Easter Soccer School Brochure

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Here at Cambridge United FC we pride ourselves in delivering excellence in everything that we do and the Soccer Schools programme

is no different. With the safety and well-being of the children our primary concern and a fun-filled, ever-changing technical programme

perfectly scripted for each school holiday, we consider our programme the only choice for a parent whose child enjoys playing football.

Cambridge United FC caters for all, with programmes for boys and girls aged 2-16 of varying ability levels and experience. I invite you

to read this doscument which will guide you through our Easter School holiday programme. Delivered by highly qualified, personable,

fun, dediciated and specialised youth development coaches, the CU Soccer School programme will become your choice for each and

every school holiday. The outreach of the programme has now expanded to eighteen venues. For the Easter break all eighteen

venues will run for 9 days from Monday 29 March – 1 April and then Monday 4 – Friday 8 April.

I hope that you enjoy reading about our fantastic Soccer Schools programme and we look forward to seeing your child this half term!

Yours Sincerely,

Ian Miller

Community Football Manager

DRIVING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

A FOUR DAY COURSE IN WEEK 1 – TUESDAY 29 MARCH – FRIDAY 1 APRIL AND 5 DAY COURSE IN WEEK 2 – MONDAY 4 – FRIDAY 8 APRIL.

ALL SESSIONS 9AM-4PM WITH AN EARLY DROP OFF AND LATE PICK UP SERVICE – 8-9AM AND 4-5PM.

THE EARLY DROP OFF & LATE PICK UP IS A FREE SERVICE AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE BOOKED AHEAD OF THE COURSE.

FSE GO TO WWW.CUSOCCERSCHOOLS.CO.UK Parents are welcome to drop of their child from 8am. We know that for working parents,

getting your child to and from school holiday activities can be difficult and that whilst the

9am-4pm childcare provision is helpful, dropping off and collecting in this time frame

conflicts with the working day of most. For this reason we offer an early drop off service

from 8-9am and a late pick up service from 4-5pm. We do not penalise parents that

require this service and offer this at no additional cost.

When children arrive at 8am they will have the opportunity to get involved in with a range

of activities either participating on their own, with a coach, in pairs, in small groups or as a

team. This environment makes it a less daunting environment for children attending for

the first time or those that don’t know any other children at the Soccer School.

Our coaches will be on hand to help children settle in their new environment and begin to

make friends. The introductory activities also create an environment where the children

can meet their coaches and give parents the opportunity to ensure that their child is

settled for the day ahead before leaving.

Children are required to be registered on arrival by a responsible adult. Once their

attendance has been recorded the child is free to join in any of the introductory

activities. Shortly after 9am the coach will stop the activities and bring all the children

together for a daily procedure overview. Typically this presentation will contain the

following:

- An element of fun to settle the children into their environment.

- An Introduction of the coaching team.

- Procedures on behaviour, break/lunch times (i.e. no food sharing etc), toilet

breaks and other helath & safety measures.

- Where to store belongings and keep them safe.

- What to do when you arrive each day .

- The plan of the day ahead.

- Coaches minimum expectations of behavious and conduct.

- Expected outcomes for the day (i.e. learning, fun, enjoyment, making new

friends etc).

Although some children attend for every day of the course, this overview will be

completed at the start of each and every day with the emphasis on children that have

attended previosuly to explain the procedures to children attending for the first time.

Day-to-day improvement can be recorded as part

of the ‘Personal Skills Challenge’. For each school

holiday the children will be given a record sheet

where they can compete against themselves only.

This daily initiative shows children that they don’t

need to worry about how others perform if they

concentrate on their own development and make

small steps each day to improve.

Challenges are very simple, basic techniques that

are often completed in a set time-frame. For

children attending the full week, they can benefit

from the coaching tips and advice given by our FA

qualified Youth Development coaches.

The children will even have an opportunity to

compete against the First Team players on one day

of the week-long course.

The First Team players will attend on

at least 1 days of the Soccer Schools

to take part in skills challenges, pose

for photo’s and sign autographs.

The players are fantastic role models and their

visits are often the highlight of the week for the

children attending. The day they are attedning

will be publicised two weeks before the course.

TIME TECHNIQUE TUESDAY 29 MARCH

WORLD CUP WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH

TRICKS AND TURNS THURSDAY 31 MARCH

GOALS GALORE FRIDAY 1 APRIL

8:00AM-9:00AM

EARLY DROP OFF INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES




9:00AM REGISTRATION

DAILY PROCEDURE OVERVIEW REGISTRATION



DAILY PROCEDURE OVERVIEW 9:10AM PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE

