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Selections from the U-6 and U-8 Age Curriculum of the Bay Oaks Soccer Club in Ohio - great stuff! http://www.bayoaks.net/guide/age7.html
U6-U8 Age Appropriate Activities"The younger they are, the more organized the coach must be."Dr. Tom Fleck, USSF National Staff Instructor
Please note that most coaches of these age groups are fairly inexperienced in the game. I find the best way for them to learn and to experience the frustrations of their 6-8 year olds is to get a ball and attempt the activities that they are going to ask their players to do, prior to the practice!
Topics to Cover – for U6-U8 Coaches
*Age Appropriate Activities / Fun Games lead to Development!
* Dribbling, Turning with Ball, Fakes and Skills
* Passing – Encourage players to pass to partner (at U7-8)
* Finishing – encouraging the mentality to shoot! KNOW THE PRINCIPLES OF YOUTH COACHING
Decision-making is the key. Soccer is a game in which the players have to think! Let the players make some input into the session, by giving them some opportunities to make decisions within the games that you choose as a coach.The coach makes the games and the rules simple. One should allow scheming but not cheating. Have a lot of balls around as a coach, so that you can shout ‘ball’s out’ or ‘get out of here’ to make the play somewhat continuous for plenty of repetition.
Review Principles of Youth Coaching:
A COACH OF YOUTH SOCCER MUST ALWAYS BE POSITIVE !
A COACH MUST ALWAYS CHECK THAT THE PLAYING AREA IS SAFE!
1. Activities need to be developmentally appropriate – fun, agility
2. Give clear instructions – Brevity, Clarity, Relevance provide good pictures – little talking
3. Simple to Complex progression
4. Opportunities for decision making – attack/defend scheming
5. Use safe and appropriate spaces (ie. 20x30 yards)
6. Provide plenty of implications for the game – very wide scope with young kids It’s all in a name! Note: The name of a game is very important. The younger players will concentrate for longer at an activity if it is called something they can relate to and use their imagination to play at. Five years ago, the kids favorite was the Power Rangers, so instead of a ‘soccer drill’, we played the Power Rangers game! They didn’t think they were learning the same old ‘soccer skills’ so they enjoyed themselves using their own imagination and creativity. Coaches should attempt to get into the psyche of their players and find out what they enjoy. Their concentration will last longer and the coach’s job will be easier!
U6-U8 Appropriate Games – Warm-Up & Dribbling
Coaches have to consider players of this age from three perspectives; physiological, psychological and social. Children of any age can differ in their level of development in either of these categories by as much as (plus or minus) 3 years. There can be a world of difference between players starting their first season as opposed to their third! Please review the activities below and from your own personal experience, adjust accordingly to the developmental needs / techniques of the players/coaches you are working with.
Concentrate on a lot of touches on the ball for each player – each with own size 3 ball. If a game is becoming tedious or the players are restless – declare multiple winners and move on to another activity. It is vital that a coach knows (or works out quickly) what level his/her players are at! If the games are too easy, the kids get bored and if they are too difficult, they get frustrated. Make activities sufficiently challenging to keep the players interested, or challenge the better individuals while a game in ongoing (i.e. using left foot only etc.).
Note: U6 have difficulty seeing imaginary lines between cones – so lay a lot of disks for sidelines
Warm Up Games
U6-U8 Players do not need to do any static stretching, unlike us adults! This is not to say that we cannot do some ball gymnastics for fun and get them into good habits, but use sparingly. I prefer to use a quick warm-up tag game to get kids ‘juiced up’ (excited) for the game of soccer. This in turn will get the kids to both get out of their parents car and tie their shoelaces quicker – I mean who wants to do laps or stand in a circle listening to the coach at this age!?
Red Rover / Sharks and Minnows
All players start in a line at one end of the grid, while coach is it in the middle. Coach calls ‘Red rover, red rover, send everybody over’ (everybody can be substituted for boys, girls or shirt colors if big numbers). The coach tries to tag players, who in turn try to reach the other side of the grid safely. If they do they turn around and wait for the coach to call again. If they are tagged then they are it in the middle with the coach. Can progress to having the kids each with a ball (gets them to attempt to look up while dribbling!)
Red Light Green Light
Start all kids on one side-line of a grid. The object is to be the first to the other side. When you (the coach) calls ‘green light’ they move as fast as they can towards the other line. When you call ‘red light’ they must stop keeping their ball under the control. If they still move or their ball is more than 1 yard from their feet they go back to the start line! Make it fun – if they move their face muscles (coach tries to make them laugh) they have to go back also.
