 shifts)
6:10PM: Large Group welcome (starting a bit early tonight)
6:30PM: Warm-ups & games in Division, skills demonstration (Skill: Dribbling & Controlling)
6:40PM: Team Time #1
6:45PM-7:10PM: Team Drill Work
7:10-7:15: Team Time #2
7:20PM: Scrimmages
7:45PM: Closing Large Group. Present “Heroes of the Night.” Teach Dance. (Parents and coaches playing in games, meet in center field with terry)
8:00PM: Dismiss to teams, set up for parents game, Team Time #3
8:10PM: Parents Game, kids seated in teams while snack is distributed
8:30PM: Check out in teams
8:45PM: Debriefing in Divisions
9:00PM: Large Group Debrief

Tonight's Skill: Control, Throw-ins, and Dribbling

Soccer Nights, Day 3: Controlling & Throw-ins from vineyardcommunityofferings on Vimeo.

**NOTE TO COACHES: Feel free to modify this and/ or do some different drills- as long as the kids are having fun and learning how to control the ball we are on the right track!

See also pages 13-18 of Soccer Curriculum Packet.

Coaching Skills to focus on:
CONTROLLING
1) Move your feet (be prepared)
2) Set up the next action

THROW-INS
1) Two hands
2) Bring ball all the way behind your head/neck
3) Keep both feet on the ground

Exercises/Drills
1) PAIR THROWS
Set Up: Partner Players up (by skill), Each set of partners gets a ball 3- 4 yards apart
Play: Player underhand tosses the ball to the other player
1.     Thigh trap
2.     Chest trap
3.     Headers (NOT IN CAMBRIDGE. ILLEGAL)
4.     Foot trap

2) THROW AND PASS
Set Up: (Same as drill 1, but pass to someone else, or dribble through cones)
Tips: Focus: Prepare your control, so you can do something with it after (pass to teammate, pass through cones)

3) THROW-INS
Set Up: Same as above, 5-10 yards apart
Play: Throw it in, throw back and forth
Focus on form (use two hands, all the way behind your head)
PROGRESSION:Throw it in to each other, trap/control it

Games
1) TOSS IN A BOX
Set Up: Make a big box, have players stand 15-20 yards away
Competition to see if players can throw ball, so that it stays in the box

2) WHO CAN THROW FARTHEST

3) TRAP IN A BOX
Have kids trap the ball in a box, keep making the box smaller
(point: focus on control)

Tonight's Theme: Perseverance

Team Time #1 (before drill work)

- ○ Review names, welcome new players
- - Recap last night’s goal
- - Set goal for the night!
- - possible goals:
  - - - Tonight as a team we will give 110% and challenge ourselves to keep going even when we are tired, or if we are losing and discouraged.
    - - We will individually identify something we really need work on (could be soccer skill or character/behavior related) and we’ll work hard to improve in that during the night.

○ Review Hero of the Night: VICE MAYOR BENZAN
■ talk about skit
■ How does VICE MAYOR BENZAN show PERSEVERANCE?

Team Time #2 (before scrimmage)

- Check in on team goal for the night:-
-- How are we doing so far?
- --what could we do to improve?
- -- if we’ve already reached it, what could we add to challenge ourselves?

--who has shown the value of PERSEVERANCE like VICE MAYOR BENZAN? when?
Team Time: #3 (after large group, while parents game is set up)

-Check in on team goal for the night:
- - --how did we do?
  - --what could we do to improve as a team for tomorrow?
  - -what did you learn tonight about controlling/throwins/dribbling? (1-2 ppl share)
- ---what did you learn tonight about perseverance? (1-2 ppl share)

--what did you learn tonight about our hero? (1-2 ppl share)

Tonight's Parents' Game: How it Works

When is the game, and who plays?
The Parents Game will be at approximately 8:10pm tonight, AFTER large group (we'll do large group early). We'll set up two fields, one on each half of the regular soccer field, with the goals on the sidelines. Games will be 10 v. 10, and can be either coaches vs. parents or coaches AND parents. It is vital that at least ONE coach from each team stays with the kids during the game. Coaches, unfortunately this means that not everyone can play in this game. Sorry! Fortunately we're having a volunteer scrimmage after programming tomorrow night where everyone can play!

