Smoke Free Soccer: Coaches Manual
Introduction
Coach, on the following pages you’re going to find
activities that will help your team become better soccer players. More than
that though, these activities are designed to help you spread the word to
your team about the real effects smoking can have on their bodies.
Feeling invincible is part of being young. And why
not? They are young and strong. It’s perfectly natural. We all felt that
way. And while it’s a wonderful way for young people to feel about
themselves, it makes it harder for them to understand or even bother with
the message about the effects of tobacco.
These drills help you do that. These drills teach
your players about being in control in difficult situations. They’ll learn
that they can overcome something even when they are outnumbered. They’ll
find that there’s a price to pay in making the wrong decisions. And
learn the feeling of success by making the right ones.
In every case, in every activity, they’ll be
reminded that they can’t achieve any of their goals without their health.
They’ll find out what it’s like to try to do even the simplest thing when
they’re out of breath. They’ll really know what you mean when you tell them
how tobacco slows down reaction time, makes their hearts beat faster and
decreases their performance.
That’s a lot to learn, but they’ll learn it. And,
thanks to you, they’ll learn it all while having fun.
Page last updated 02/28/2007
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