ROOKIE SOCCER
FUN GUIDE
MOODY FAMILY YMCA
Address:
Phone
Rain-out
Team Sideline
Website
6000 Preston Rd.
Dallas, Texas 75205
(214) 526-7293
(972) 738-9400
www.teamsideline.com/moodyfamilyymca
www.moodyfamilyymca.org
Sports Department
Name
Andrew Alvarado
Title
Youth Sports Director
Email
[email protected]
Cerinavia Fogle
Associate Sports Director
[email protected]
Aaron Zapata
Associate Sports Director
[email protected]
Kirsten Ridenour
Sports Coordinator
[email protected]
May MacGregor
Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
YMCA Mission Statement:
To put Christian values into practice through programs that build
healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Team Leader Job Description
YOUR DUTIES AS A TEAM LEADER:
Here are your duties as a YMCA Rookie Soccer Team Leader:
Teach the skills and tactics of soccer to the best of your ability. We want you to teach
children the physical skills and tactics to play the sport to the best of their ability. Be a
good teacher, but remember that not all children have the same ability to learn. A few have the
ability to be outstanding, many to be competent, and a few to barely play the sport. We ask
that you help them all be the best they can be.
Teach players how to be a good sport.
Ensure the safety of your players.
Make it fun. Make learning the game a fantastic positive experience so your players will
want to continue playing for many years to come.
Minimum Roster Size: 7 Players
Maximum Roster Size: 12 Players
YMCA PLEDGE:
WIN OR LOSE,
I PLEDGE BEFORE GOD,
TO PLAY THE GAME AS WELL AS I KNOW HOW,
TO OBEY THE RULES,
TO BE A GOOD SPORT AT ALL TIMES,
AND TO IMPROVE MYSELF
IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY
Zero Tolerance Policy
The MOODY FAMILY YMCA requires coaches, parents and spectators to abide by the Zero Tolerance
Policy.
The following actions will not be tolerated before, during, or after practices or games:
 Verbal/physical abuse of officials, players, coaches, spectators, or YMCA employees;
 Charging onto the field (no coach or spectator may come on to the field, unless there is a
medical emergency or his/her assistance is necessary);
 Arguing with officials, coaches or spectators;
 Profanity or derogatory names or comments; and
 Any comments (other than encouraging or complimentary) or taunting directed at opposing
players, coaches or fans.
Steps the officials may take:
 Give the coach, player or spectator a warning.
 Immediate ejection of the coach, player or spectator. The official is not required to give the
offender a warning before ejection. If ejected, the offender must immediately leave the
grounds of the school or park.
 If the offending behavior causes the official to feel threatened he/she may “abandon the
game”.
Steps the Sports Department and Committee may take:
 Immediate suspension of the offender from participation in practices, games, or clinics for an
indeterminate length of time sufficient for a complete investigation of the offender’s behavior
in question;
 Require the offender to appear before a disciplinary subcommittee;
 Probation, suspension, or expulsion of the offender from participating in MOODY FAMILY
YMCA sports.
EQUIPMENT:
1. Shin guards are HIGHLY RECOMMEDED to be worn by all players on the field underneath the socks.
2. YMCA soccer jersey with appropriate YMCA Logo & a number on the back. For the safety of the
children, please do not put names on the jerseys or shorts.
3. Players may not wear or have affixed a rigid splint and/or solid cast, regardless of composition.
4. No metal cleats/football cleats or athletic shoes with toe cleats are allowed.
5. Uniforms can be purchased through Y vendors (Y logo must be affixed to all uniforms):
Not Just Soccer: 6921 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75205
Teamsports: 5211 Forest Ln #127, Dallas, TX 75244
NO JEWELRY OF ANY KIND WILL BE ALLOWED, such as earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets,
rings, etc.
Revision 2/7/2013: The YMCA understands that there may be some circumstances with
newly pierced ears that may require the earrings to be left in during the initial healing
period. Although we still strongly recommend that the earrings be removed in these
situations we will allow parents to make the decision for their child and their child’s health
and well-being. Again, Earrings will only be allowed to remain in if they are newly pierced
and the healing phase and then only under the following conditions:
-Earrings must be taped appropriately before each game/practice
-Only stud type earrings will be allowed to remain in ears
-It is highly recommended that if earrings will remain in during play that parents purchase
safety backs or plastic earrings for sports; these types of earrings reduce the likelihood of
injury to the child wearing them and others.
-Parents making the choice to not remove accept all risk of injury to their own child as well
as other children who may be injured due to the presence of the jewelry.
