Quote from: Itchy on April 19, 2023, 10:41:41 AMQuote from: themac_23 on April 19, 2023, 10:36:27 AMQuote from: Itchy on April 19, 2023, 09:58:11 AMQuote from: omagh_gael on April 18, 2023, 02:19:46 PM
My number 1 tip would be to be invest in a half decent bluetooth speaker. Kids love music and you can get so much exercise and movement created simply by playing music and getting them to star jump, hop, run fast/slow and pause when music stops.
I focus on simple things like moving round the space and bounce ball 10 times, throw then catch the ball in the basket. Kids love it when you introduce adults who'll then try to knock the ball out of the basket, gets them to focus and finding space and improving their peripheral vision by avoiding collisions.
Interesting reading the debate around whether 6.5s should play games at the end of the session. I've looked after the age bracket for 6+ years and if you ask kids the one thing they want to do its games. Still think there's room for very small sided, fun-focused games.
Totally disagree with that. Its almost certain you will have kids that do not come from "football" houses and your training is their 1st introduction to a ball. Then you will have ones that are well ahead. Introducing games where you are scoring and winning/losing will increase your risk of alienating those "weaker" kids and will effect you in the long run. I have seen it happen time and time again. Typically the clubs that do what you are saying a very large and dont really care if they lose a few. My club we need every child available to us.
My wee boy just turned 6 last month, his coaches are first class. up unti they started back it was all focused on getting hands on the Ball and games that weren't actually related to football or hurling, like trying to knock down cones on the other teams side etc. it seems now they are starting to do actual games, and they've started going to play other teams (no scores or anything kept and no real regard for rules0 jus to get them moving the ball etc.
ive found my son wasn't overly keen on it until they got a taste for actual games and now its all he talks about and constantly wanting to go out into the garden to practice. I think his coaches have done it really well how they built it up to actually planning games with some kinda structure.
Did your child ever see or touch or play with a ball before going to training? I assume so, as you his parent are posting on a GAA forum. Imagine the child who parents dont even own a ball. Your child might excel in this scenario but what about the others? U6s going playing games against other teams is ridiculous by the way.
Yeah he had but what im saying is he had no real interest, I think he's under 6.5 if thats how the ages work now or possibly u7. but how his club went about it was very good, all about fun and getting their hands on the ball. as I say wee games trying to throw the ball and knock cones down etc to get a feel for the ball and just get it moving.
The wee games they are playing now are just really kids running about and kicking the ball but he loves the whole thing of being against another team etc, the coaches for all the teams are brilliant just encouraging both teams and letting the kids get a feel for it. its usually 5 or 6 a side and each club brings as many players as they have and break up into small games. every kid gets loads of time on the ball they all take turns in goals and seem to really enjoy it. as I say to get my wee boy to go to football used to be a real struggle but now he relishes going during the week and on a sat.