9:30AM TECHNIQUE TUESDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 1

WORLD CUP WEDNESDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 1

TRICKS AND TURNS THURSDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 1

GOALS GALORE FRIDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 1

11:00AM BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

11:20AM WORKSHOP: LEADERSHIP

WORKSHOP: RESPONSBILITY

WORKSHOP: CONFIDENCE

WORKSHOP: PROFESSIONALISM

12:20PM LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK

1:00PM TECHNIQUE TUESDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 2




1:45PM FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

2:30PM BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

2:50PM MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY

3:50PM END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY GRADUATION

4:00PM-5:00PM

LATE PICK UP

AFTER HOURS ACTIVITIES LATE PICK UP



AFTER HOURS ACTIVITIES

TIME MASTERCLASS MONDAY 4 APRIL

TECHNIQUE TUESDAY 5 APRIL

WORLD CUP WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

TRICKS AND TURNS THURSDAY 7 APRIL


8:00AM-9:00AM






9:00AM REGISTRATION





DAILY PROCEDURE OVERVIEW 9:10AM PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE PERSONAL SKILLS CHALLENGE

9:30AM MASTERCLASS MONDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 1

TECHNIQUE TUESDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 1




11:00AM BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

11:20AM WORKSHOP: ATTITUDE

WORKSHOP: COMMUNICATION

WORKSHOP: TEAM WORK

WORKSHOP: HYDRATION

WORKSHOP: DEDICATION

12:20PM LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK LUNCH BREAK

1:00PM MASTERCLASS MONDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 2

TECHNIQUE TUESDAY TECHNICAL SESSION 2




1:45PM FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

2:30PM BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

2:50PM MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY MATCH PLAY

3:50PM END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY PRESENTATION END OF DAY GRADUATION

4:00PM-5:00PM

LATE PICK UP





AFTER HOURS ACTIVITIES

WEEK 1 EASTER MONDAY TECHNIQUE TUESDAY 29 MARCH

WORLD CUP WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH

TRICKS AND TURNS THURSDAY 31 MARCH


On the first day of the Easter break the children will work

on passing techniques, focussing on side foot passing, driven passing, lofted passing and passing with disguise. The

coaches will break the skills down for the children as they learn best practises for how to execute these techniques.

Extra match time will be applied on day two as the

children have the opportunity to showcase what they have

learnt on day one. The coaches will assess the

children’s passing techniques and give them feedback as to how they can further improve their play in game situations.

On Thursday the children will have the opportunity to learn a range of 1v1 attacking skills

and turns to retain possession. The skills taught

will be tailored to the individual ability of each child.

These practises will include plenty of time spent with a football per child with the relevant coaching advice.

Friday gives the children the chance to showcase their goal

scoring prowess through a range of finishing drills. Again the sessions will be adapted

to suit each individuals ability level and the children will be

grouped in either age or ability appropriate groups.

WEEK 2 MASTERCLASS MONDAY 4 APRIL

TECHNIQUE TUESDAY 5 APRIL

WORLD CUP WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

TRICKS AND TURNS THURSDAY 7 APRIL


Masterclass Monday will focus a little more on the tactical side of the game, with examples of how top

professionals make decisions in match situations.

The second Tuesday of the course focuses on techniques

in individual possession. Children will be challenged with suitable ball mastery

exercises which will be progressed for those children

who the coaches deem it suitable to challenge further.

With 6 days down of the 9 day course the second

Wednesday will give the children plenty of match time

The children will learn new 1v1 attacking skills and turns to keep the ball away from

defenders

Which country will

you represent?

Come dressed as a

country of your choice!

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS Each day the children will address a non-technical

aspect of the game as we look to develop them both on

and off the pitch in a number of key ‘life-skill’ topics.

The workshops are delivered by the Head Coach and are

presented in a fun and interactive way, but in a

classroom environment.

Children will complete written and oral tasks and make

presentations about their findings both individually and

in groups. We have found that the workshops improve

children’s knowledge, confidence and social skills.

This Easter the Educational Workshop topics are:

LEADERSHIP

RESPONSBILITY

CONFIDENCE

ATTITUDE

PROFESSIONLISM

COMMUNICATION

TEAMWORK

HYDRATION

DEDICATION

Each day there will be plenty of opportunities for children to take part in matches. Playing matches is simply

the best way to improve. Lucikly for coaches, it’s what children tend to enjoy most too! The match-play

through the week will be varied with the following opportunties:

- Small-sided matches – 3v3, 4v4 & 5v5 matches

- Larger-sided games – depending on age group, anything from 6v6 to 9v9 games may be played.

- Match situations – Snapshots of matches are played out in order for children to work on certain

techniques and understand how they relate to match situations.

- Scenario match-play – for example: Cambridge United are 2-1 up with ten minutes left on the clock.

The main aims are to keep possession and not to concede. One team are Cambridge and the other

team are deperately trying to get back in the game.

Rest assured whatever happens, your child won’t return home having not played enough matches!

MATCHES

FOOTBALL

FESTIVAL

An hour and a quarter each day is dedicated purely to FUN! After the second technical session, at a

point of the day where concentration may be at it’s lowest, lots of activities are set up for the

children to simply play and express themselves in a number of fun-orientated tasks.

Activities include soccer bowling, giant football, the target goal challenge, playing in the inflatable

football pitches, bubble football & more! We find that this time refocusses the mind and improves

concentration levels for the rest of the day ahead.

END OF DAY PRESENTATION

At the end of each day the coach will celebrate the

success of the participants. This may be the winner

of a competition, a child that performed particuarly

well or even an act of sportsmanship or fairplay.

Highlighting that success isn’t just about

performance and results is an important lesson for

children to learn. Rewarding children for their

behaviour, postivity, work ethic or enthusiasm

reinforces these character traits.

Coaches will provide medals, certificates and prizes

at different points of the course.

Parents collecting their child at 4pm are encouraged

to arrive around 3:45 to watch the end of day

presentation about what the children have done

and hear about their successes.

QUALIFICATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Coaches that work within the Cambridge United FC Soccer Schools programme are a minimum of FA

Level 2 qualfied, fully DBS checked and hold valid safeguarding and First Aid certificates. Many also hold

their FA Level 3/ UEFA B Coaching License. Every coach that we use is experienced in dealing with

children aged 4-12 and many work with us in a full-time capacity within our Primary School programme

and/or Youth Development system.

Peace of mind for parents is vital. You can view our policies and procedures on the above topics at

www.cusoccerschools.co.uk:

- Anti-Bullying - Photography - Child Protection

Documents

Easter Soccer School Brochure