<![CDATA[Soccer Nights - Soccer Nights Blog]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:30:03 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[THANK YOU! WHAT'S NEXT?]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2015 21:10:08 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/thank-you-whats-nextHey amazing Soccer Nights volunteers! WHAT A WEEK! I hope you've had a great and restful few days since Soccer Nights ended, and that you have been able to soak in the fun we had last week together. We are so thankful for all that each of you poured into Soccer Nights this year to make it such a wonderful week (despite the rain). We have a few last announcements previewing some fun things we hope you won't miss out on.

8th Annual North Cambridge Ramadan Dinner
Sunday, July 12; 7pm-9:30pm at the Fresh Pond Apartments (Community Room, 364 Rindge Ave)
Each year we host a dinner for our Muslim neighbors during Ramadan, the month long Islamic holiday marked by fasting.  Join us as we honor and connect with our neighbors, many of them Soccer Nights families, better.  Let us know if you're interested in attending and/or helping, and RSVP to tory@bostonvineyard.org.

Volunteer Scrimmages 
We're hoping to get together some pickup scrimmages for volunteers throughout the rest of the summer. Follow us on facebook to get times and locations and stay connected with your Soccer Nights friends!

Flatbread Benefit Night 
Tuesday, August 4; 5:30pm-11:30pm at Flatbread Pizza/Sacco's Bowl Haven
Purchase pizzas to support Soccer Nights! Flatbread will donate a portion of the cost of every pizza sold this evening  to Soccer Nights (includes take-out orders).  Bring your friends, and eat up! We'll also have some bowling lanes reserved for our volunteers, so come at 7pm and eat/bowl with the gang!

Stay informed & involved
We have a few photos up at our flickr now but we'll have a bunch of awesome professional shots coming soon! You can see them here.
Also, follow Soccer Nights on twitter, facebook, and instagram to stay in the loop.

That's all for now! Happy 4th of July to you all!
]]><![CDATA[Nightly Plan: Friday, June 26]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2015 06:00:14 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/nightly-plan-friday-june-28Tonight's Announcements
Hey everyone - it's our last night together! We've had such a fun week with all of you and I hope you've had a blast as well! Some changes in scheduling due to our tournament so please read today's post carefully.
  • Tonight's theme: The Game!
  • Tournament Schedule: please read the instructions for tonight's tournaments within your divisions. You will receive a tournament schedule upon arrival to the field.
  • Evaluations! Tonight we'll start debrief with evaluations. It's really important to us that everyone fills one out as we value your feedback in our ongoing pursuit of making the program better!
  • Stay for debrief! Make sure you stick around for debrief tonight! It's our last night together and we'll hear final stories, give shout outs, and have a chance to give feedback on the program!
  • #soccernights - if you have pictures from the week, post them using #soccernights2015 so we can see them! You can also tag @soccer_nights on twitter and instagram !
  • Border Cafe - a bunch of usually ends up going to Border Cafe in Harvard Square after for food and drinks. Please join if you like!!

Tonight's Schedule

5:30PM: Registration, coaches warm up with kids
5:45PM: Coaching staff meets with Brian at bleachers  to go over tournament schedule
6:15PM: Large Group welcome  
6:25PM: Warm-ups & games in Division
6:40PM: Team Time #1 
6:50PM: Soccer Nights Tournament (in divisions) (include short team time #2 between rounds)
8:00PM: Team Time #3
8:05PM: Closing Large Group. Present “All Stars of the Night.” Teach Dance. Awards Ceremony.
8:25PM: Dismiss to divisions, sit by teams, pass out certificates, popsicles
8:30PM: Check out in teams
8:45PM: Debriefing in Divisions 
9:00PM: Final Group Debrief 

No Skill Tonight: Breakdown for Tournament

Tonight's Value: The Game!

Tonight we are going to be running a tournament within each group.  
  • Teams in the Green Division will each play three 12-minute games. The division will be split down the middle, with four teams on the bleacher side and 4 on the audio tent side.  Each Team will play the three teams in their bracket and then the tournament will end with a final between the top placed teams from each Green bracket (e.g. bleacher side champion and audio-tent side champion).
  • Teams in the Blue and Orange Divisions  will play five 7-minute games.
  • There will be 3 Minutes in between games to switch fields.  
  • Each game will need a coach as a referee.
  • Game size will be determined by coaches based on the number of players/ team (a good rule of thumb is 7 plus a goalie. 
  • After the group stage, we will determine who will play in the championship match as follows:  3 points for a win. 1 Point for a tie.  The teams with the highest score play in the championship game.  If two teams are tied in points, the participants will be decided by:
  1. Goal Differential
  2. Goals Scored
  3. Head to Head
  4. Goals Allowed
  5. Coin Flip

  • Division Leaders will keep track of the scores of the games and determine who will play in the championship match.
  • Division Leaders will also help organize who is playing whom.  Eg. A Plays B, C plays D, then A plays C while D plays B, then A plays D while B plays C.  
  • After the round robin portion of the tournament, we will host a Championship match and a Third Place Match.  
  • Field setup will be the same as the scrimmage portion from other nights of the week.  
  • Division Leaders will report the scores of the games as they come in to Coaching Director.  
  • During the championship match, all players from the division will surround the field and watch.  Parents will also be encouraged to watch the game.  
  • If the Championship match ends in a draw, it will be decided by a goalie-less shoot out from mid field. 
Team Time #1 (before tournament begins)
○      Recap last night’s goal
○      Set goal for the night!
■     possible goals:
●      during tonight’s tournament, we will work together to embody the four values (teamwork, perspective, perseverance, sportsmanship) and the four skills (passing, dribbling, controlling/throw-ins, finishing/defending)
           
Team Time #2 (during tournament, between rounds)
○      Check in on team goal for the night:
■     how are we doing so far?
■     what could we do to improve?
■     if we’ve already reached it, what could we add to challenge ourselves?