Revision 4/10/2017: Medical Alert Bracelets may be worn by players as long as the
bracelet is fitted to the players arm or covered and does not pose a safety hazard to other
players.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
REMEMBER! These little ones are 3 & 4 years old. Call them “all-star soccer players” and
“friends” DO NOT COACH THEM TO WIN! COACH THEM TO HAVE FUN. Be silly, be
enthusiastic! Kids respond to enthusiasm. If you’re not having fun with it, then they won’t have
fun. Encourage them! Tell them they are great and give TONS of high fives.
Encourage team work!
Starting Clinics
Have the participants gather at center field.
1. Go over soccer rules:
 NO HANDS!!! ( unless told by a coach)
 NO HITTING!!!
 HAVE FUN!!!
2. Warm Up
3. Have players recite the pledge.
4. After pledge have players put hands in and yell (ex. “go team!”)(Optional)
Do a little bit of stretching if you want, but make it fun and relate it to the kids. (Ex: do airplane
arms, play the drums on the toes, play the drums on the nose, etc.)
SAMPLE DRILLS & GAMES
WARM-UPS: The idea here is to get them going a little bit and get used to “getting ready” to
practice. If you do the same warm-up exercise every week the players will actually start the
warm-ups themselves when you call them over to start warming up.
1. Toe Taps: Place the bottom of their foot on top of the ball and alternate feet doing this
faster and faster. (This can be a challenging drill for some)(This is a good drill to practice
encouraging and praising the players)
2. Tick-Tock: Place the ball between their feet and have them knock the ball back and forth
between their feet. THEY WILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS....IT’S OKAY. ( Time for more
praise and encouragement)
3. Around & Around: Each player has a ball and is scattered around the circle. Start
dribbling in the same direction at the same pace. Be ready to follow commands. Coach
yells them out randomly. (Ex. jog, full speed, hands up).
4. Follow the Leader: Have players get into small groups. Each player has a ball. Designate
one player as the leader. Have them perform tricks and zig zag trying to fake the
followers out. Switch the leader every so often.
5. Red Light, Green Light: It is just like the game of red light, green light, but you have a
soccer ball at your feet. It can be played with players starting on one side of the field
and racing toward you. It can also be played where they are just running around the
field at random. Green light means go fast. Yellow light means go slow. This helps them
work on speed change. Red light means stop the ball by putting your foot on the ball.
This game really works on dribbling, ball control, stopping and speed adjustments.
GAME DRILLS:
1. Soccer Bowling: Three cones evenly spaced with a ball on top of each. Players start
behind the cone, split into different teams depending on numbers with same setup for
each group. One player stands behind the cones with balls on top (the pins) and tosses
the ball to the players standing in line, he/she then tries to dribble (kick the ball) and
direct the ball to knock over a pin on the first try.
2. Tails: Every player has a flag hanging out of the back of their shorts like a tail. Players
must try to pull out each other’s tails. Last person with a tail is the winner. Coach players
on side movements and being aware of surrounding players.
3. Quick Shot: Players start in a single file line about 30 yards from the center of the goal.
One player begins in the goal as goalie. The coach is to the right of the goal with all of
the balls. Coach passes the ball towards the first player in line. First player shoots on
goal with first touch. If the shooter makes a goal the player who is goalie is out of the
game and the person next in line must sprint to the goal and be goalie for the next
player shooting and the original shooter returns to the end of the line. If the shooter
misses or the shot is saved, the goalie returns to the end of the line and the person who
took the shot becomes the goalie while the ball is played to the next player in line. The
game continues until one person remains.
4. The Battle: Kick the ball and yell out two names. The two kids battle it out. They run to
the ball. The goal is to get the ball and bring it back to the coach. If one player has the
ball, the other wants to take it away to bring it back to coach. This is great practice in
ball control, dribbling and learning how to steal a ball from an opponent.
BONUS:
Balls on Heads
This isn’t a game so much is an idea to get everyone’s attention. If the ball is near their feet,
they want to fiddle with it. If coach is going to talk to the team or get their attention quickly to
organize the next drill, say ball on your head. It’s the only time they can touch the ball with
their hands. They reach down, pick it up and put it on their heads, knowing it is time for
listening ears.
Remember: This age group has a short attention span. Have a backup plan in
case the game/drill you have chosen is not working. Players at this age will love
to just throw the ball in the air and try and catch it, or even try and “punt” the
ball to see who can do it the farthest.
ALWAYS HAVE FUN!!!!