About the Tot Shots program
The aim of the Tot Shots Soccer Program is to promote the development of grassroots soccer among young children. The program focuses on several key objectives:
- Introduce basic skills: The program aims to teach children the fundamental skills necessary for soccer, such as dribbling, ball control, shooting, passing, and goalie skills. By providing a structured environment, children can learn and practice these skills in a fun and engaging way.
- Foster teamwork: The program emphasizes the importance of teamwork, teaching children how to work together with their peers towards a common goal. Through small-sided games and activities, children learn to communicate, cooperate, and support each other on the field.
- Promote sportsmanship: The Tot Shots Soccer Program places a strong emphasis on sportsmanship. Children are taught to play fair, respect their opponents, follow the rules of the game, and display good sportsmanship at all times. Referees provide guidance and ensure that the games are played in a fair and respectful manner.
- Prepare for future participation: The program aims to prepare children for further involvement in youth house league or competitive soccer programs. By developing their skills, understanding of the game, and love for soccer, the program helps lay the foundation for their continued participation and growth in the sport.
- Inspire enthusiasm and growth: The Tot Shots Soccer Program strives to ignite children's enthusiasm for soccer and inspire their personal growth. By creating a positive and enjoyable environment, the program aims to spark a lifelong passion for the sport and encourage children to continue their soccer journey.
Overall, the aim of the Tot Shots Soccer Program is to provide young children with a solid introduction to soccer, instilling in them the basic skills, values, and enthusiasm necessary for their ongoing development in the sport.
THe 4-Corner warm-up
This will be the start of Each session every week
The Four Corner warm-up for soccer tots is a fun and engaging activity that helps to warm up the players before a soccer session. Here's how you can organize the warm-up:
- Gather the players in the center of the field with the referee or coach acting as the leader.
- Explain to the players that they need to follow the leader's movements exactly. They should mimic whatever the leader does, whether it's running, hopping, shuffling, or any other movement.
- The leader (referee or coach) will start by choosing a corner to move towards. They can decide on the direction, whether it's going straight across or diagonally.
- As the leader moves towards the chosen corner, all the players should imitate their movements.
- Once the leader reaches the corner, they will perform a warm-up exercise such as jumping jacks, squats, toe touches, or any other appropriate exercise.
- The players should join in and perform the same exercise as the leader.
- After completing the warm-up exercise in the corner, the leader will choose the next corner to move towards.
- The players will continue to follow the leader's movements as they move from one corner to another, imitating the exercises performed in each corner.
- The leader can vary the movements and exercises to keep the activity engaging and fun for the players.
- Make sure that the players reach all four corners of the field before returning to the center for stretching.
- When everyone is back at centre, three different stretches will be performed each week.
Remember to emphasize the importance of proper warm-up and stretching to prevent injuries and prepare the players for the soccer session. Enjoy the warm-up activity with the soccer tots!
Who is the Ref & what does the whistle mean?
This will follow the 4 corner warm-up each week
The referee serves as the leader and guide for the soccer tots. The referee's role is to provide instructions, maintain order, and ensure the safety of the participants.
The whistle used by the referee serves as a signal to communicate specific actions or commands to the players. Here's how the whistle can be used in the activity you described:
- Walking: When the whistle blows, it indicates that the players should freeze and look up at the referee. This helps to teach the players to pay attention and follow instructions.
- Running: When the whistle blows, it signals the players to start running. This provides a cue for the players to begin moving and engaging in the activity.
- Running and Screaming: Similar to the previous step, the whistle can be used to initiate the running and screaming part of the activity. When the whistle blows, the players know that it's time to run around and have fun.
- Mimicking the Referee: As the activity progresses, the whistle can be used to introduce new elements. When the whistle blows, the players stop and imitate the actions or movements of the referee. For example, if the referee puts their hands on their head, the players do the same. This helps to develop coordination and observation skills.
- Introducing the Ball: As you introduce the ball into the activity, the whistle can be used to signify specific actions related to dribbling. When the whistle blows, the players stop, put one foot on the ball, and look at the referee for further instructions. This helps to teach ball control and listening skills.
Overall, the referee and their whistle play a crucial role in directing the activity, providing cues for the players, and maintaining order during the sessions. It's important for the referee to maintain a positive and engaging atmosphere during the activity, ensuring that the tots have fun while also following instructions and learning basic soccer skills.
Tot shots drill of the week
Week 1
Week 1
Week 1
1) Create a square with pylon discs big enough so all players can participate.
2) Place all ball in the middle of the square randomly spaced apart.
3) Have the players run zig zagging around the pylons on the outside of the square.
4) Keep them running for about a minute or so and then blow your whistle.
5) The players then rush to the middle and put a foot on a ball or sit on their ball, or pick up a ball etc
6) Then begin the drill again in the opposite direction.
Week 2
Week 1
Week 1
1) Have the players form a line with locked arms
2) Instruct them that they cannot let go of the person next to them no matter what ! They must try to maintain the chain
3) Set up a line of pylons across the field.
4) Scatter some balls between the players and the line of pylons
5) The object of the game is for the players to move together in a locked line until they have kicked all of the balls over the pylon line without breaking the chain.
week 3
Week 1
week 3
1) Place a line of pylons in the middle of the field
2) Divide your players into 2 teams - one of one side of the line and the other on the other side of the line.
3) Each play starts with a ball.
4) On the referees command they must kick their ball to the other teams side of the field and return any that are kicked to their side.
5) The object of the game is to have the least amount of balls when the referee blows his whistle to stop play. The winner of the game is the team that has the least amount of balls when you blow the whistle again for play to stop.
6) Remind them that when the referee blows their whistle that they must stop and freeze.
7) Repeat.
wEEK 4
wEEK 4
week 3
- Set up a maze of pylons.
- Player dibble through without touching the pylons
Focus on small touches and control
wEEK 5
wEEK 4
wEEK 5
- Set up the pylon maze and add cone pylons.
- The object is for players to dribble through the maze without hitting the disc pylons and shooting to knock over the cone pylons
wEEK 6
wEEK 4
wEEK 5
- Set up 5 or 6 pylons in a line in front of the net
- Players will dibble the ball using first the insides of both feet - pushing the ball from side to side around the pylons
- Player will then use the outside of the foot to push the ball around the pylons
WEEK 7
- Players form a line and one at a time they pass the ball to the coach (GIVE)
- Then they run as fast at they can past the pylon (GO)
- The coach will then pass it back to the player on the other side of the pylon and they will shoot and score!
WEEK 8
COPS AND ROBBERS
"Cops and Robbers Soccer" is a fun and active variation of soccer that combines elements of tag and shooting practice. Here's a brief description of how to play:
Mark out a square area using four cones or markers, large enough for the players to move around comfortably but small enough for the action to be engaging.
The referee takes on the role of the "robber." The robber's job is to move around the area avoiding being hit by soccer balls.
The players are the "cops." Their objective is to dribble and shoot their soccer balls at the robber to "catch" them.
WEEK 9
WEEK 9
SHARK AND MINNOWS
"Sharks and Minnows Soccer" is an exciting and fast-paced game that combines soccer skills with evasion tactics. Here's a brief description of how to play:
Mark out a square area using cones or markers. The size of the area should be appropriate for the number of players, allowing for free movement but keeping the action close and engaging.
The referee takes on the role of the "shark." The shark's objective is to kick the soccer balls of the minnows out of the playing area.
The rest of the players are the "minnows." Their goal is to dribble their soccer balls around the marked area while avoiding the shark's attempts to kick their ball out.
Once a minnow has their ball kicked out, they become a shark, working together to kick the remaining minnows' balls out.