Tiger Paws
Description
The Tiger Paws SAY Starters program is designed to introduce the 3U-4U player to the game of soccer in a fun and safe environment. This program has been designed for preschool-aged kids so that they can work on a variety of different skill-sets that will ultimately make them well-rounded, confidant and socialized young people.
This programming will be offered in both the fall and spring seasons for 6-weeks. Each playing week will consist of one 45 to 60-minute training session led by a volunteer coaching staff. Each volunteer coach will have a base SAY Starters curriculum that will be provided to them and will be offered a SAY Starters coaching course to help make them a well-educated coach for Loveland Soccer Tiger Paws.
The curriculum will be broken down into the following categories:
Social Skills (10%)
Cognitive Development (15%)
Motor-Skill Development (40%)
Soccer Skill - Basics (25%)
Play (10%)
Each week players will be introduced to new skill-sets and practice those they learned during prior training sessions. After 6-weeks, the preschool-aged player will be proficient in certain motor-skills that have been taught and have new soccer skill-sets they can continue to work on. The most vital part of the SAY Starters program is that the kids, parents and coaches have a fun soccer experience that will encourage them to continue playing and participating in future years.
Competency
The following skills will be introduced but NOT mastered at this age:
PHYSICAL LITERACY SKILLS | DRIBBLING SKILLS | MENTAL / COGNITIVE CONDITIONING | LAWS OF THE GAME |
Run with stops and starts & change of direction
| Turns – Basic | Confidence | Individual and Team Behavior |
Balance – on a line & on one foot
| Dribbling Basics | Concentration | Fair and Foul Play |
Gallop & Skip & Lateral Movements
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| Basic Rules |
Throw – Strong & Weak Hand
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Jump – one foot to another, stride & bound, hurdles |
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Rolling, Bending Low & Arching
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NSCAA Competency Matrix - STAGE 1: 3-year-old player
Benefits / Outcomes
There are a vast number of benefits for children who practice movement and physical activity in early childhood. In addition to creating healthy habits and fostering a lifelong commitment to physical activity, children whose early childhood experiences is based in movement enjoy the following benefits in both early childhood and for the rest of their lives:
Better social and motor skill development
Increased school readiness skills
Building developing muscles, bones, and joints faster
Reducing fat and lowering blood pressure
Reducing depression and anxiety
Increased learning capacity
Developing healthier social, cognitive, and emotional skills
Building strength, self-confidence, concentration, and coordination from an early age
Furthermore, active children have fewer chronic health problems, are sick less frequently, miss less school, and have a significantly reduced risk for several childhood and adult diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and mental illness.
Players
The SAY Starters program has been created for preschool-aged boys and girls that are 3U-4U. This program is open to any and all participants that fall within the restrictions of the implemented Loveland Soccer age matrix.
Teams
Each Tiger Paw team will hold between 8-10 players. All teams will have a head coach and at least 1 assitant coach. Each team will train on thier own field that will be lined with paint or cones, two portable goals and a center circle.
We allow children to play on a team with friends from their neighborhood, preschool, playgroups, etc. if desired. If you would like to have your child play with a friend or friends, you will need to provide their names during the registration process. You may add or edit this information while registration is open. Please make sure to discuss with other parents before filling in their child's name!
If you create a team with 4 or more players (your child plus 3 others) we ask that you identify one parent to be the head coach. If you have little to no previous coaching experience and want to create a team, we will help you during the season with guidance, suggestions and training plans for running effective practices and games.
You do not need to create a team or pair your child with other players. We will continue to assign players to teams randomly as we have done in the past if you chose to sign up just your son or daughter. All requests must be made by prior to registration closing. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
Volunteer Coaches
SAY has built its foundation of soccer success on the volunteer coaches and administrators that take time and energy to grow the game within their area or district. It is our hope that with each new 3U or 4U program created, it will also increase the number of volunteer coaches as well. With the coaching numbers increasing with the SAY Starters program, the importance of coaching education will be greater than ever before. It is our goal to provide these new coaches with a coach’s tool kit of 3U-4U soccer curriculums, on-field education opportunities, and online educational services. Please don't shy away from volunteering. We will prepare and educate you to be a great coach for this program.
Practices
Practices will be held once a week for 45-60 minutes. Each session will be broken down into 5-6 sections of soccer-based activities. There are no games at this age.
Cost
The price for participating in Tiger Paws is $35. Each participant will recieve a team t-shirt that is included.
Location / Fields
Spring 2018 - TBD
Dates / Times
Spring 2018 - TBD
Wear
Each participant should wear the provided team t-shirt each practice. Along with that, kids should wear loose-fitting shorts, shingaurds with long socks over top and cleats or running shoes. All long hair should be pulled back from the childs face.
Bring
Please have your child bring a water bottle and an appropriate soccer ball (size 3) to each practice. All gear needs to be marked with child's name on it.