Where are kids sitting?
Blue division = in teams, spaced out along outer perimeter of blue division area (end zone)
Orange division - in teams, spaced out between the two 40 yd lines
Green Division = in teams, spaced out along far end zone nearest to far end zone

How will team time, snack, & checkout work during parents game?
Before the parents game begins, coaches & assistant coaches should lead their teams to sit along the perimeter of the two fields, spaced out so that each team has its own space and is separate enough from other teams. Once teams are sitting together with whatever coach is NOT participating in the game, coaches should engage team in quick team time while waiting for snack volunteers to come and hand out snack to them in teams. Kids should NOT be running to get watermelon from the snack volunteers over near the division table. Snack will be brought TO teams when they are demonstrating they are ready (by sitting with their team ready to watch the game). While you wait for snack, talk to your team about how the night went and if you met your goal.

Check out: During the closing dance time, coaches not playing in game should go retrieve checkout clipboards from division area so you're ready to meet your teams when they are dismissed from large group. Check out tongiht is similar to other nights in that parents must check out with coaches. Parents who are not participating in the game may come sooner than those playing. Parents who are participating in the game may end up checking their kids out later than our normal time, as we usually let the game run a bit past 8:30.

Tips from Brian for how to occupy kids during Coaches/Parents game (for EVERYONE, not just coaches):
During the scrimmage there are a few things you can be doing with your division:

When your Division’s team has the ball, you can lead a cheer of Go, Go Go!!!
When they pass, you can get your team to say in unison, “What a pass?!!”
When someone on your team is dribbling, you can yell in unison, “Dribble, dribble, dribble”
Anytime your Division’s team takes a shot on goal, the whole team should do your Division’s cheer, which we practiced yesterday.
When you team is on Defense, you can get your team to cheer De- Fense! De- Fense! (Like the do at basketball games.) Or you can lead them in a cheer of “Heeeeeeeyyyy insert Division Name
... Get the ball back! Repeat this.
Additionally, each team should come up with a dance that they want to use in case your Division’s team scores a goal.
These are just some ideas, feel free to get creative and have fun!

Point System Reminder

Throughout the week, division leaders will keep track of points awarded to the teams in their divisions. Divisions will compete against each other for the most points at the end of the week, and the participants in the winning division will receive a small prize.

Ways to earn points

Team Time: Explained later, during team time teams will set a nightly goal. Coaches may award points for teams meeting their goal.

○      Completely met = 10 points
○      Majority of team met goal = 8 points
○      Partially met = 5 points

Awarding to individuals: coaches or division leaders may award points to individual participants for anything they see fit, including but not limited to the following:

○      embodying RRT (respect your coach, respect your teammates, try your hardest)
○      exceptional commitment to either theme or skill of the night
○      specific challenges during the night (e.g. making a drill harder or challenging a particular kid during the scrimmage to meet a specific goal for X amount of points)

Large Group Competitions:
○      Each night there will be competitions between divisions during opening large group (outlined later). Winning division will be allotted 10 points for the night.

Regulating Points
In past years we have had all divisions “compete” when in actuality they were all working together to reach a corporate goal. Thus, when different divisions had different economies for awarding points, it didn’t really matter. THis year as teams are actually competing, we’d like to strive for more consistency. I’ve suggested point values for some things (like nightly team goals and large group competitions), but additional points can be at the discretion of coaches and division leaders. While obviously each division will vary (especially at sites where some divisions have more teams than others), divisions should aim for somewhere in the 30-60 realm for points per night.

