Curriculum Overview

Ball Mastery

Ball mastery comes from high-quality individual work with the ball, using both feet. It’s important to use a variety of contacts.

Soccer Hamptons wants to cultivate a situation where using the ball becomes instinctive to each player.

Our philosophy also develops confidence, the mentality to play forward, improves 1v1 defending and all aspects of physical literacy (agility, balance, co--ordination.)

Each player should be able to play with his head up, even in opposed situations.

This work starts with our youngest classes and continues up, although strongest emphasis is placed on this work at the earliest stages.

Key Ball Mastery Practices for U7--U12

- Ball Manipulation

Exercises to develop the player’s comfort on the ball.

It’s crucial to involve a variety of contacts and eventually use body feighnts to confuse an opponent. 

- Lateral Moves

Skills that involve the player using his body to protect the ball, while combining this with basic changes of direction, in order to ultimately beat the opposition player.

- Forward Moves

Skills and moves required to beat an opponent directly and advance with the ball.

Soccer IQ

At Soccer Hamptons, we highly emphasize the importance of developing a soccer IQ. A soccer IQ is an understanding of space on the field and one's movement in relation to where the ball and other players are. 

While a soccer IQ takes years of playing to cultivate, drills challenging a player's perception of space and decision-making under pressure can help to develop a second-nature sense of space and time in the game. 

Soccer Hamptons Advanced Technical Programs

Technique is the collection of natural and adopted skills that a player uses to
complete an action successfully.
This collection of natural and adopted skills effectively forms each player’s toolbox.

Core 5 Techniques

PASSING 
. Shortrange
. Long range
. Inside of the foot
. Outside of the foot
. Reverse
. Wall pass ( 1-2)

RECEIVING
. Inside of the foot
. Outside of the foot
. On the move
. From the air
. Followed by shot

SHOOTING

. Laces

. Inside of the foot
. On the move
. Straight volley

DRIBBLING 

. To change direction
. Followed by pass
. Followed by shot
. Followed by cross

RUNNING WITH THE BALL
. Straight line
. Followed by pass
. Followed by shot
. Followed by cross

Coordination, Agility and Strength

With simple exercises to improve a player's coordination, agility and strength, key muscle muscle groups are activated which not only prevent injury, but further improve technique and athleticism. As players age, it is particularly important to target these muscle groups in the lower body in order for them to maintain a strong center of gravity and play at continuous intensity without injury. 

Soccer Hamptons uses the following to address these areas:

- Ladder work 

- Static + dynamic stretching 

- Resistance Band exercises 

- Body Weight exercises

- Technical drills with emphasis on form and repetition to develop muscle memory