Blob / Link Tag
Coach is it, all the players have a ball in a grid. If the coach tags someone or their ball (usually get the best dribbler first to allow the weaker kids to get more touches), that players ball is knocked out of the grid and thenthe two link arms and try and get somebody else. Game continues.
Pac-Man
One player starts with a ball in a grid (usually one of the better players). All the others start in the grid without their balls (placed just outside the grid within easy reach). On command the player with the ball has to dribble the ball under control while attempting to tag others. If he does then they also get their ball and attempt the same.
Freeze Tag
Every player starts with a ball in a grid except two taggers (in different color bibs). After 3 seconds, the taggers are free to tag anyone with a ball. If tagged, they have to freeze with their legs apart and ball by side. They can be released (or unfrozen) by another free player dribbling ball up to them and passing ball through frozen players legs. Swap taggers after 30 seconds or if they freeze everybody! This can also be played without the ball, just as a tag game. To be unfrozen, free players crawl through the legs of the frozen players.
Hospital Tag
Lay out appropriate sized grid, with a small square in the middle (the hospital). Make 2 players taggers, who have to chase others. If tagged on shoulder for instance, player has to hold shoulder with one hand until they can run into the hospital to free themselves. Game gets amusing if player is tagged 2-3 times in open!
Everybody’s it!
Every player starts with a ball in a grid. On command they can hunt each other down and if they can touch their ball against somebody else’s then they score a point. This teaches them to be creative, fake to get a view of someone’s ball or in turn shield their own ball from attack!
Other Simple Ideas
Can use control ball from air to thigh then dribble away quickly 5 touches. Then use air to foot.
Dribble in area. On command ‘switch’ leave ball and find another. Continue dribbling.
All players like opportunities to challenge themselves. For instance, once in a while use outside of foot and left foot – Get players used to using all surfaces of their feet.
Minefield
Two teams turn cones upside down or right way up to score in 30 seconds!
Variations of Minefield
Dribble round cone in order to pick up
Croquet – same as above only introduce knocking other persons ball away with your ball
Outside of foot (still w/knocking ball away). Can dribble around 2 at a time (schemer)
Play and Retrieve
Play individually (at U6) and begin to pair players up (at U7-8). Show them a couple of ways to retrieve ball then let them be creative! i.e. Throw ball away and give # of body parts to bring ball back with # of passes to hit server’s feet Coach/Server moves to a different position after he kicks ball away
Remember at these ages we do not want to say the one with the most points chooses a consequence for all the rest! Most players in this age range will lie about their score…especially little boys! A coach should be aware that if he/she plays a game with points and asks the first boy what did you get and he says ‘N’ (a number), the next will say ‘N+1’, the next ‘N+2’ etc.! Be careful!!
DRIBBLING
After some fun warm-up activities, ask the players to dribble in a defined rectangular area. Ninety percent (85%) of all players in the world prefer to kick a ball with the right foot. Consequently, 85% of all young players will dribble the ball round in a counter-clockwise direction. Coaches must recognize this problem and attempt to get their players comfortable with both the left and right foot.
Get the chin off the chest!
At the youngest ages, teams usually play 3v3. There is no such thing as 3v3! In reality, the game is 1v5 because all players play with their head down concentrating on the ball! We want them to look up to be aware of what is around them.
There is a simple activity to help do this, called Body Part Dribble. Have all players dribble their ball around in the set area and when the coach calls out a certain body-part, for instance ‘hand’ then the players stop the ball with their hand. Try this a few times then the coach does not call out but simply points to the body part on his/her own body. This will quickly get the players to look up after each gentle touch on the ball.
Find your own space!
Then instead of having to look up for the coach, just let the kids play without bumping into each other. Stop the players when a few are close to each other, then get them to stand with their arms out to the side and twist gently from the waist. If they can touch one another player, they are too close! Then guarantee them that the next time you stop them, they will all find their own space.
As a coach, one must stand in an appropriate spot to see the whole field of play. He or she can wait until every player is in their own space before calling stop. This way show the coaches that they can stand in a position to see everybody and recognize certain situations in which to stop the players to make positive points.
Shielding/Turning
Introduce the concept of shielding the ball using hands first (younger players will comprehend this infinitely quicker as they are more dexterous with their hands than feet). Each player has a partner with one ball between them. (The Coach should give a good picture to start so they do not go straight down and bang heads). One player tries to keep the ball away from coach. The only rules are that the ball has to remain on the ground and that you can only maneuver it with one hand at a time. If partner (coach) touches the ball with his/her hand possession changes! When coach wins ball, demonstrate that you don’t have to run away, just simply place your body frame between the ball and the opponent.