Team Time: #3 (end of tournament)
○      Check in on team goal for the night:
■     how did we do?
■     what could we have done differently?
○      What is something new you’ve learned or improved in during the week in  soccer skills?
○      What is something new you’ve learned or improved in during the week in the four values (teamwork, perspective, perseverance, sportsmanship) ? (have everyone share something either soccer or values related)
]]><![CDATA[Nightly Plan: Thursday, June 25, 2015]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:23:42 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/nightly-plan-thursday-june-271Tonight's Announcements
  • Tonight's skill: Finishing & Defending
  • Tonight's theme: Sportsmanship
  • Please review your time slot: Logistics = 4:30pm, Registration & Lead Staff = 5pm, All other volunteers = 5:30pm, or 7pm
  • After Hours Tonight - Volunteer Scrimmage:  Tonight after kids depart we will be having our traditional volunteer  scrimmage on the field! Don't be shy if you're not a soccer player - this is a game for everyone and it's always a blast. 
  • Whistles, cups, markers, oh my! if you need a whistle, see Evadne at the volunteer check-in table! We have lots, so you shouldn't be without. If you run low on cups, tell a logistics volunteer. Again, we have lots on the premises and can easily get more to you and your team. Lastly, things like markers, hand sanitizer, clip boards, etc. can ALL be found in your division bins. Don't know what those are? Look for the plastic bin sitting next to or on top of your division's water table each night. It's there for a reason!
  • #soccernights2015 - if you have pictures from the week, post them using #soccernights so we can see them! You can also tag @soccer_nights on twitter and instagram !

Tonight's Schedule

5:30 –6:00  Check in, directed to teams 
6:15 –6:30  Large group welcome, intro theme & skill of the night (w/coaches shooting competition). 
6:30 –6:45  Warm ups in division, skill demonstration
6:45 –6:55 Team time #1: team name, learn names, set goal for the night 
6:55 –7:20  Team Drill work (shooting & defending)
7:20 –7:25  Team time #2: debrief drill work, check in on team goal 
7:30 –8:05  Scrimmages 
8:05 –8:10  Team time #3: check in, debrief scrimmage and team goal 
8:10 –8:25  Large group closing 
8:25 –8:30  Snack in teams, check out  
8:45 - 9:00pm Debrief in divisions
9:00 - 10pm Volunteer After hours: Volunteer Scrimmage!

Tonight's Skills: Finishing & Defending

**NOTE TO COACHES: Feel free to modify this and/ or do some different drills- as long as the kids are having fun and learning how to control the ball we are on the right track!
Coaching Skills to focus on:
 DEFENDING
1)    Shuffle your feet (don’t cross them)
2)    Stay low
3)    Stay on your toes (Figuratively)

FINISHING
1)    Lock ankle angle at 45 degrees
2)    Use instep
3)    Plant foot by side of ball and a little behind ball
4)    Head down (body over ball – lean forward, not back) & follow through
 
Exercises/Drills:
1) Shuffle and Slide
Set Up: Have kids line up in rows, arms length apart; Coach yells, "DEFENSE!"
  • Players yell, "DEFENSE!" then slap ground, get in ready position (squat)
  • Coach points left, kids shuffle left (and right)
  • Point behind the kids left, kids drop right foot, shuffles backwards
  • Mix it up! 

2) Dribble and Defend
Set Up: Partner kids up (by skill, if possible)
Play: Dribble in lines – zig zag, change direction ;Defender plays shadow
defense (don't actually steal ball)
Progressions: Faster, 75% defense, 100% defense, beat player to other side

3) Shooting Drill
Set Up: Set kids up to kick into an empty net
Play: Focus, shoot straight, pick a corner

4) Shooting in a line
Set Up: Players 10-15 yds from goal. goalie in goal, coach to side.
Coach throws/ passes ball to player; player controls, dribbles, shoots, gets ball
Progressions: Make it, become goalie. Change # of dribbles. Add a defender, etc

5) 2 v 1
 Set Up:  Players in 2 lines 10 yds from goal, one goalie, one line defender
Play: Two offensive players try to score (offense starts with ball)
Rotate lines after each round
Progressions: Defender passes ball out, runs out to defend
(talk about defenders approach – fast and then slow)

Tonight's Value: Sportsmanship (Instructions for Team Time)

Team Time #1 (before drillwork)
  • Recap last night’s goal
  • Set goal for the night!
  • Possible goals:
    • Throughout the night during team time each team member says a shout out of encouragement to someone else on the team.
    • As a team we work to be kind and vocally encouraging to the other team during our scrimmage, whether we are winning or losing.
  • Review Special Guest Hero of the Night
  • Talk about skit
  • How does _______ show SPORTSMANSHIP?
  • How does our team show  SPORTSMANSHIP?
Team Time #2 (before scrimmage)
  • Check in on team goal for the night:
    • How are we doing so far?
    • What could we do to improve?
    • If we’ve already reached it, what could we add to challenge ourselves?
    • Who has shown the value of SPORTSMANSHIP like Crew member, ________?  when?
Team Time: #3 (after scrimmage)
  • Check in on team goal for the night:
    • How did we do?
    • What could we do to improve as a team for tomorrow?
  • What did you learn tonight about finishing & defending? (1-2 ppl share)
  • What did you learn tonight about sportsmanship? (1-2 ppl share)
  • What did you learn tonight about our hero? (1-2 ppl share)



]]><![CDATA[Tonight June 23: CANCELED]]>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 21:23:07 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/tonight-july-23-canceled
Picture
We are sad to report that Soccer Nights is canceled for the evening (Tuesday, June 23). =(
While we typically do play in the rain, with severe thunderstorm warnings we feel it unwise to try to run programming.  We do know that the weather is always a gamble, but this go around we're going to play on the safer side of things. 