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Nightly Plan: Wednesday, July 25

7/25/2012

2 Comments

Tonight's Schedule - **please note some differences in red

5:30PM: Registration, coaches warm up with kids
5:45PM: Coaching staff meets with Brian at bleachers to go over daily drills (in 2 shifts)
6:10PM: Large Group welcome (starting a bit early tonight)
6:20PM: Warm-ups & games in Division, skills demonstration (Skill: Controlling & Throwins)
6:35PM: Small Group Curriculum (Theme: Trust)
7:55PM: Team Drill Work
7:20PM: Scrimmages
7:50PM: Closing Large Group. Present “Olympians of the Night.” Teach Dance.
8:00PM: Dismiss to teams, set up for parents game
8:10PM: Parents Game, kids seated in teams while snack is distributed
8:30PM: Check out
8:45PM: Debriefing in Divisions
9:00PM: Final Group Announcements
9:15PM: Volunteer Scrimmage

Tonight's Ways to “Go for the Gold” for Team Medals

Values Curriculum: Trust
1. Kids add trust ‘medals’ to division ring – team earns one medal if everyone adds a medal to the ring.
2. Teams earn 3 extra medals if they go through Jellyfish Jungle without hitting any jellyfish. Can earn 1 extra medal if they are working well together as a team.

Soccer Curriculum: Controlling & Throw-ins
1. Bring ball to a complete stop
2. Set up next action (shot, pass, run, etc)
Coaches may award team one medal for participating (as a whole team) in tonight's drill work with effort and teamwork, focusing on the two coaching points above.

Tonight's Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins

Ways to “go for the gold”
1) Bring the ball to a complete STOP
2) Set up the next action (shot, pass, run, etc.)

Controlling: Coaching Points

Move the controlling surface into line of the flight of the ball
Select early how you will control the ball (wedge or cushion)
Good first touch control (protect the ball if needed)
Make direct play possible by controlling the ball in direction of choice

Throw-ins: Coaching Points
Hold ball between two hands (hands spread to the side of the ball)

Take ball back so that it rests comfortably above and slightly behind the head
Keeping feet square and ON THE GROUND, arch backwards
RELEASING MOTION: straighten up, bring ball over the head, and release at highest point

Videos to use as reference:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDD9DF02717D5214F&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6HGHfR4bYA&feature=fvsr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0kGbG2jOnY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDXqDg4k9gQ&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfiEj1pcfnM&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxpmr1s90dI

1) Pass and Control ..... (set up a 10x10 grid)

S plays a pass to X who controls the ball and passes it back

Progression (for older age groups):

Have S throw the ball to different parts of X’s body
Add a defender behind X to play 50-75% and try to steal anything uncontrolled
Have S follow pass and attack X while X tries to shield the ball for 5 seconds

Emphasize:

Receiver to be light on feet and quick to move
Receiver to make decision quickly
Receiver to make a positive first touch - direct play back

2) Pass and Control #2 (set up a 10x10 grid)

S plays a pass to X who controls the ball and passes it back. After the pass, X makes a quick run behind O and awaits the next pass from S.

Progression (for older age groups):

Have O move to a new spot after each pass
Try to have players make as many control and passing movements in one minute!

Emphasize:

Receiver to be light on feet and quick to move
Receiver to make decisions quickly
Receiver to make a positive first touch - direct play back

3) Foot Control from Balls in the Air (set up a 15x15 grid)

X players are all in the grid with a ball in their hands
On their own time, players should toss the ball and control it with their feet

Progression (for older age groups):

Control using outside part of both feet
Control using inside part of both feet
Control using laces of both feet
Control using sole of both feet

Emphasize:

Players to control ball as close to ground as possible
Players TIMING of foot movement over the ball

4) Control and Shoot (set up a 15x20 grid)

In front of a goal, set up players so that the pass they receive must be controlled in the direction of the goal for a shot.
Adjust the position of the server (S) so that X must control and shoot through a variety of angles.

