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soccer 'sumo' and the 'shirt
pulling game'
by Rick Gruneau, first published on
decatur sports |
This year my U14 girls
played physical games like "soccer sumo"
(largest player gets in a small circle of cones, send in a player to
shoulder challenge to try to push her out of the cones within 15 seconds)
and the "shirt pulling game"
(grab partner by the shirt up near the shoulders, place a ball 3 meters
away. Partner who touches ball with her foot first wins -- nearly anything
short of punching goes - long nailed girls are likely to break one).
To mediate this
competitiveness I also try to create an environment where everyone feels
valued as a person -- not just as a player. There is no stigma in losing
as long as you are working to improve. The competition is there to improve
the team, not to demean anyone. Let's compete hard, but keep it all in
perspective. With girls from U-11 though U-17 I think you really need to
have this dual focus -- competition, but also the security and safety that
comes from knowing that you are worth more than your soccer ability and
that EVERYONE on the team has something to contribute.
more games designed
to help young players cope with the physical aspects of football (soccer)
animal ball anything goes - getting used to physical contact Bang and steal the bacon four corners aggressiveness and fitness drill soccer sumo and the shirt pulling game war!
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