We'll meet at Flatbread for dinner at 7pm if anyone is interested!  Bowling will depend on availability, but pizza will definitely be eaten! We hope you all will come out!
]]><![CDATA[Nightly Plan: Wednesday, June 24, 2015]]>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:03:53 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/nightly-plan-wednesday-june-25Tonight's Announcements
Hey everyone! It was a blast hanging out with so many of you last night at Flatbread. Last night's cancellation was a bummer, but we are super pumped about tonight's forecast and excited to see you all on the field! 


  • Tonight's skill: Control, Throw-ins, & Dribbling (you will have some choice in your drills to combine last night and tonight's skillwork). Please look over yesterday's post to review the dribbling drills.
  • Tonight's theme: Perseverance
  • Please review your time slot: Logistics = 4:30pm, Registration & Lead Staff = 5pm, All other volunteers = 5:30pm, or 7pm
  • Parents' Game Tonight: tonight we'll have a special parents vs. coaches game starting at 8:10pm. Please pay close attention to the schedule listed below and make sure to listen for Brian's announcements during the night. Also please read the parents game how-to below.
  • After Hours Thursday - Volunteer Scrimmage:  Tomorrow night after kids depart we will be having our traditional volunteer  scrimmage on the field! Don't be shy if you're not a soccer player - this is a game for everyone and it's always a blast. 
  • Assignment changes: I know we had to switch a few of you around last night due to some coaching holes, so thank you for being flexible. We will be making a few more changes tonight to ensure that each team is well-staffed and no coach is left by him/herself. If you have to move teams tonight, I apologize!
  • #soccernights2015 - if you have pictures from the week, post them using #soccernights2015 so we can see them! You can also tag @soccer_nights on twitter and instagram !

Tonight's Schedule

5:30PM: Registration, coaches warm up with kids
5:45PM: Coaching staff meets with Brian at bleachers  to go over daily drills (in 2 shifts)
6:10PM: Large Group welcome (starting a bit early tonight)
6:30PM: Warm-ups & games in Division, skills demonstration (Skill: Dribbling & Controlling)
6:40PM: Team Time #1
6:45PM-7:10PM: Team Drill Work
7:10-7:15: Team Time #2
7:20PM: Scrimmages 
7:45PM: Closing Large Group. Present “Heroes of the Night.” Teach Dance. (Parents and coaches playing in games, meet in center field with terry)
8:00PM: Dismiss to teams, set up for parents game, Team Time #3
8:10PM: Parents Game, kids seated in teams while snack is distributed
8:30PM: Check out in teams 
8:45PM: Debriefing in Divisions
9:00PM: Large Group Debrief

Tonight's Skill: Control, Throw-ins, and Dribbling 

**NOTE TO COACHES: Feel free to modify this and/ or do some different drills- as long as the kids are having fun and learning how to control the ball we are on the right track!

See also pages 13-18 of Soccer Curriculum Packet.

Coaching Skills to focus on:
 CONTROLLING
1) Move your feet (be prepared)
2) Set up the next action

THROW-INS
1) Two hands
2) Bring ball all the way behind your head/neck
3) Keep both feet on the ground

Exercises/Drills
1) PAIR THROWS
Set Up: Partner Players up (by skill), Each set of partners gets a ball 3- 4 yards apart
Play: Player underhand tosses the ball to the other player
1.     Thigh trap
2.     Chest trap
3.     Headers (NOT IN CAMBRIDGE. ILLEGAL)
4.     Foot trap

2) THROW AND PASS
Set Up: (Same as drill 1, but pass to someone else, or dribble through cones)
Tips: Focus: Prepare your control, so you can do something with it after (pass to teammate, pass through cones)

3) THROW-INS 
Set Up: Same as above, 5-10 yards apart
Play: Throw it in, throw back and forth
Focus on form (use two hands, all the way behind your head)
PROGRESSION:Throw it in to each other, trap/control it

Games
1) TOSS IN A BOX 
Set Up: Make a big box, have players stand 15-20 yards away
Competition to see if players can throw ball, so that it stays in the box

2) WHO CAN THROW FARTHEST
 
3) TRAP IN A BOX
Have kids trap the ball in a box, keep making the box smaller
(point: focus on control)

Tonight's Theme: Perseverance

Team Time #1 (before drill work) 

    • ○ Review names, welcome new players
    • - Recap last night’s goal
    • - Set goal for the night!
      • possible goals:
        • - Tonight as a team we will give 110% and challenge ourselves to keep going even when we are tired, or if we are losing and discouraged.
        • - We will individually identify something we really need work on (could be soccer skill or character/behavior related) and we’ll work hard to improve in that during the night.
○ Review Hero of the Night: VICE MAYOR BENZAN
■      talk about skit
■      How does VICE MAYOR BENZAN show PERSEVERANCE?

Team Time #2 (before scrimmage)
  • - Check in on team goal for the night:-
  • -- How are we doing so far?
    • --what could we do to improve?
    • -- if we’ve already reached it, what could we add to challenge ourselves?
  • --who has shown the value of PERSEVERANCE like VICE MAYOR BENZAN?  when?