Progression (for older age groups):

Have X’s start outside the area and run into the area to receive the pass from S and finish with a shot
Add a passive defender to run in with X for added pressure

Emphasize:

Looking for X to control and set up the shot
Looking for X to get shot off with one touch only

5) Throw-ins (set up a 10x10 grid)

S throws to X who controls the ball with the feet and passes it back

Progression (for older age groups):

Give S the opportunity to have a little run up (drag the back foot!)
Have X move away from S initially, then “cut back” to S for the throw
Add a defender behind X to play 50-75% and try to steal anything uncontrolled

Emphasize:

S to throw with a good technique

CONTROLLING GAMES

Around the Clock
Head! Catch!

THROW-IN GAMES

Get team together and set out markers. See who can...

Throw the ball farthest
Be the most accurate

Soccer Basketball

--Divide group in half
--Players may only take three steps with the ball
--All throws must be using correct throw-in technique
--One point for a goal scored directly from a throw
--Two points for anyone who can score the ball from header

Tonight's Value: Trust!

Today's Goals: Go for the gold – Let's trust each other!

Participants learn definition of trust and what it can look like.
Participants learn the importance of trust in relationships.
Participants learn the connection between trust and going for the gold.

Today's Connection to Go for the Gold:
Trusting others and being someone other people can trust is very important both on and off the field. When we can trust people it means we can be in relationship with them and work together, and being in community is always better than being alone. Being someone others can trust means you are honest and dependable, two marks of having good character. Having good character and being community allow us to become better friends, better teammates, better members of our families, and better neighbors, which is what going for the gold is all about.

Introduce Today's Theme: Let's Trust each other!
Say: So far this week we have learned how two different things about us are very important - what are those things? NAMES & HOMES. Tonight we are going to learn how to Go for the Gold with TRUST.
Who can tell me what it means to trust someone?
(e.g. if you feel safe with them, if you know they respect and care about you, if you know you can tell them something and they won't tell anyone else, if you know they want you to succeed, etc...). These are all examples of trust. To go for the gold as individuals and teams we want others to be able to trust us and we want to be able to trust others. We can start right now at Soccer Nights. To work together as a team on and off the field we need to be able to trust our teammates.
So we are going to play a game called “Jellyfish Jungle” where it will be very important that we trust each other, and also that we practice using each other's names to encourage one another to succeed!

Today's Activity:

Younger Divisions: Jellyfish Jungle Conga Line

Set up an “obstacle course” for each team. You can be creative with this. Use cones, pinnies, balls, etc. to create a course that groups of kids will go through.
Within teams kids are divided into groups of fours. These teams of 4 will form a mini conga line where the person in front has to lead everyone through the obstacle course. (Note: for the 2nd-3rd graders, you can make the conga line longer and make everyone but the leader closes their eyes to make it more difficult).
Say: “In front of you is an obstacle course. Each group needs to go through their obstacle course together, starting from here where I'm standing to the other side where Coach _______ is standing. Sound easy? But wait. I think I'm forgetting something. Oh, that's right. You are going to be going through the obstacle course in a CONGA LINE. Who knows what a conga line is? (Demonstrate with other volunteers - kids should have hands on the shoulder of the person in front of them, as tight as possible, so they are only looking at the back of the person in front of them.)
One of you will be the leader and will lead your line through the course, trying not to touch any of the jellyfish. The rest of you will have to trust the leader's direction. Coaches will be watching to see if you are peeking from the back of the line. Try not to look but instead listen closely to the leader and follow what they do. Trust that they can see and will lead your line through to the other side.
Model the course for them with a few other volunteers showing them how to go through oraround obstacles (cones, balls, pinnies) without touching them. Tell them that if their WHOLE team goes through the obstacle course without touching any of the“jellyfish,” they will get 3 extra bonus medals to add toward the camp goal of an ice cream party! But they'll only get these bonus points if EVERYONE goes through without touching.

