Pirates Soccer

conched · Post by **conched** » September 12, 2006 11:15 am

Mr Play wrote:
mermaidindisguise wrote:I love watching 7 kids go after a ball at the same time. Take lots of pics!!
We play 4 at a time here with 8 kids on the roster. No goalie yet, and they all get equal playing time.
We'll probably set up a little website with pictures and game info. I'll post a link here if we do.

You can call the web site Four Play!

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » September 12, 2006 11:25 am

At this age, no matter how well you coach them, kids will all clump up on the ball. Its for fun, don't let anybody try and make it anythging else

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » September 12, 2006 11:39 am

Teach them to run around yelling "Arr!" to intimidate the other team

Indiana Jolly Mon · September 12, 2006 11:58 am

With 4 year olds, the best bet is to start with some real basic drills. Teach them how to kick the ball to the net and to try to dribble and pass. Then for the games just try to unbunch them when seven kids pile up and the eighth will be wandering around not paying attention.
Keep it fun and they will learn to like soccer while learning basic fundamentals.
As to being less hard on your kid, at this age you cant be hard on any of them, so dont worry and enjoy the experience.

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 12, 2006 11:04 pm

The parents came by and gave me their registration paperwork tonight. This league puts it on the coaches to get all of the documentaion and money together and turn it in all at once. No wonder they have a coaching shortage with all the legwork the coaches do. Lucky for me I don't mind jumping in and coordinating things.

We'll have our first practice Sunday afternoon, and hopefully a weeknight practice before our opener the next weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

flipflopgirl · Post by **flipflopgirl** » September 13, 2006 5:18 am

NICE!!! You have to show us a pic of the uniform when you get it!!!!!

Best of luck with the coaching!!!!

flipflopgirl · Post by **flipflopgirl** » September 13, 2006 5:19 am

SharkOnLand wrote:Teach them to run around yelling "Arr!" to intimidate the other team

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 13, 2006 11:14 am

flipflopgirl wrote:NICE!!! You have to show us a pic of the uniform when you get it!!!!! Best of luck with the coaching!!!!

Will do. It's the Highbury jersey in red and black - first slide on the 2nd row on this page;
http://www.riosoccer.com/products.php

With black shorts and socks, and black numbers and names on the back of the jerseys.

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 16, 2006 8:51 am

The coaching clinic last night was pretty cool. We spent 2 hours in a classroom and 2 hours on the field going over games and stuff to use. The teacher used to coach college soccer and has been teaching PE for special needs kids for 10 years. He has a passion for youth soccer that comes through in everthing he does. I learned a lot and I'll do things differently as a result of the clinic.

Colton had a prolonged bout with asthma this week, but he's finally doing better today. He had a steroid shot on Tuesday and he's been taking an oral steroid with breathing treatments all week. I hope they don't test for steroids in Under-6 soccer!

Our first practice is tomorrow afternoon!

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » September 16, 2006 9:44 am

Tequila Revenge wrote:Sliced oranges and Sunny D rules!

Indeed!!! Our T-Ball coach brings a cooler (yellow with red top) with a spigot that had water or cool-aid in it to each game and small plastic cups to ensure the kids stayed hydrated during the games (not sure how long your games are), but with lots of running it's a good idea and the kids love it.
(Just gotta be sure they pick up their cups later or have a Mom in charge of that

)

So sorry about Colton's asthma...this time of year seems to be hard on kids with asthma. (Luke was hospitalized when he was 18 months, but is doing better now. His asthma seems to be mostly illness induced, but dry grasses and fall pollens seem to be special irritants) Even our Dr. says she sees an increase in attacks in the Fall. Every kid has their own triggers, allergies, exercise, illness....

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 17, 2006 12:46 am

Yeah his asthma usually isn't this bad, the doctor thinks it's ragweed that did it this time. We rode bikes on some wooded trails last Saturday and practiced Soccer in the grass on Sunday, and he started having problems Sunday afternoon. He also has trouble when cold viruses hit in the winter and general pollens hit in the spring. There were 3 other kids with breathing treatment machines at his daycare this week.

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 20, 2006 12:11 am

Sunday's practice was canceled due to rain, so we're having our first practice Wednesday night. Our first game is on Saturday but it's against another new team, so hopefully they're in the same boat.

I got the uniforms today, and they look good. We registered a domain for the website, and that should be coming soon. I played around a little bit and came up with this logo for the team;

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » September 20, 2006 6:34 am

Now you just need to post a schedule. I could see this group having a mini-phlocking at a 5-yr.-olds soccer match...tailgate party!

What goes better with juice boxes, tequila or rum?

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » September 20, 2006 8:16 am

I have never coached soccer but did coach baseball for 7 years and you are doing a GREAT thing here helping out. The kids will really look up to you and respect you for the teaching. Even is you dont know much you still know more than them and it is a very fine thing you are helping out with. GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!!!

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 20, 2006 11:38 am

chippewa wrote:Now you just need to post a schedule. I could see this group having a mini-phlocking at a 5-yr.-olds soccer match...tailgate party!

What goes better with juice boxes, tequila or rum?

Here's the schedule I sent out to the parents this morning. We'll provide the fruit juice

Big Phan · Post by **Big Phan** » September 20, 2006 12:02 pm

chippewa wrote:Now you just need to post a schedule. I could see this group having a mini-phlocking at a 5-yr.-olds soccer match...tailgate party!

What goes better with juice boxes, tequila or rum?

I see a couple 6:30 start times on Fridays! Do you think they'd kick us out if we started tailgating around noon?!

Good luck with the season, Mr. Play!!

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 20, 2006 1:39 pm

Of course I don't want our 6 year old feeling left out, so I came up with a logo for his team as well;

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » September 20, 2006 3:18 pm

I hope you have fun Bill.

I hated coaching baseball, the parents were whinny assholes that didn't like it that their kid couldn't be the pitcher when he couldn't even throw the ball within 30ft of home plate.

I always was fair to all the kids, everyone got equal time playing as best I could. But when a kid can't play a position why put them there. Maybe soccer is easier as it only requires a kick.

in the butt

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 20, 2006 11:46 pm

We had our first practice tonight. It was, um - interesting.

Let's just say I'm glad I'm not a daycare teacher.

There are 2 pairs of kids I need to keep separated, but they should all do ok if I can keep them from antagonizing each other. The parents are great so far and I really don't think I'll have any problems with them...

And the uniforms are awesome! I'll try to post some pics from our game this Saturday...

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » September 23, 2006 10:06 pm

The first game was fun! We had a storm front pass through a couple of hours before the game, but to my surprise they kept the afternoon games. The fields were muddy in spots but I'm glad we got the first game under our belts. We don't keep score but the kids had fun and everyone dribbled the ball really well. All of the parents are really supportive and no one seems to be putting too much pressure on their kids.

Here are a few pictures from the warmups and the game. I'm getting a matching shirt for games next week.