  • Team Time: #3 (after large group, while parents game is set up)
  • -Check in on team goal for the night:
      • --how did we do?
      • --what could we do to improve as a team for tomorrow?
      • -what did you learn tonight about controlling/throwins/dribbling? (1-2 ppl share)
    • ---what did you learn tonight about perseverance? (1-2 ppl share)
  • --what did you learn tonight about our hero? (1-2 ppl share)

Tonight's Parents' Game: How it Works

When is the game, and who plays?
The Parents Game will be at approximately 8:10pm tonight, AFTER large group (we'll do large group early). We'll set up two fields, one on each half of the regular soccer field, with the goals on the sidelines.  Games will be 10 v. 10, and can be either coaches vs. parents or coaches AND parents. It is vital that at least ONE coach from each team stays with the kids during the game. Coaches, unfortunately this means that not everyone can play in this game. Sorry! Fortunately we're having a volunteer scrimmage after programming tomorrow night where everyone can play!

Where are kids sitting?
Blue division = in teams, spaced out along outer perimeter of blue division area (end zone)
Orange division - in teams, spaced out between the two 40 yd lines
Green Division = in teams, spaced out along far end zone nearest to far end zone

How will team time, snack, & checkout work during parents game?
Before the parents game begins, coaches & assistant coaches should lead their teams to sit along the perimeter of the two fields, spaced out so that each team has its own space and is separate enough from other teams. Once teams are sitting together with whatever coach is NOT participating in the game, coaches should engage team in quick team time while waiting for snack volunteers to come and hand out snack to them in teams. Kids should NOT be running to get watermelon from the snack volunteers over near the division table. Snack will be brought TO teams when they are demonstrating they are ready (by sitting with their team ready to watch the game). While you wait for snack, talk to your team about how the night went and if you met your goal. 

Check out: During the closing dance time, coaches not playing in game should go retrieve checkout clipboards from division area so you're ready to meet your teams when they are dismissed from large group.  Check out tongiht is similar to other nights in that parents must check out with coaches. Parents who are not participating in the game may come sooner than those playing. Parents who are participating in the game may end up checking their kids out later than our normal time, as we usually let the game run a bit past 8:30.

Tips from Brian for how to occupy kids during Coaches/Parents game (for EVERYONE, not just coaches): 
During the scrimmage there are a few things you can be doing with your division:
  • When your Division’s team has the ball, you can lead a cheer of Go, Go Go!!!
  • When they pass, you can get your team to say in unison, “What a pass?!!” 
  • When someone on your team is dribbling, you can yell in unison, “Dribble, dribble, dribble”
  • Anytime your Division’s team takes a shot on goal, the whole team should do your Division’s cheer, which we practiced yesterday.
  • When you team is on Defense, you can get your team to cheer De-  Fense!  De- Fense! (Like the do at basketball games.)  Or you can lead them in a cheer of “Heeeeeeeyyyy insert Division Name
  •  ... Get the ball back! Repeat this.
  • Additionally, each team should come up with a dance that they want to use in case your Division’s team scores a goal. 
  • These are just some ideas, feel free to get creative and have fun! 

Point System Reminder

Throughout the week, division leaders will keep track of points awarded to the teams in their divisions. Divisions will compete against each other for the most points at the end of the week, and the participants in the winning division will receive a small prize.

Ways to earn points

Team Time: Explained later, during team time teams will set a nightly goal. Coaches may award points for teams meeting their goal.

○      Completely met  = 10 points
○      Majority of team met goal = 8 points
○      Partially met = 5 points

Awarding to individuals: coaches or division leaders may award points to individual participants for anything they see fit, including but not limited to the following:

○      embodying RRT (respect your coach, respect your teammates, try your hardest)
○      exceptional commitment to either theme or skill of the night
○      specific challenges during the night (e.g. making a drill harder or challenging a particular kid during the scrimmage to meet a specific goal for X amount of points)

Large Group Competitions:
○      Each night there will be competitions between divisions during opening large group (outlined later). Winning division will be allotted 10 points for the night.

Regulating Points
In past years we have had all divisions “compete” when in actuality they were all working together to reach a corporate goal. Thus, when different divisions had different economies for awarding points, it didn’t really matter. THis year as teams are actually competing, we’d like to strive for more consistency. I’ve suggested point values for some things (like nightly team goals and large group competitions), but additional points can be at the discretion of coaches and division leaders. While obviously each division will vary (especially at sites where some divisions have more teams than others), divisions should aim for somewhere in the 30-60 realm for points per night.  
]]><![CDATA[Nightly Plan: Tuesday, June 23, 2015]]>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:52:10 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/nightly-plan-tuesday-june-24Tonight's Announcements
  • Tonight's theme: Perspective
  • Tonight's skill: Dribbling
  • Special guests: The Boston Breakers 
  • Please review your time slot: Logistics = 4:30pm, Registration & Lead Staff = 5pm, All other volunteers = 5:30pm
  • WEATHER: the weather is still not looking great. Please check back later for cancellations. We will post by 5:30.
  • After Hours Tonight: Flatbread: Tonight night we'll keep our debrief short and then head down to Flatbread Pizza Co. & Sacco's Bowl Haven on Day St. in Davis Square for food, drinks, and bowling! Bring money for food & bowling shoes - bowling is covered! IF WE HAVE TO CANCEL DUE TO RAIN, WE WILL GO EARLIER.
  • Assignment changes: I know we had to switch a few of you around last night due to some coaching holes, so thank you for being flexible. We will be making a few more changes tonight to ensure that each team is well-staffed and no coach is left by him/herself. If you have to move teams tonight, I apologize!
  • If you're having trouble: If you have any concerns regarding managing kids, coaching points, volunteer assignments, or anything, please touch base with your division leader and they can help you or touch base with Brian, Terry, or me to help you figure things out. Your division leaders are there to help you so don't hesitate to ask!
  • Black Shirts: Just a friendly reminder that people in black soccer nights shirts are lead volunteers and are available to help answer any questions you might have throughout the night. And if they don't know the answer, they know someone who does!
  • Pens! Clipboards! 1st aid! All can be found in your division bins. 
  • Whistles - if you are a coach OR an assistant coach you can pick up a whistle at the volunteer check-in table.
  • Snacks - there will be some snacks at the volunteer check-in table today. Make sure you grab something so you don't go hungry!