So what is this going to take? We're going to have to TRUST each other. If you are blindfolded you need to trust your teammate leading you through, and if you are leading someone you need to speak to them clearly and lead them in the right direction so that they can trust you.
Ok? Let's play!
Send the first conga line out, and depending on pace and timing you can either wait until they are back to send the next group or you can send the 2nd set when the 1st set is half way out (with the latter the lines will end up crossing paths but this will just increase need for trust and communication). Also if you have smaller teams and want to have your whole team make one line that works too.
If time allows, once the lines go through, switch up leaders.

Older Divisions: Jellyfish Jungle

Set up 4 (or however many teams in division) “obstacle courses.” You can be creative with this. Use cones, pinnies, balls, etc. to create a course that kids will have to go through blindfolded led by a partner. (note: if your teams are large, feel free to make more than 1 course per team to save on time)
Within teams kids are divided into pairs. Have your team line up in their pairs.

Say: “In front of you is an obstacle course. Each team needs to go through their obstacle course together, starting from here where I’m standing to the other side where Coach _______ is standing. Each team in the division will go at the same time and you’ll be racing to see which team can everybody through the course first. Sound easy? But wait. I think I’m forgetting something. Oh, that’s right. ONE person from each pair will be blindfolded and will not be able to see! That means that the partner without the blindfold will have to lead his or her teammate through the obstacle course.
Model the course for them with another volunteer showing them how to go through oraround obstacles (cones, balls, pinnies) without touching them. Tell them that if their WHOLE team goes through the obstacle course without touching any of the “jellyfish,” they will get 3 extra bonus medals to add toward the camp goal 400 for a surprise! But they’ll only get these bonus points if EVERYONE goes through without touching.
Say: So what is this going to take? We’re going to have to TRUST each other. If you are blindfolded you need to trust your teammate leading you through, and if you are leading someone you need to speak to them clearly and lead them in the right direction so that they can trust you.
Ok? Let’s play!
Send the first group of partners out, and depending on pace and timing you can either wait until they are back to send the next set of pairs or you can send the 2nd set when the 1st set is halfway out (with the latter the pairs will end up crossing paths but this will just increase need for trust and communication).
If time allows, once the pairs go through, have them switch who is blindfolded to have both experiences, as this will help them better understand each other and both have the experience of trusting without seeing.
Coaches or assistant coaches should give tips to pairs that are struggling on how to better communicate.

NO RING ACTIVITY TONIGHT. TEAM PICTURES WILL BE TAKEN DURING THE NIGHT INSTEAD.

Curriculum Team should collect medals and glue them to division ring.

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Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 27

6/27/2012

0 Comments

Tonight's Schedule

5:30PM: Registration, coaches warm up with kids
5:45PM: Coaching staff meets with Brian at bleachers to go over daily drills (in 2 shifts)
6:15PM: Large Group welcome – curriculum intro, juggling contest by division
6:30PM: Warm-ups & games in Division, skills demonstration (Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins)
6:50PM: Team Drill Work
7:20PM: Small Group Curriculum (Theme: Trust!)
7:40PM: Scrimmages
8:15PM: Camp Conclusion. Present “Gold Medalists of the Night.” Teach Dance.
8:25PM: Snack dismissal
8:30PM: Check out
8:45PM: Debriefing in Divisions
9:00PM: Final Group Announcements

Tonight's Ways to “Go for the Gold” for Team Medals

Tonight's Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins

Ways to “go for the gold”
1) Bring the ball to a complete STOP
2) Set up the next action (shot, pass, run, etc.)

