Striking and weaving

Good day sports talk social peeps I hope you're having a wonderful day today. We were up bright and early this morning for another frosty soccer training day. It was also an educational experience for little miss as she had never seen frost on the grass before. I forget how new the world is to kids.

We've been up early countless times, I'm sure every parent is at some point for for many years through that early childhood rearing years. But we had never been outside before at these times. It was interesting as today wasn't as cold as last week but it yet, there was frost. I liked how it remained in the shadow of the building.

Today was good news ontop of good news as the club has now officially established their all girls under 7s soccer team. This is it, a full team. The ones that made it and there are also a few other smaller teams but unfortunately there wasn't enough girls for another team. But this will be the women's team going forward and hopefully for a few years to come.

Today's lesson was a focus on weaving and striking and more ball control through dribbling. I have to admit the coaches are quite game to let a heap of young kids kick a ball in and around them and not get hit. I caught up after the training session to ask them about it and they said the kids are actually better at avoiding kicking people rather than cones.

Kids are less likely to just pelt the ball and will actively concentrate on not hitting the coach with the ball. A pretty call technique.

Lil miss was patiently waiting her turn and did really well but she was more excited at wanting to kick a goal. She waited by the goal square to score.

The coaches utilised shared themes such as Elsa, Anna and other fairy tales that are common with kids in replacement of technical terms. They also used technical terms but coupled them with something the kids were familiar with. I found it quite interesting and understand this approach, it is easier to learn something when you can tie it to a memory, a thought or a feeling. As most the kids would feel really strongly towards their cartoon heros they would remember things well.

It paid off with everytime a Disney character name was called the kids remembered the move or action. All this in one session, amazing.

I was also really surprised with Lil miss's footwork with the ball and it goes to show it is always better to get professional help when trying to teach your own kids. I had been trying to teach her for quite some time how to control the ball and use the inside of her foot and not toe bash the ball. However, much of my training went out the window. After 3 lessons she's walking around the field with a ball, controlling it and probably a lot better than I can.

I'm not sure if it's because she is young or just doesn't listen but I am noticing some behaviour issues, some I have already picked up and thought that she might have trouble concentrating or focusing. Or it could be because she is too comfortable with the field as we come here all the time. But she will often just give up or walk off and head to another group to see what they're upto. She'll also just randomly do what she pleases, when she pleases.

She's quite smart though, it's not like a silly change it is a calculated change. "I'm done here now, might go over there see what's happening". No other kids do this.

It was also exciting to watch her navigate the soccer ball around her coach and score a goal. The aim was to control the ball around the field and try to get around the coach to score. This was done one on one and it wasn't too much pressure on the kids, a slight challenge and the coach was more a visual block than an actual engagement.

But she was determined to get a goal, her focus was amazing and she striked the ball with precision scoring her first goal which she was pretty excited about, as was I.

It was a really great day and I'm amazed at how fast kids learn, stay tuned for next week's update as the kids have now received their club colours and she will be ready to rock and roll!

Not to mention little miss also got her first pair of broke until next payday soccer boots! She loves them, she even told me they make her run faster!

Ah bless her ❤