Soccer homework: sportsmanship!
Parents & Friends,
The qualities of a great teammate is the first week of homework we send to any new family in the Soccer 1:1 program. We follow that up with sportsmanship!
This is what it looks like...
Title: Sportsmanship
Task: Please type up 5 ways we can show good sportsmanship in soccer e.g., being a referee is a tough job and they are human beings too. We always keep that in mind and are respectful to referees and their decisions. Have fun!
It’s important to us that the families understand early on that we are not just teaching soccer. We want to teach values and life lessons. Not just being a good athlete but a good person as well who respects the game.
Below is what one 11-year-old player submitted…
1. Accepting the call when you foul someone.
2. Not yelling at the referee.
3. Help someone up if they fall.
4. Telling people nice try if they mess something up.
5. At...
Soccer homework: the qualities of a great teammate!
Parents & Friends,
Homework is a fantastic way to engage kids off the field and of course gauge their interest level in the sport. Are they keen to learn more and increase their knowledge? How long will it take them to complete? If the child is younger are their parents supporting their journey? Homework will answer these questions!
In the past we would print out homework and give to the kids at the field. But in the last few years we've used Google Drive to share. The parents submit when complete through the drive and we then give the kids feedback at the field. The level of detail and frequency of the homework would always depend on the age of the child.
The qualities of a great teammate is always the first homework we issue to any new child in the program…
Title: The qualities of a great teammate?
Task: Please write or type up 5 qualities that a great teammate should have and include a brief explanation e.g., a great...
Building a player (why I give homework!)
Parents and Friends,
Working with many families and young players over the years one of the first things I mention is that we do weekly soccer homework.
The response is frequently what could that possibly be!
I am always quick to explain that if they want help then homework is a CRUCIAL and integral part of that process.
Why? Because practice time is limited to a few hours a week (or less!) and I want to have an input on what players are doing outside of those trainings.
It's also an opportunity to be productive and get ahead especially when soccer kids these days are often IDLE for months on end. Sometimes for whole seasons.
The content of the homework can vary but typically it will be based on learning a new skill and increasing a player’s Soccer IQ.
I recently had the kids working on the backheel and they had to…
1) Study a technical handout on backheels.
2) Watch a video of Alexis Sanchez’s backheel assist against Brighton.
3) Answer five questions based...