Controlling: Coaching Points

Move the controlling surface into line of the flight of the ball
Select early how you will control the ball (wedge or cushion)
Good first touch control (protect the ball if needed)
Make direct play possible by controlling the ball in direction of choice

Throw-ins: Coaching Points
Hold ball between two hands (hands spread to the side of the ball)

Take ball back so that it rests comfortably above and slightly behind the head
Keeping feet square and ON THE GROUND, arch backwards
RELEASING MOTION: straighten up, bring ball over the head, and release at highest point

S plays a pass to X who controls the ball and passes it back

Progression (for older age groups):

Have S throw the ball to different parts of X’s body
Add a defender behind X to play 50-75% and try to steal anything uncontrolled
Have S follow pass and attack X while X tries to shield the ball for 5 seconds

Emphasize:

Receiver to be light on feet and quick to move
Receiver to make decision quickly
Receiver to make a positive first touch - direct play back

2) Pass and Control #2 (set up a 10x10 grid)

S plays a pass to X who controls the ball and passes it back. After the pass, X makes a quick run behind O and awaits the next pass from S.

Progression (for older age groups):

Have O move to a new spot after each pass
Try to have players make as many control and passing movements in one minute!

Emphasize:

Receiver to be light on feet and quick to move
Receiver to make decisions quickly
Receiver to make a positive first touch - direct play back

3) Foot Control from Balls in the Air (set up a 15x15 grid)

X players are all in the grid with a ball in their hands
On their own time, players should toss the ball and control it with their feet

Progression (for older age groups):

Control using outside part of both feet
Control using inside part of both feet
Control using laces of both feet
Control using sole of both feet

Emphasize:

Players to control ball as close to ground as possible
Players TIMING of foot movement over the ball

4) Control and Shoot (set up a 15x20 grid)

In front of a goal, set up players so that the pass they receive must be controlled in the direction of the goal for a shot.
Adjust the position of the server (S) so that X must control and shoot through a variety of angles.

Progression (for older age groups):

Have X’s start outside the area and run into the area to receive the pass from S and finish with a shot
Add a passive defender to run in with X for added pressure

Emphasize:

Looking for X to control and set up the shot
Looking for X to get shot off with one touch only

5) Throw-ins (set up a 10x10 grid)

S throws to X who controls the ball with the feet and passes it back

Progression (for older age groups):

Give S the opportunity to have a little run up (drag the back foot!)
Have X move away from S initially, then “cut back” to S for the throw
Add a defender behind X to play 50-75% and try to steal anything uncontrolled

Emphasize:

S to throw with a good technique

CONTROLLING GAMES

Around the Clock
Head! Catch!

THROW-IN GAMES

Get team together and set out markers. See who can...

Throw the ball farthest
Be the most accurate

Soccer Basketball

Tonight's Value: Trust!

Today's Goals: Go for the gold – Let's trust each other!

Participants learn definition of trust and what it can look like.
Participants learn the importance of trust in relationships.
Participants learn the connection between trust and going for the gold.

Today's Activity:

Younger Divisions: Jellyfish Jungle Conga Line

Set up an “obstacle course” for each team. You can be creative with this. Use cones, pinnies, balls, etc. to create a course that groups of kids will go through.
Within teams kids are divided into groups of fours. These teams of 4 will form a mini conga line where the person in front has to lead everyone through the obstacle course. (Note: for the 2nd-3rd graders, you can make the conga line longer and make everyone but the leader closes their eyes to make it more difficult).
Say: “In front of you is an obstacle course. Each group needs to go through their obstacle course together, starting from here where I'm standing to the other side where Coach _______ is standing. Sound easy? But wait. I think I'm forgetting something. Oh, that's right. You are going to be going through the obstacle course in a CONGA LINE. Who knows what a conga line is? (Demonstrate with other volunteers - kids should have hands on the shoulder of the person in front of them, as tight as possible, so they are only looking at the back of the person in front of them.)
One of you will be the leader and will lead your line through the course, trying not to touch any of the jellyfish. The rest of you will have to trust the leader's direction. Coaches will be watching to see if you are peeking from the back of the line. Try not to look but instead listen closely to the leader and follow what they do. Trust that they can see and will lead your line through to the other side.
Model the course for them with a few other volunteers showing them how to go through or around obstacles (cones, balls, pinnies) without touching them. Tell them that if their WHOLE team goes through the obstacle course without touching any of the“jellyfish,” they will get 3 extra bonus medals to add toward the camp goal of an ice cream party! But they'll only get these bonus points if EVERYONE goes through without touching.

