Little Kickers coaching is focused on preparing pre-school age children for playing football by developing the required physical and social skills. From ages 18 months - 2 yrs mom's and dad's assist the coach in taking there children through the motions working towards the children participating independantly. From ages two to four, the emphasis is on developing balance, coordination, motor skills and confidence. Between four and eight, sessions focus more on ball related games, group interaction and team play to develop a broader range of skills.
Overview of the Little Kickers Activity Programme
Ball skills classes are run for 4 distinct age groups:
- Little Kicks - 18months - 2 years
- Junior Kickers - 2 - 4 years
- Mighty Kickers - 4 - 6 years
- Mega Kickers - 6 - 8 years
A maximum of 16 children attend each class. A carer (parent / nanny etc) is encouraged to be present for the duration as the responsible adult, and is encouraged to help the child to participate if the child is shy.
The sessions are led by the Lead Coach who agrees the session programme with the Assistant Coach and sets up the venue. The assistant coach carries out a Daily Health & safety checklist on the condition of the venue and registers the children into the class.
Play not Push
Little Kickers was created nearly ten years ago in response to overwhelming demand from the two founders own ball crazy pre-school children and their friends. Our company motto is 'Play not Push' as we feel this reflects our company objectives of providing pre-school children with a positive, fun introduction to sport in a pressure free environment. Government statistics suggest that 1 in 10 pre-school children are classified as obese and that between 1989 and 1998 the incidence of obesity amongst two to four year olds almost doubled from five percent to nine per cent. The need to provide children of this age group with a positive introduction to sport has never been greater.
Promoting regular physical activity
Little Kickers classes help children discover the rewards of regular structured physical exercise, laying the foundation for fit, active and healthy lives. The Little Kickers programme, developed by FA qualified coaches and nursery school teachers with input from child health specialists, introduces real football skills through exciting group play activities. Valuable concepts like sharing; taking turns, teamwork and listening to instructions are incorporated in the activities. The classes also enable children to develop co-ordination, agility and balance and early learning concepts such as colours and numbers are gently introduced through football. The football equipment used is realistic and child friendly.
Coaching Philosophy
Little Kickers coaching is focused on preparing pre-school age children for playing football by developing the required physical and social skills. From ages two to three and a half the emphasis is on developing balance, coordination, motor skills and confidence. Between three and a half and five sessions focus more on ball related games, group interaction and team play to develop a broader range of skills. Our coaching philosophy has three parts:
- Play
The greatest tool for development and learning for the pre-school age group is self initiated play, which leads to excited and vigorous participation. This in turn leads to rapid improvement.
- Practice
Activities with limited touches and turns generally will have limited benefit. Activities with lots of turns and touches will facilitate greater growth at an individual rate within a group environment. Very simply, the more you do it, the better you get.
- Understanding
Little Kickers believes not only in teaching children how to perform a skill, but also to start building an understanding why the skill is needed. This helps children to apply learnt skills such as close control or shielding laterally into general game and other subsequent scenarios. Little Kickers sessions are a series of activities and games that use imaginative play, familiar games, visual stimulation and creative participation to engage the interest of the child enough to make them want to take part. The aim of a Little Kickers coach is to provide the support, leadership and environment to allow children to develop at their own pace in a fun and safe environment.
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