Tonight's Schedule

Nightly Schedule:
5:30 – 6:00 Check in, directed to teams
6:15 – 6:25 Large group welcome, intro theme & skill of the night
6:25 – 6:45 Warm ups in division, skill demonstration
6:45 – 6:55 Team time #1: review team name, learn new names, set goal for the night
6:55 – 7:20 Team Drill work
7:20 – 7:25 Team time #2: check in on team goal, prep for scrimmage
7:30 – 8:05 Scrimmages
8:05 – 8:10 Team time #3: check in, debrief scrimmage and team goal
8:10 – 8:25 Large group closing
8:25 – 8:30 Snack in teams, check out

Tonight's Skill: Dribbling

See also pages 9-12 of Soccer Curriculum Packet.

***NOTE TO COACHES: Feel free to modify this and/or do something totally different- as long as the kids are having fun and learning how to dribble the ball correctly that is all we care about***

Coaching Skills to focus on:
1) Confidence
2) Keep the ball close to your feet: Only kick ball 3-5 yds each time, touch ball every 2nd/3rd step
3) Use inside of foot for control dribbles, and laces and outside of foot for speed dribbles
4) Head up - need to have awareness of what is around you, use peripheral vision to see ball

Exercises/Drills:
1) DRIBBLE IN LINES (SHUTTLES)
set up: place a cone 15-20 yards in front of each pair of players
         -Players dribble down to the cone, around the cone, and back to their partner, then their partner goes.  Make sure to remind players to keep ball close to them, and only hit the ball 3-5 yards each dribble.  Touch ball every 2nd or 3rd step.
Progressions: a) use non-dominant foot, b) up with one foot, back with the other foot, c) do a ‘move’ at the cone (ie- cut ball back behind legs), d) put cones further away and do speed dribbling, e) make it a relay race!, f) hold up a number and have kids yell it out (head up!)

2) COLORS (or NUMBERS)
set up: give two coaches two different colored shirts, (if no shirts/pennies just use numbers and hold up fingers)
         -Players dribble around in a designated area and when coach #1 holds up the ______ colored shirt, the players have to stop.  Then they go again, when coach #2 holds up the _______ colored shirt, the players have to turn and go the other way.

Progressions: Make the shirts mean different things: they have to sit down, they have to switch to opposite foot only, they have to touch the ball with their forehead, they have to do 3 jumping jacks, they have to perform a move. 

Games
1) CRABS
set up: make a designated area with lines on the field, or cones (circle or rectangle work)
         -Select 2-4 players to be “crabs” who will walk around on 4 legs with their tummies in the air. The rest of the players each have a ball and dribble around in the designated area while the crabs walk around and kick away the balls form the players.  When your ball gets kicked outside of the area, you are ‘out’ and have to wait until the next round.

Progressions: Have ‘crabs’ be upright and run around (this is called ‘sharks and minnows’), have everyone have a ball, and everyone is also a crab (this is called ‘knockout’), have coach hold up colored shirt and they have to ‘stop’ last person to stop is ‘out’, have the colored shirt stand for different moves.

*** Make up your own variations on any game- and as always HAVE FUN WITH IT!!***

Tonight's Value: Perspective (Instructions for Team Time)


Each night during team time, your team should set a goal pertaining to the theme and/or skill of the night. Below you will find suggested goals each evening, but please feel free to have your team come up with an original goal each night - the suggestions are there to help if you have trouble.

Suggestions for setting team goals: Try to set a goal that includes both the soccer skill and value of the night. E.g. Tuesday’s skill/theme combo is dribbling/perspective. A good goal might be “Tonight we are to work hard to keep our heads up while we dribble so we can see the field and look for open passes.” This goal encompasses both dribbling and perspective. Feel to add bonus goals throughout the night to challenge your team.

Tuesday: Perspective & Dribbling

Team Time #1 (Before drill work)

○ Review names, welcome new players
○ Recap last night’s goal
○ Set goal for the night!

    possible goals:

         ■ Tonight we’ll all keep our heads up while we dribble so we can see the field and look for open passes
         ■ Tonight we’ll graciously and cheerfully take turns playing positions we don’t want to play so everyone can have a chance to play the position they want.
         ■  Review Hero of the Night: Boston Breakers
         ■  Talk about skit
         ■  How do BOSTON BREAKERS show PERSPECTIVE?
         ■  How does our team show PERSPECTIVE?

Team Time #2 (before scrimmage)

○ Check in on team goal for the night:

         ■ How are we doing so far?
         ■ What could we do to improve?
         ■ If we’ve already reached it, what could we add to challenge ourselves?
         ■ Who has shown the value of PERSPECTIVE like BOSTON BREAKERS?  when?


Team Time: #3 (after scrimmage)

○ Check in on team goal for the night:
         ■ how did we do?
         ■ what could we do to improve as a team for tomorrow?

○ What did you learn tonight about dribbling? (1-2 ppl share)
○ What did you learn tonight about perspective? (1-2 ppl share)
○ What did you learn tonight about our heroes? (1-2 ppl share)


]]><![CDATA[Nightly Plan: Monday, June 22, 2015]]>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 02:54:19 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/nightly-plan-monday-june-24Tonight's Announcements
Welcome to Night One of Soccer Nights 2015! I hope you are excited. Please read the following information carefully so you are prepped and ready to go when you arrive at the field!