Set up 4 (or however many teams in division) “obstacle courses.” You can be creative with this. Use cones, pinnies, balls, etc. to create a course that kids will have to go through blindfolded led by a partner. (note: if your teams are large, feel free to make more than 1 course per team to save on time)
Within teams kids are divided into pairs. Have your team line up in their pairs.

Say: “In front of you is an obstacle course. Each team needs to go through their obstacle course together, starting from here where I’m standing to the other side where Coach _______ is standing. Each team in the division will go at the same time and you’ll be racing to see which team can everybody through the course first. Sound easy? But wait. I think I’m forgetting something. Oh, that’s right. ONE person from each pair will be blindfolded and will not be able to see! That means that the partner without the blindfold will have to lead his or her teammate through the obstacle course.
Model the course for them with another volunteer showing them how to go through or around obstacles (cones, balls, pinnies) without touching them. Tell them that if their WHOLE team goes through the obstacle course without touching any of the “jellyfish,” they will get 3 extra bonus medals to add toward the camp goal 400 for a surprise! But they’ll only get these bonus points if EVERYONE goes through without touching.
Say: So what is this going to take? We’re going to have to TRUST each other. If you are blindfolded you need to trust your teammate leading you through, and if you are leading someone you need to speak to them clearly and lead them in the right direction so that they can trust you.
Ok? Let’s play!
Send the first group of partners out, and depending on pace and timing you can either wait until they are back to send the next set of pairs or you can send the 2nd set when the 1st set is halfway out (with the latter the pairs will end up crossing paths but this will just increase need for trust and communication).
If time allows, once the pairs go through, have them switch who is blindfolded to have both experiences, as this will help them better understand each other and both have the experience of trusting without seeing.
Coaches or assistant coaches should give tips to pairs that are struggling on how to better communicate.

5. Ring Activity
Wow! It can be hard to trust each other. Even if we believe they will always try to help and protect us, it is still scary walking through an obstacle course not being able to see. I want everyone to take a marker and write down a word or two that describes how you were feeling either when you were blindfolded or when you were leading.

Curriculum Team should collect medals and glue them to division ring.

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Soccer Nights

Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Tonight's Announcements

Tonight's Schedule

Tonight's Skill: Control, Throw-ins, and Dribbling

Tonight's Theme: Perseverance

Team Time #1 (before drill work)

Tonight's Parents' Game: How it Works

Point System Reminder

Nightly Plan: Wednesday, July 25

Tonight's Schedule - **please note some differences in red

Tonight's Ways to “Go for the Gold” for Team Medals

Tonight's Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins

Tonight's Value: Trust!

Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 27

Tonight's Schedule

Tonight's Ways to “Go for the Gold” for Team Medals

Tonight's Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins

Tonight's Value: Trust!

Hello from Soccer Nights

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Soccer Nights

Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Tonight's Announcements

Tonight's Schedule

Tonight's Skill: Control, Throw-ins, and Dribbling

Tonight's Theme: Perseverance Team Time #1 (before drill work)

Tonight's Parents' Game: How it Works

﻿Point System Reminder﻿

Nightly Plan: Wednesday, July 25

Tonight's Schedule - **please note some differences in red

Tonight's Ways to “Go for the Gold” for Team Medals

Tonight's Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins

Tonight's Value: Trust!

Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 27

Tonight's Schedule

Tonight's Ways to “Go for the Gold” for Team Medals

Tonight's Skill: Controlling&Throw-ins

Tonight's Value: Trust!

Hello from Soccer Nights

Archives

Categories

Tonight's Theme: Perseverance

Team Time #1 (before drill work)

Point System Reminder