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U6 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18
UNDER 6 & 8 AGE GROUPS: (Soccer in purest form of enjoyment)
Characteristics of Age Groups:
Not a great deal of attention span
Apt to cry when really hurt and when not really hurt
Need simple rules for activities (keep it brief & demonstrate)
Easily bruised psychologically, need praise and “hints” for improvement, DO NOT CRITICIZE THEM OPENLY!!!!!!!!!!
Need to play with little to no pressure
Early developmental stages of hand-eye & eye-foot coordination
Early physical development may cause “clumsiness"
Boys & Girls developing at similar stage
Have
a limited understanding of evaluation (i.e.
Tried Hard means Did Good!)
Parental Involvement for this Group:
Parents viewed as “Most Important Person” in life for these age groups
Coach must have pre-season meeting with parents and discuss objectives for players
Phone Chains implemented
Team Administrator to handle paperwork
Carpools
Starting
& Ending times for “training” (Use
this word loosely for these age groups)
PARENTAL
EXPECTATIONS
DO NOT YELL AT THE PLAYERS!
DO
NOT COACH FROM SIDELINE!
Coach's
Role:
Facilitator,
Friend, Stimulator, Patient, Enthusiastic, Imaginative and Nurturing
Create
environment where players use ball to help develop physical movement
Train
with an emphasis on fun and games... NOT DRILLS!
Train
for no more than 1 hour at a time and no more than 2 times a week
Provide
lots of water breaks so they can maximize enjoyment of sessions
Emphasize
individual effort and success
Encourage
dribbling and other “selfish” actions, let them learn to love the ball
before they are asked to give it away “pass”
Use
small sided games for your sessions (everyone is involved and NO LINES!)
CHALLENGE
PLAYERS TO GET BETTER ON OWN BY PLAYING WITH THEIR BALL AT HOME OR
ANY OTHER TIME THAN PRACTICE!
Do not include Goalkeepers in games you play! Goals are Fun, remember that!!!
Create games that challenge players to do new things and let them “show off”
UNDER
10 AGE GROUP (Transition into the
real game)
Characteristics
of Age Group:
Longer
attention span
Able
to recognize some abstract concepts
Skills
become easily recognizable
Increased
self-responsibility
Becoming
openly competitive
Prefer
team bonding and like to “belong”
Still
need continuous positive reinforcement
More
Intrinsically motivated in actions
ADULT OTHER THAN FAMILY MEMBER MAY TAKE ON LARGE ROLE!!!
Coach's
Role:
Teacher
& Enthusiast
Create
a mixed environment in training and games because players are beginning to
understand the rationales of “groupings” by coaches and their inclusion
in the “lower” group may turn them off of the game.
Try
to make training into mildly competitive environment with SOME value on
winning and
allow them to piece the puzzle together themselves ... Don't feed them as a
baby!!!
Not answer questions about training situations directly, instead offer to guide the player along
Do
not pigeon hole a player for one position, they should play many at this age
FOCUS
ON DEVELOPMENT, NOT WINNING!
Give players responsibility for preparation (eating night before, lots of H2O night before)
Technical
Considerations:
Repetition
of technique in dynamic, not static, games
Dribbling
using all surfaces
Basic
turns and moves to beat an opponent
Receiving
skills on all types of balls
Passing
skills using all surfaces
Fundamental
concepts
Play
many positions
Attacking
& Defending 1 v 1
Basic
Shapes (support, width, depth, pressure, etc)
UNDER
12 AGE GROUP (Romance of Playing
the Game)
Characteristics
of Age Group:
Developing
complex coordination skills
Greater
understanding of abstract concepts
Able
to address hypothetical situations
More
susceptible to peers than parent pressures
Highly
self-critical
Openly
competitive & some will be “dirty”
Role
models will guide their actions
REACHING
PUBERTY!
Parental
Involvement for this Age Group:
Basically
same as Under 6, 8 & 10 age groups
Coach's
Role:
Sensitive
Teacher, Enthusiastic Role Model and Supporter, Encouraging
Develop
environment where emerging spirit of cooperation and encouragement within
the group can be utilized to strengthen all players
Create
pressure situations that enable players to use skills available to solve
problems
Train
less than two to three times a week for no more than 1 1/2 hours at a time
Focus
on players skill level not just their size or growth potential
Not
to cause player burnout with an environment which is not positive &
reinforcing
Train
with small sided games and 11 v 11 activities
FOCUS
ON DEVELOPMENT AND DECISION MAKING REALIZING THAT THIS FOCUS MAY LOSE YOU
GAMES OR OBTAIN A PERFECT WINNING SEASON, AND TRULY BE OK WITH THAT!!!
