Hockey is a sport that, especially in the youth years, is all about fun and developing basic skills. This is no different for the F-youth (usually children aged 6-7). Training sessions should be fun and challenging, playfully teaching the first principles of hockey. This article provides insight into effective training exercises for this age group, with an emphasis on ball control, game forms and creating an enthusiastic learning environment.
The importance of a playful approach
For the F-youth, fun is paramount. Children learn most effectively when they enjoy themselves and feel involved. Training sessions should therefore be attractive and varied. This means that long, monotonous exercises should be avoided. Instead, you can opt for short, dynamic exercises and game forms that challenge the children and stimulate their imagination.
Ball control: The basis of hockey
Good ball control is essential for every hockey player, regardless of the level. For the F-youth, it is important to start developing ball control at a young age. This can be done through various exercises, with the emphasis on teaching the correct technique and creating a feel for the ball.
Fun exercises for ball control
- Smuggling balls: A playful exercise where children improve their ball control. With the ball on their stick, the children try to cross a certain area without the ball being taken away by the other players.
- Differential dribbling: A warm-up exercise in which children make a lot of ball contacts in a playful way.
Tips for teaching ball control
- Start with the basics: Let the children get used to the stick and the ball. Practice the basic posture and the movement of the stick.
- Make it fun: Use game forms and competition elements to motivate the children.
- Give positive feedback: Encourage the children and give compliments when they do something well.
- Be patient: Learning ball control takes time and practice.
Game forms: Learning by playing
Game forms are an excellent way to let children learn to play hockey in a fun and challenging way. By playing, they develop not only their technical skills, but also their tactical insight, their ability to work together and their creativity.
Examples of hockey games for the F-youth
- King of the ball: A game where children try to conquer and keep the ball. This game is good for both attackers and defenders, because it contains elements of passing, shielding and keeping an overview.
- Matches with small goals: Have the children play against each other in small teams on a small field with small goals. This stimulates cooperation and scoring ability.
- Variations on tag: Adapt the well-known tag by having the children tag with the stick and the ball. This promotes ball control and agility.
Adapting game forms to age and level
It is important to adapt the game forms to the age and level of the children. A game that is suitable for the A-youth may be too difficult for the F-youth, for example. Adjust the rules, distances and complexity of the game to ensure that it is challenging, but not too difficult.
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- Tempo: Adjust the tempo of the game.
- Direction: Change the direction in which the children have to move.
- Distance: Vary the distances between the players and the goals.
- Pressure: Add time pressure to the game.
Warming-up: More than just running around
A good warm-up is essential to prepare the children for training. However, for the F-youth it is not necessary to run long laps. In fact, this can be at the expense of training time, which can be better spent on ball contacts and game forms.
Effective warm-up exercises for the F-youth
- Warming-up with stick and ball: Have the children move playfully with the stick and the ball. This ensures that they warm up and practice their ball control at the same time.
- Competitive warming-up: Start the training with a competitive game, such as "King of the ball". This ensures that the children immediately pay attention to the training and do their best.
Finishing on the goal: A favorite part
Many children enjoy finishing on the goal. It is therefore a good idea to include this part regularly in the training sessions. However, it is not always necessary to finish on the goal. Sometimes it is more important to focus on other aspects of the game, such as defending or passing movements.
Fun exercises for finishing on the goal
- Matches with small goals: Have the children play against each other in small teams on a small field with small goals. This stimulates cooperation and scoring ability.
- Penalty corner variant: Turn the penalty corner into a fun exercise by placing three attackers (one of whom is a passer) and three defenders in the goal. After the penalty corner, a small match is created with two goals on the 23-meter line.
Creating a positive and stimulating environment
In addition to the right exercises, it is also important to create a positive and stimulating environment in which children feel safe and comfortable. This means that the trainer must pay attention to the following aspects:
- Positive feedback: Give the children regular positive feedback and encourage them to do their best.
- Individual attention: Give the children individual attention and help them develop their skills.
- Fun first: Make sure that the training sessions are fun and varied, so that the children enjoy playing hockey.
- Respect: Treat the children with respect and teach them to respect each other.
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