  • Make sure you know what time slot you are signed up for so you're there when we need you to be (Logistics Team: 4:30pm; Registration Team & Lead Staff: 5pm; Everyone else: 5:30pm, unless you're on for a 7pm shift)
  • T-shirts will be available at the field for $5
  • 1st aid will be administered at each division. Supplies can be found in Division Bin.
  • Parking: There is parking at 1) the Russell Field lot 2) across the street at the Fresh Pond Apartments:Visitor Parking for Building 364. If you park at FPA you must check in with Security Desk and tell them you are with Soccer Nights. 3)down the street at the Vineyard (170 Rindge Ave)
  • Brian & Terry will be demonstrating Monday's drills starting around 5:45pm. Don't miss this!
  • Field Volunteers: remember to award points to your teams and to nominate players for hero of the night to your division leader!
  • Coaching staff, check your division bins! You will find whistles, pens, and clipboards.
  • Unsure of your role? At the end of today's post, the document containing assignments is attached. Remember to check in with Evadne upon arrival and get your name badge.

Tonight's Schedule

5:30 –6:00  Check in, directed to teams 
6:15 –6:25  Large group welcome, intro theme & skill of the night 
6:25 –6:40  Warm ups in division, skill demonstration
6:45 –7:00 Team time #1: team name, learn names, set goal for the night 
7:00 –7:25  Team Drill work 3
7:25 –7:30  Team time #2: debrief drill work, check in on team goal 
7:35 –8:05  Scrimmages 
8:05 –8:10  Team time #3: check in, debrief scrimmage and team goal 
8:10 –8:20  Large group closing 
8:20 –8:30  Snack in teams, check out  
 

Tonight's Skill: Passing

See also pages 5-9 of Soccer Curriculum Packet.

*********NOTE TO COACHES: Feel free to modify this and/or do something totally different- as long as the kids learn how to pass the ball correctly and are having a good time, that is what we care about.*********

Coaching Skills to Focus on:
1) Form:    
a) Head down and eyes on the ball 
b) Place non-kicking foot approx. 6 inches to the side of the ball and 3 inches behind the ball,                                                 toe pointed in the direction of the pass. 
c) Pass with the “instep” of the kicking-foot, toe up, ankle locked
d) Follow through, so your teammate can see the bottom of your kicking shoe.

2) Accuracy
3) Pace of pass
4) Timing

Exercise/Drill: 
1) PASSING THROUGH CONES- 
set up: multiple sets of 2 cones arranged 1 yd apart for each pair of players to pass the ball through.  
         -Players stand 5 yards away from the cones, and pass through the cones to their partner.  Partner stops the ball, then passes the ball through the cones back to the original player.

Progressions
a) back up further, b) use non-dominant foot, c) one touch (pass slowly), d) Shuttles: pass and follow, run to end of the line (need to have 3+ kids)

Games:
1) KIDS VS CONES VS COACHES

set up: cones lined up randomly in a line
         - Players stand in two lines (shoulder to shoulder) with 5-10 cones spread out in between them.  Players pass to each other trying to knock over all the cones. Coaches frantically pick up the cones after they get knocked over, trying to keep all the cones upright.  

“Scoring:”  The kids win when all of the cones are knocked over at one time.  Keep track of time, and see if kids can improve their time each round. 

Progressions: Play vs one coach, then the other coach.  See which coach takes longer to ‘beat’ the kids

2) MULTI-GOAL SOCCER

set up: cones set up in pairs 1 yd apart to make mini goals.  Make the goals spread out and oriented in different directions

         - Players pair up and each pair gets a ball.  Players run around the designated area, and get a point for every time they pass the ball through the cones to their partner. Players have to pass the ball every 3rd touch, even if its not through a goal (this prevents them from dribbling up to the goal and knocking it through, then dribbling away to another goal.  This is a PASSING drill) 

“Scoring:”  See how many goals teams can score in 1 minute. 

Progressions: 2 minutes.  See if they can improve each round. See how long it takes for a team to score 10 goals

3) PASSING LADDER

set up: give each kid a number (1-_?_ ) that they must remember.

         -Players have to jog around in a designated area (size determined by size of team) and they can ONLY pass to the number ABOVE them.  Players must keep moving around, and must only pass to the number above them.  

“Scoring:"  See how long it takes to get the ball back to the first player.  See if you can improve the team time each round.  Add a 2nd ball, and see if the team can keep both balls passing.  When the ball gets back to the first player, they continue to pass. See if you can add a 3rd ball.  

***MAKE UP YOUR OWN SCORING FOR ANY GAME! And HAVE FUN WITH IT***
Each night during team time, your team should set a goal pertaining to the theme and/or skill of the night. Below you will find suggested goals each evening, but please feel free to have your team come up with an original goal each night - the suggestions are there to help if you have trouble.

Suggestions for setting team goals: Try to set a goal that includes both the soccer skill and value of the night. E.g. Tuesday’s skill/theme combo is dribbling/perspective. A good goal might be “Tonight we are to work hard to keep our heads up while we dribble so we can see the field and look for open passes.” This goal encompasses both dribbling and perspective. Feel to add bonus goals throughout the night to challenge your team.

Monday: Teamwork & Passing

 Team Time #1 (before drill work) 
  • learn names
  • create team name
  • Set goal for the night! 
        
         possible goals:

  • Tonight we’ll pass X number of times before we shoot.
  • Tonight everyone on the team will touch the ball.
  • Tonight we’ll make sure everyone on the team will get to share at some point during team time.

  • Review Hero of the Night: KAITI AND BRIAN
               ■            How do KAITI AND BRIAN show TEAMWORK?

