There are countless activities and many videos and books available. You can obtain books at the KYSA office in Lexington; also check your local library and bookstores. Some popular skill games are included here for your immediate use.

You don't need 100 Activities. Pick a few (about 10) and work at them.

• Step 1 - explain the activity (why and how it is done)

• Step 2 - demonstrate the activity (slowly, step by step)

• Step 3 - execute the activity

• Step 4 - figure out went wrong (it's often the instructions); fix it, and start over!

Remember: showing is better than talking.

Some activities will not work well at first Maybe they need a small adjustment (e.g. too many players or players standing too close or too far apart).

Repetition of activities builds skills. It can also be boring. So use variations of activities, don't repeat the same activity too often. If your players are not enjoying or not learning from a particular activity, find another that focuses on the same skills.

Start a activity simple and move to the harder stuff. For example, begin with a simple passing activity, and then introduce a defender.

Play with the kids! Sometimes you should join the activity as a participant rather than a coach. Not only will the kids enjoy it, but also you will gain a better appreciation of the skill you are asking them to master.

IDEA: Call a parent from their sidelines to be a goalkeeper for a shooting activity.

Experiment! Don't be afraid to try new ideas.

Split the team into small groups for you and your assistants to teach a activity; then rotate. This keeps more players busy and allows more individual attention.

When organizing kids into groups, consider their abilities. For example, in some dribbling or passing activities it might be best to have pairs with similar abilities. Conversely, in competition (e.g. 2v2) you might pair stronger and weaker players for balance.

Start a activity slowly. WALK through it first, then move to half speed, and finally at full speed.