Secondly, tell players not to travel – can stay in one spot and still retain possession
Third, get shielder to keep hip pointing to partner (i.e., not facing them and not with their back turned)
Fourth, play shielding game using feet
Fifth, give everyone a ball in the rectangle and if coach (without ball) approaches them they are to turn away to shield. Coach can introduce inside and outside of foot turns this way.
Simple Body Fake or Trick!
All kids/players love to learn new tricks! Coach can use their favorite trick or any Coerver move as long as they break it into very small steps. I prefer to teach tricks without the ball first!
Get all participants to stand 3 steps back from their ball to learn the foot positioning first before complicating things with the ball! Lift the left foot up, take a small diagonal step forward (to the left), bend the left knee and drop the left shoulder down. Then lift the right foot up and take a quick hop diagonally forward to the right. When the ball is involved, on the hop push the ball forward in the same direction with whichever part of the foot is comfortable, preferably the right hand side of the laces of the right shoe. Let them practice on their own for 30 seconds. Do not spend long on this exercise. Some players will understand the concept and this will begin to rub off on the players around. I have had a 3 year old do this fake at camp and remember it the next day! Only spend 3-4 minutes on this then move onto another high intensity activity. The only two things that important is that they player keep their head up and that they keep the ball close to their body.
Dribbling Gates
Place a number of gates around an area (2 cones about a yard apart). The players have to dribble through the gates to score a point. Only rule is not to dribble through same gate twice in a row! The Coach must introduce vision at this point. Head for the gate that is open (i.e. no-one around it) so you don’t have to stop and wait your turn! Let them play once and then can give some suggestions for the technique to use!
PASSING
U6 Players usually are not psychologically ready for passing to their teammates and are still in the mindset of parallel play – each is playing a separate game in their head. Still it is never too early to give them a concept, as some will get it and again it will begin to rub off on the others in their peer group. Most U8’s who have played before are ready for the concept of passing to a team mate. The following game is ideal to introduce passing to a partner.
Passing Gates
Place a number of gates around an area (2 cones about a yard apart). 2 players have to pass through the gate to score a point. Only rule is not to pass through same gate twice in a row! The Coach must introduce passing and communication at this point. Let them play once and then can give some suggestions for the technique to use!
Do not berate kids for using their toes! They will use whatever part of their foot that is comfortable for them. Simply suggest different areas of the foot and tell them why (more surface area etc.) I like to use the example of when Brazil beat England in 1997 1-0, Romario scored toe-poking the ball in the corner as it was the only part of his outstretched body that could reach the ball. Ask the coaches if you think the Brazilian coach slammed Romario against the lockers after the game for using his toes?
Advance the game for U8 players by giving double points for left foot or outside of foot passes. 3 teams (3 blue, 3 orange, 3 yellow). Have to pass through gate to score a point. How many can you score in 30 seconds. If balls collide – deduct 1 point.
Death on the Nile!
10x30 grid. 3 teams of 3 players, and 3 balls. Each team gets one minute in the middle (the river). Count # of interceptions. Other 2 teams have to play the balls across the ‘river’ back and forth. Introduce calling for the ball, then passing to a teammate on same side to open ‘channels’. Within game can coach recommended technique for passing (with inside of foot and why) & receiving. One can also introduce simple deception at this point (faking the pass & knowing defensively what they are trying to read to anticipate).
FINISHING
Simply having the coach stand between 2 flags (the goal) and having kids dribble ball in and try to kick it in the goal is enough to start. Of course the goalkeeper (coach) lets most balls in! Then we can progress to other finishing games…
"The Game" 3v3/4v4 to goals with one ball!
Every coach has experienced a kid tugging on his/her shirt asking ‘when are we going to scrimmage?’ A coach should always try to let the kids scrimmage for a third or so of practice in the format that they will play in season.For the younger kids this will be 3v3 or 4v4. The coach should be the ‘boss of the balls’ serving balls into play until they are all out of play. Each player must retrieve one ball to the coach to resume game. Please, Please, Please don’t make any kid sit out of a game. Play games of inclusion! If you have an odd number, play 3v4 or 4v5. Don’t be too set on even numbers – it doesn’t matter. If teams are wildly uneven fix things by having one or two players switch teams.
Excite kids with their own development. You have to be very organized!
Review objectives of soccer activities
1. Get players to solve problems
2. Foster cooperation and teamwork
3. When does the coach control the game as opposed to the players?
4. Use games that bring out an aspect of the real game
5. Excitement – get kids ‘juiced up!’
6. Create environments to bring ideas out. Show kids how to survive!
Mike Smith
OYSA Recreation Head Coach
USYSA National Coaching Committee