               ■            How can our team show TEAMWORK?

Team Time #2 (before scrimmage
  • Review names
  • Check in on team goal for the night:
           ■     How are we doing so far?
           ■     what could we do to improve?
           ■     if we’ve already reached it, what could we add to challenge ourselves?
           ■     Who has shown the value of TEAMWORK like KAITI AND BRIAN?  when?


Team Time: #3 (after scrimmage)
  • Check in on team goal for the night:
                -  How did we do?
                - What could we do to improve as a team for tomorrow?
  • what did you learn tonight about passing? (1-2 ppl share)
  • what did you learn tonight about teamwork? (1-2 ppl share)
  • what did you learn tonight about our heroes? (1-2 ppl share)

Tonight's Value: Team Work (Instructions for Team Time)

Point System Reminder

Throughout the week, division leaders will keep track of points awarded to the teams in their divisions. Divisions will compete against each other for the most points at the end of the week, and the participants in the winning division will receive a small prize.

Ways to earn points

Team Time: Explained later, during team time teams will set a nightly goal. Coaches may award points for teams meeting their goal.

○      Completely met  = 10 points
○      Majority of team met goal = 8 points
○      Partially met = 5 points

Awarding to individuals: coaches or division leaders may award points to individual participants for anything they see fit, including but not limited to the following:

○      embodying RRT (respect your coach, respect your teammates, try your hardest)
○      exceptional commitment to either theme or skill of the night
○      specific challenges during the night (e.g. making a drill harder or challenging a particular kid during the scrimmage to meet a specific goal for X amount of points)

Large Group Competitions:
○      Each night there will be competitions between divisions during opening large group (outlined later). Winning division will be allotted 10 points for the night.

Regulating Points
In past years we have had all divisions “compete” when in actuality they were all working together to reach a corporate goal. Thus, when different divisions had different economies for awarding points, it didn’t really matter. THis year as teams are actually competing, we’d like to strive for more consistency. I’ve suggested point values for some things (like nightly team goals and large group competitions), but additional points can be at the discretion of coaches and division leaders. While obviously each division will vary (especially at sites where some divisions have more teams than others), divisions should aim for somewhere in the 30-60 realm for points per night.  

soccer_nights_2015_-_volunteer_assignments.pdf
File Size:62 kb
File Type:pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[2015 Volunteer Training Documents!]]>Sat, 20 Jun 2015 21:27:53 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/volunteer-training-documents

All Volunteers
-----------------------------
Read the
Volunteer Training Packet
Coaches &
Assistant Coaches 
-----------------------
Read the
Soccer Curriculum, 
"What Makes a Hero" Values Curriculum (explanation of Team Time) .
& How to Work Well with Kids

Support Staff
------------------------
Read the 
Roles and Responsibilities Handout
Missed volunteer training or want electronic copies of all the info we handed out? 

Here's what you need:

1. Read these very important documents
2. Confirm your availability (check your email!).

3. Please email us with any questions.

2. Check back here Sunday for your volunteer assignment.
Picture

4. Get pumped for next week by practicing this year's Soccer Nights dance!

5. Equipment Transfer TOMORROW (Sunday) - 1:30pm at the Greater Boston Vineyard!

Each year on the Sunday before Soccer Nights we transport all of the equipment to the field and are graciously allowed by the City of Cambridge to leave it in their facilities all week. If you are around TOMORROW at 1:30pm, we'd love your help to get the transfer done in one big trip! If you have a car, great! If not, we need manpower more! Meet in the Parking lot of the Greater Boston Vineyard, 170 Rindge Ave Cambridge.


WEATHER NOTE: thunderstorms are projected for tomorrow. if we cancel, we will post on the blog by 1pm!

Documents

2015_soccer_nights_volunteer_packet.pdf
File Size: 1856 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
soccer_curriculum.pdf
File Size: 1960 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2015what_makes_a_hero_soccer_nights_values_curriculum.pdf
File Size: 1359 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2015_non-field_roles_and_responsibilities.pdf
File Size: 512 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Stories from the Field: Friday! ]]>Fri, 11 Jul 2014 20:14:43 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/stories-from-the-field-fridayI have a story from the blue division. Our team the blue dragons we were undefeated until the final game today. So our kids got a little used to winning and were sad about losing and there were some tears. But then a couple kids were like , you know what I learned this week? it’s not about winning. It’s about soccer and about having fun.
- Cara, Blue Division

One our players who at the beginning of the week his goals were , I want to win, let’s score two goals and that was his attitude for the whole week. and then today we had a rough couple of games. The kids were really struggling with losing… they were all really down. I wasn’t sure if we were going to come back or not. But then in the middle of [the scrimmage], the kid with the “let’s win” goals was like, “ I don’t care, I just want to play! We built off of that and then the team got really excited and we ended up winning in a shoot out.  So It was really great and the kids had a really great time in the end.
-Ana, Green Division

I think the coaches in the orange division did a really stellar job tonight. I’m a new face but you guys all really worked together well. We had a nice meeting at the beginning of the night to decide what we wanted to do. All the head coaches in the orange division really stepped up to the challenge tonight and made this tournament a really great, fun experience for the kids.
-Terry, Orange Division

We had a really great week with the 3 to 5 year olds. We played a lot of duck, duck goose. Last night I made up a new game where a tall person would hold a hula hoop above the kids and they would throw soccer balls into the hoop. It was really popular with the kids. Tonight we had 10 of them lining up to play it, and one kid was even like “ I want to duck it into the hula hoop!” It was a good week!
-Kai, 3 to 5 Year Olds

I had a Great week this week, this has been my first year. I had fun working the kids, I had fun working with Coach Keith, and I hope to do it next year.
-Justin, Crew


