Week 46

Outcomes

• ✓Players can say the club name and describe one value of Austin Hearts FC.
• ✓Players play with the effort and joy that represents the club.
• ✓Players feel they belong to something bigger than themselves.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 20 flat cones (maroon/red if available)
• 4 small pop-up goals
• 1 pinnie per player in club colours if possible
• Printed Hearts badge stickers (optional)

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Set up a 'Hearts pitch' (20x20 grid) with cones arranged in a heart shape along the boundary.

   How to run it: Players arrive to the heart-shaped pitch and play freely. Coach narrates the space: 'This is your Hearts pitch — every time you play with joy and heart, you represent this club.' Let them explore the space and notice the heart shape.

   • ›The visual of the heart boundary makes the theme concrete.
   • ›Ask arriving players: 'What does a Hearts player look like?'
   • ›Accept every answer — courage, fun, kindness, effort all count.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Hearts Values Freeze

   8m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. Every player dribbles freely with a ball.

   How to run it: Dribble freely. When coach calls a Hearts value ('BRAVE!' / 'KIND!' / 'FUN!'), players freeze and do the action: Brave = one big shot at the nearest goal; Kind = find a friend and give them the ball; Fun = do the silliest dribble imaginable for 5 seconds. Then continue. Repeat with all three values.

   • ›Values become embodied through movement, not words.
   • ›Brave: praise the attempt not the accuracy. Kind: celebrate the giving. Fun: join in the silliness.
   • ›Rotate which value you call unpredictably.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Colours of the Club

   12m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. Two hula hoops (maroon/red if possible) as 'Hearts bases' at each end. Players in two teams.

   How to run it: Teams compete to carry as many balls as possible from the neutral zone to their Hearts base — but they must pass (roll) the ball at least once before placing it in the base. Each ball in the base = 1 Hearts Point. The team chant plays between rounds. Play 3 rounds.

   • ›The pass-before-placing rule embeds the quarter theme into the game.
   • ›Both teams do the chant together — rivalry is friendly.
   • ›Hearts Points are celebrated by both teams.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — 3v3 Hearts FC

   15m

   Set up: Two 15x10 pitches. Teams of 3. Goals at each end.

   How to run it: Play 3v3. Today every team represents 'Austin Hearts FC' — all teams wear the club badge in their hearts. Coach announces each player like a commentator: 'And Number 1 — playing for Austin Hearts FC — [player name]!' Players love the commentary. Rotate every 4 minutes.

   • ›Commentating player names makes them feel like professionals.
   • ›Celebrate club values on the pitch: 'That was brave — very Hearts!'
   • ›Every player gets a commentary announcement at least once.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: Circle.

   How to run it: Ask: 'If you had to explain Austin Hearts FC to a new player, what would you say?' Take 2-3 answers and build on them. Coach summarises: 'We play with heart.' Hearts Cheer — slow and deliberate this time, hand over heart before the shout.

   • ›Slowing the cheer down makes it more meaningful than usual.
   • ›Coach's summary statement should be simple and memorable.
   • ›Badge stickers for everyone if available.

Outcomes

• ✓Players play with effort, kindness, and fun — the three Hearts values.
• ✓Players cheer for teammates and opponents equally.
• ✓Players leave feeling proud to be part of Austin Hearts FC.

Equipment

• 1 size-3 ball per player
• 24 flat cones
• 4 small pop-up goals
• 1 pinnie per player (4 colors)
• Printed certificates or sticker packs (optional)

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Free Play

   5m

   Set up: Heart-shaped pitch from last session. Balls scattered. Teams warm up in their colours.

   How to run it: Teams arrive and do their team chant, then dribble freely. Coach narrates: 'Welcome to the Austin Hearts FC Pride Festival — where every player is a champion of the Heart!' Maximum enthusiasm from the first second.

   • ›Festival energy must be established in the first 60 seconds.
   • ›Greet every family as they arrive — parents are part of the community.
   • ›Let teams dribble freely without instruction for the full 5 minutes.

2. 2. Warm-Up Game — Kindness Coins

   8m

   Set up: 20x20 grid. Scatter 20 flat cones as 'kindness coins.' Every player has a ball.

   How to run it: Dribble to a coin, sole-stop on it, then give the coin to the nearest teammate — not keep it for yourself. The player with the LEAST coins at the end wins, because they gave the most away. Coach tracks each player's giving and celebrates the biggest givers.

   • ›Winning by giving is a radical and memorable lesson.
   • ›Celebrate generosity loudly and specifically: 'They gave FOUR coins away!'
   • ›This game will generate delighted confusion — lean into it.

3. 3. Skill Theme Game — Pride Points Game

   12m

   Set up: Two 20x15 pitches, two teams each. Goals at each end.

   How to run it: 4v4 Pride Game. Teams earn points three ways: 1) Goal = 1 point. 2) Clapping for the other team's goal = 1 kindness point. 3) A coach-observed brave skill attempt (any skill!) = 1 brave point. Coach tracks all three on a visible scoreboard (flat cones). Total all three types at the end.

   • ›Three types of points make winning multidimensional and inclusive.
   • ›Clapping for the other team feels unnatural at first — model it yourself.
   • ›Brave points reward the attempt regardless of success.

4. 4. Small-Sided Games — Festival Finals with Hearts Commentary

   15m

   Set up: Three 12x10 mini-pitches. 3v3 round-robin, 4-minute rounds.

   How to run it: Full festival rounds with live commentary from the coach. After each game: both teams do the Hearts Cheer together as one big group. Between rounds, coach awards a 'Hearts Moment of the Round' — a specific moment of joy, kindness, or bravery witnessed. Play 3 rounds.

   • ›Combined Hearts Cheer after each game breaks down team rivalry.
   • ›Hearts Moment recognition reinforces values more than any rule.
   • ›Commentary keeps energy high between restarts.

5. 5. Cool-Down & High-Fives

   5m

   Set up: All players in one circle — biggest circle of the session.

   How to run it: Coach gives each player a certificate or sticker pack if available. Coach says one personal sentence to every player. Then the biggest Hearts Cheer of the quarter so far — everyone stands, hands in, shout together. Parents invited to join the cheer.

   • ›Personal sentence to every player is the most important coaching act of the session.
   • ›Including parents in the cheer extends the community.
   • ›This session is a dress rehearsal for the season finale — match its energy.