Activities: Mentored Street Soccer
We have an exciting program that is based on a core activity of
minimally supervised pickup play where players spend 1 to 11/2 ours
playing fiercely competitive but fun soccer with their friends.
We call this activity Free Play. A typical Free Play session will
go as follows:
- We begin our session with a brief technical training session.
Typically, the session lasts about 15 minutes and focuses on a
single technique. Players will try the technique as well as observe
the mentors demonstrations. Finally, they will play a fun game
where they attempt to apply the technique.
- After the technical training session, we assign players to fields
for games. Friends and schoolmates will always go to the same
field (unless they choose otherwise).
- Each field will also have at least one coach or mentor. A mentor
will typically be either an older middle school or high school
player. The coaches and mentors will generally play with the kids
teaching through example and encouragement.
- With the assistance of the coaches, the players will pick sides
and start playing. Everybody will play (i.e., no substitutes).
- During the game, the players are also free to go off the field
whenever they need to (e.g., get a quick drink). They are encouraged
to make smart decisions about this (e.g., if the "sweeper"
goes to get a drink, someone else may shift back).
- Play will consist of two or more games with 5 minute breaks
between. During the breaks the coaches, mentors AND players will
point out some of the “great” things they saw and
areas where play might improve.Whenever possible, coaches will
encourage the use of the technique that was worked on earlier.
Mentored Street Soccer sessions will be offered in all
of our seasons. |
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