Tonight we made signs for the moms to support their teams. So we found out some team names, or some player names, or if we didn’t know we just wrote “BLUE” or “BRAZIL.: and that worked.  One mom in particular, her son was playing in blue division because it’s his first year. She made an amazing sign with a tiger for the Blue Tigers. The kid loved it; I happened to be walking by when the mom showed the sign to her son. He was in awe of the sign, jumping on his mom and hugging her. IT was really beautiful and cute. I came by at the end of the evening too and I told the kid his sign was hanging up on the bleachers. He said, “my mom made that!” It was a sweet little picture.
-Dani, Parent Pals

In 2008, soccer nights started. 2009, soccer nights came back. Which was a wonderful year. Every single year, it was a blast because of one person, who started it all. I wonder who it is. Stephanie! We should have a round of applause for Stphanie. 
-Aamir, Soccer Nights alumnus, Crew Member]]><![CDATA[Stories from the field]]>Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:59:06 GMThttps://www.soccernights.org/soccer-nights-blog/stories-from-the-field2Here are Wednesdays and Thursdays stories!

Sunny and I have been the coaches all week.  Tonight we totally turned it over to Saquib.  Saquib is on Crew and he did an amazing job.  We took a back seat and told the kids this is your head coach, listen to him.  He led all the drills and kept the kids completely calm and engaged when they were not in the game. He set them up to practice kickingtheir goals while they were waiting.  He was a head coach tonight and did great.
-Rae on behalf Saquib

This is about last night’s Parents vs Coaches.  I’m not very skilled at soccer, but I love playing defense at soccer.  So, one of the parents came charging at me and I sidestepped and then they made a goal.  I felt disappointed because everyone was doing something and I didn’t so I decided I was going to try harder.  I guess I persevered, which was our value.  So the next time a parent was coming at me and I sacrificed my tummy and blocked the ball and it didn’t go in the goal. 
-Fatima, Crew

Tonight we had a great Mom’s game and Steph scored a goal, so that is exciting. It was really fun to interact with the moms and they all really got along with each other.  We split them up so they weren’t on the team they expected to be on and it was really fun.
-Lindsey, Parents Team

Tonight was really great for the simple fact that the first 3 nights were really disheartening for a lot of the participants, especially when it came to scrimmages; we just kept getting our butts kicked. It was getting to the kids. But tonight something really clicked and we had a turnaround night.  Our goal was to score a goal first and foremost, and then to not concede any goals and then to add in some sportsmanship.  It seemed like all the kids needed was to know they were being encouraged and then the momentum kind of sprung from there.  We actually took the lead during the game and the kids were really excited and so was I.  I think I took ran on the field with kids screaming like a lunatic.  Then the quietest girl on the team who I didn’t think wanted to be here at all turned out to be an awesome defender.  She ran to the sideline to say, “coach are we doing a good job?”  I told her we were doing awesome and she ran back to her position where her and the other quietest girl on the team were high-fiving.   Then at the end when we did Team Time, another team member said, “This was the best game I was ever part of.”
-Tom, Green Division

During the scrimmages, one of the players on the other team, not my team, scored a goal and they were all so excited they were piling on top of each other.  But then I looked around and saw that some of my players were in the pile too. I asked them what they were doing and they said, “This is my cousin’s team!” or “My friend is on this team”.   I told them they had great sportsmanship.
-Ian, Blue Division

Last night we were doing the drills demonstration and some kid looked up and said “there’s a rainbow.” And if you have ever looked at 50 6 and 7 year olds all staring up into the sky and saying “It’s a rainbow! It’s a rainbow!” all in unison, well it’s a miraculous and beautiful thing.
-Cate, Blue Division

One of the dads who has been here all along, who has 2-3 kids in the program, came up to me to say, “This week’s been awesome! You know the past 2-3 years it just feels like it’s been getting bigger and bigger and bigger.  And this year it’s great, it’s nice and small again.”  I told him, “Actually, it’s been record attendance all week.”  He was blown away.  It is just such a testament to the quality of our volunteers to be able to run a this so smoothly with so many kids, that it seems like less kids!
-Brian, Coaching Director

Last night 11 of our 15 Crew kids went to Flatbread.  We did a lot bowling and ate a lot of pizza.  And on our way home, one of the kids said, “You know, it was just like in the movies when we go out to celebrate.  We were all in jerseys and we were having fun.”  And it was true, it was great.
-Tory, Crew Leader

We had a really good night tonight.  We served hot tea which could have gone either way on a 90 degree day, but parents loved it.   The parents were talking about how tired their kids are after Soccer Nights is over and how fast they fall asleep when they get home.  And they were all yelling out, “5 minutes!” “No 10 minutes!” “No I have to carry my child home!”.  It was fun to see them all talking all across the bleachers about this.
-Claire, Parents Team

We are the Champion Cheetahs and we just had such a great night tonight.  Our team had been really down because they hadn’t scored any goals and hadn’t won any scrimmages and tonight they got their first goal and believed they kind of won of it.  And it was a really good goal; one of the girls passed it across the goal and then her teammate was there to finish it.  They were all super happy and then the game ended right after that.  When we came together for team time, one of the girls said that we should do a cheer for the other team who lost.  We all got together and huddled and cheered for the other team. There was just a lot of good attitudes.  We really achieved our goals of looking up and spreading out.  I feel like we made so much progress.
-Ana, Green Division

We have the team the Blue Rockets and they all just love each other.  They are getting along wonderfully and they are encouraging and they are making deals with one another: “Ill be striker this time and you’ll be striker next time and then we’ll switch.”  They are really excited to do Team Time.  All in all, really good things are happening in the blue division.
-Elissa, Blue Division

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