Establish
understanding of discipline & responsibility for success in the game
Technical
Considerations:
Develop
individual skills under pressures (time, space, opponent and speed)
Dribbling
for attack and for possession (beating player or shielding & turning)
Changing
speeds in all aspects of game
Proper
form for striking balls and understanding angles which designate what type
of ball will be struck (bending,
driven, etc.)
Tackling
and heading introductions
Tactical
Considerations:
Player
should understand basic principles of several positions/roles on the field
Further
refine attacking v. possession options for players
Channeling on defense and combination play in different thirds of the field
UNDER
13 & 14 AGE GROUPS (COMMITMENT!!!)
Coach's
Role:
Strong
personality, Soccer knowledgeable & Enthusiastic
Increase
pace of challenges to facilitate player development
Develop
an environment which fosters mental toughness, concentration & diligence
Handle
“rebellious” spirit that begins to develop at this time
Highest
Training Priority: POSSESSION
(Do not give ball away!)
Technical
Considerations:
Continue
to build on base with increased time, space and pressure situations
Encourage
1 v 1 dribbling and take-on...... ENCOURAGE FAILURE FOR SUCCESS!
Increase
feints, moves, turns and ability to shield under all types of pressure
Receive
with QUALITY first touch, all surfaces and while on the run
Shooting
from all types of services (volley, angle, turn, run & crosses)
Passing
ALL SURFACES and ALL ON THE RUN! (short,
long, bent, chip & crosses)
Heading
to goal (power & glancing) to clear and pass
Proper
slide tackle technique..... BUT ENCOURAGE THAT AS LAST RESORT!
Tactical
Considerations:
Increased
speed of decision-making abilities in all phases of game
Attacking
understanding of space and options (width,
depth and penetration)
Defensive
understanding of pressure from in front and behind as well as small group defending
( 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, 4v2 and 4v4)
Set
pieces and defense of them
Psychological
Considerations:
Allow
players to have a passion for the game and enjoy themselves
Enable
creativity and Imagination
Establish
training targets for individuals
Maintain
discipline
Encourage
players to watch high-level soccer for enjoyment of sport
Lowest
Training Priority:
FUNCTIONAL
TRAINING & TEAM PLAY
UNDER
15 & 16 AGE GROUPS (DEDICATION)
Coach's
Role:
Charismatic,
Experienced, Knowledgeable, Articulate, Persuasive, Disciplinarian and
Managerial Know How
Create
environment with great value on challenges, motivation and transition
Create
a secure environment where players are comfortable and self-confident
Incorporate
team spirit into the unit as tool for success
Highest
Training Priority: POSSESSION
(Do not give ball away!)
Technical
Considerations
Skills
should be mastered to point of artistry in match conditions
Increase
technical speed out of comfort zone
Ability
to strike balls over distance with accuracy and under pressure
Tactical
Considerations:
Increase
tactical decision making in groups ( 3v3, 4v4 & 7v7 )
Keep
possession with a purpose (width,
depth and support)
Combination
play (wall pass, take over,
overlap, double pass and third man running)
Penetration
mobility / creativity
Crossing
with proper runs and box positions
Defending
with Compactness (delay,
tracking, communication and joy of destruction)
Psychological
Considerations:
Demand
increased concentration
Increase
in player leadership responsibilities
Healthy
respect for the game
Goal
setting for the team, the individual and the individual within the team
Satisfy
player urge for different challenges in competition
Encourage
players to watch high level soccer for enjoyment of sport
Lowest
Training Priority:
UNDER
17, 18 & 19 AGE GROUPS: (The
Final Products)
Coach's
Role:
Well
Informed, Up to date, Experienced, Articulate and No doubt of authority
Create
training and playing environment which extends mental, physical and
technical abilities to the limit
Ensure
a sound understanding of all principles of the game by their players
Develop
emotional stability in players when confronted with pressure situations
Highest
Training Priority: DEVELOPMENT
OF POSITIONAL AND TEAM PLAY
Technical
Considerations:
Demanding
excellence under match conditions for all technical areas
Tactical
Considerations:
Team
/ Functional ( Understanding of
lines and linkage)
Increase
to maximum of ability tactical decision making speed
Attacking
possession with a purpose
Combination
play with tactical implications
Penetration
and Creativity within confined spaces and/or options
Target
play and creating chances
Man
to Man defense with sweeper in front and behind
Zonal
marking
Pressing
(winning possession of ball as an attacking concept)
Psychological
Considerations:
Increased concentration
Leadership and Responsibility skills by players
Self motivation in goal setting for the player (s)
Foster the “WILL TO WIN”
Lowest Training Priority: TECHNICAL TRAINING
Last Updated - 05/27/08