Some Team Building Exercises
Provided by Kip Merritt to SoccerCoach-L e-mail list

A good reference for some of these is the DiCicco/Hacker book Catch Them Being Good by Tony Dicicco, Colleen Hacker, Charles Salzberg

Blindfolded Scavenger Hunt:

Lay out a 10 yd grid. Put a bunch of items on the ground in the grid; whatever. You'll mix them up each round. Have your players in pairs. One is blindfolded, the other is the leader. Have all blindfolded players walk/crawl around in the grid looking for the items which are all listed on a sheet. The leader has to direct the blindfolded player as to which way to turn/move/reach, etc. You can also do this in pairs through an obstacle course. Time the pairs. Mix the pairs up. Be creative. The MAIN PURPOSE is for the players to develop trust in each other, communicate well and have fun. I usually don't do more than 3 or 4 pairs at a time which gives the other players a chance to observe and laugh, etc.
 

Pass The Ball

Using a soccer ball (difficult) or a gymnic/plyo ball (easy) have the girls sit down in two or three equal lines which are parallel and separated about 5 feet. The players are about 3 feet behind each other facing in the same direction. This is a race. Use at least 5 but hopefully more girls on each team. Ball starts in front of the first player on each line. Object is to pass the ball from player to player using no hands down and back up the line. Winner is the first to get the ball both ways. This is accomplished by grabbing the ball between the feet and rocking backwards bringing the ball over the head to the player behind, who grabs with feet and continues.

It's a great ab/core workout, too!! Do it a few times, time it, and keep challenging the girls to do it faster.


Hula hoops Race:

All girls in a big circle, standing arm's width apart. Hopefully like 15-20. You'll need 3-4 hula hoops. Have them all clasp hands solidly through the hula hoops with the hula hoops spread evenly throughout the circle... so they're all standing there, holding hands, with 3-4 hula hoops dangling off the arms of a some of the players. On your whistle, they start working the hula hoops (in the same direction) around the circle from player to player. The contest is over when every hula hoop makes it all the way around back to the starting point. You'll see that there's a great deal of team work, conversation, and body gyrations necessary to move the hoops over every player's head or under their feet. Heads are easier/faster, by the way. Do this exercise 2-3 times and each time challenge the girls to do it faster. Once they get more comfortable w/it, mix the girls up and do it a few more times. It's always fun.

  Web Administrator    Ken Gamble