Planning a Football Training and Competition Season Football Equipment Football Equipment It is important for athletes to be able to recognize and understand how equipment works and impacts their performance for the specific events. Have your athletes name each piece of equipment as you show it, and give the use for each. To reinforce this, have athletes select the equipment used for their events as well. A well-run training session begins with having the right coaching equipment. Below is a list of the most important training items. A ball for every player must be available. Players can only improve their technical skills if they frequently touch a soccer ball. Junior players (under 12 years) play with a size-4 ball; all other players play with a larger size-5. Softer, synthetic leather balls should be used, particularly for beginner players. A brightly colored ball may help keep the attention of lower ability players and help players with visual impairments. A set of scrimmage vests is essential when playing any kind of team activity. The brightly colored vests help players distinguish teammates from opponents, especially important for beginner Special Olympics athletes. Vests should be the slip-over type rather than the tie type that can be difficult to put on. Plastic marker cones (12) are needed to mark playing areas and goals. It is almost impossible to run a training session without some kind of marker cones. Cones come in various sizes, but 9-inch plastic cones are recommended. Larger marker cones make ideal goals when proper goals are not available. A whistle is useful for organizing players and for refereeing scrimmages. Coaches should use verbal commands whenever possible; however, some players respond better to the sound of the whistle. A clipboard with that day’s training session plan will help you stay organized and keep you on track. Once a training session has started, it is easy to forget where you are going next unless you have a copy of the session plan. A basic first-aid kit will allow you to treat minor cuts and abrasions on the field. Please refer to the Athlete, Fitness and Nutrition section for more information on first-aid kits and athlete injury. General Football Equipment List At-A-Glance Balls Scrimmage Vests Cones Whistle Clipboard First-Aid Kit 26 Special Olympics Football Coaching Guide Created: February 2004