Weak group of u9s

trg

Hi folks, I'm involved with an u9 group of players who are really weak at the fundamentals of hurling and football. We do the go games and everyone plays etc. We don't have enough numbers to split or stream or anything.

It does look to me like any of the players don't really like the sport and would never watch games on telly and most definitely don't practise at home. Obviously we can't give up because there's so few of them so we need them (not that we'd give up anyway)

It is really demoralising though as a coach to be making so little improvement. We are never even remotely competitive at any blitz.

All that said we are keeping them coming and keeping training fun. It's the blitzes where we don't get much touches, don't move, seem surprised when the ball comes near, would never take a player on and run past them, would never tackle. It's cruel!

Anyone with ideas on anything we can do to get them going?

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058306060/weak-group-of-u9s

It's your job to work on the fundamentals and make it fun. Especially, the fun part. That's it. Nothing else.

Apart from that, tighten the pitch and make the goals bigger for a few weeks/months. Make it easier for them to score. Build their confidence any way you can. Encourage. Encourage. Encourage. Reward. Reward. Reward. No matter what happens. Get them practicing celebrations together after every goal. Give them different celebration routines. Make it fun - this should bond them.

Drill touch, movement, taking players on and tackling but always end it with them shooting for goals - whether it's kicking, pulling, or whatever they can do, make sure everyone is getting that ball over the line and celebrating. Set it up so they can't miss. Everyone of them. Build from there then - going slightly further out every few weeks - goals getting smaller, and so on. Don't make the drilling competitive. Sounds like confidence is very low and you'll have to be patient in building it up.

If your demoralised or defeatist, they will sense it. Of that, be sure. You're going to have to figure out a way to be positive and happy to be around them otherwise they won't play for you.

rpurfield

Its U9 most of them will be playing for the craic. Going into a blitz to be competitive isn't where its at. Get them into games or drills where there is plenty of touches and it will bring them on. Things you could try is if you have kids afraid of catching a ball ask their parent to spend some time at home with them using a teddy to throw and catch, obviously it wont hurt them then if it hits them etc. You could also try some throw and catch stuff with tennis balls. Again softer than football's or sliothars and would help build confidence. Also maybe think of a skills challenge with them every week with some reward for the winner. That may get them out at home practising too.

Donald Trump

They'll know all about next year when they are U10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziAXmwgcjQE

Wildsurfer

Just a small tip that our club do for young kids is to print out a few flash cards that you hand out to parents at training on skills that need to be practiced at home. So one week it might be the roll lift, and you make a big deal about learning that skill before the next training session.

Redsoxfan

Keeping it fun and having kids coming back is what it should be all about at this stage. Blitzes can be demoralising alright but try to set small goals, 10 touches, let's get a score in the 4th quarter etc.

Some groups are better than others. You don't have enough time with kids to make a real difference, all you can do is keep encouraging players and parents to practice.