Coaching the U6 & U8 Player

Coaching The U6 & U8 Player

Introduction The coaching aim of the soccer coach should be with the future in mind. The fundamental objective is to develop the understanding, ability and appreciation of the sport. The game ultimately has to be enjoyed. If the players don’t enjoy soccer now they will never enjoy it or improve in later life. Sessions should provide for the player to go out and strive to improve when they are away from the structured coaching environment.

It is a lot easier to win in the short term than it is to develop over the long term. The long term view has to be taken by all coaches at the youth level. There are many ways short-term success can be achieved in youth soccer but ultimately these ways may inhibit the long term development of the children.

We urge you to go out an enjoy yourself and pass your passion onto the kids. Coaching kids can be such a rewarding experience and the power you hold in your hands can not be overstated. One of the biggest problems in youth sports today is that kids drop out at earlier and earlier ages. The primary objective for each session at the youngest ages should be that the players want to return to the next practice. They should want to return because they enjoy learning with a positive psychological climate and a non-pressured environment. Coaching is 100% about the kids and let’s be child-focused in everything we do.

A Good Coach is: C onnected O ptimistic A ccepting & Accepted C ompassionate H umble

Miscellaneous thoughts:  Be a role model – walk the walk  Understand the power you have as a coach  Use the correct language  Develop the whole person  Get on their level & become one of them – height/size, language, mentality  Use trigger words from their world – use their language  Get a nickname and use nicknames for the kids  Ask Questions to lead the kids to the answers of soccer, and life (e.g. “When is a good time to use this move?”, “What else could you have done there?”, “Did you have to give up the ball?”, “Would you want to be treated that way?”)

Good drills & games can be found on the Enfield Soccer Website Links page.

Kicking off the Season  Have a good Team Meeting/Kickoff: o Administration - Medical Forms, Rosters, Phone Numbers, emails, etc. o Equipment (Ball Size, Shin Guards, Water, Sneakers/Cleats, etc.) o Games & Practice times & locations o Parent Expectations . Explain Small-sided philosophy & benefits . Sportsmanship . Don’t yell directions to kids (let them learn by doing) . Rides, Arrive on time, Attendance, etc. . Snack schedule . Support Coach (Behavior) . The Ride Home – Don’t replay the game o Player Expectations . Good Behavior – Listen. Nobody talks when coach talks . Treat Coach like a Teacher . Treat Everyone with Respect (Teammates, Other teams, Refs) . Do Your Best (True success)  2 non-mandatory Practices/week, maximum.  Plan for practices-have an Agenda to keep them busy and engaged. o Orderly & Appropriate o Fun & Challenging (try to coach up to better players if possible) o Replicate the Game o Competitive o Keep them Energized and Active o End with a game/scrimmage (Apply Conditions to stress what was practiced)  Be Patient & have fun. Use much humor and speak the language of kids  Much encouragement & praise – Catch them doing something good  Nothing is mandatory. Let them walk away from play if they want  Have everyone learn each others name early. Do a round circle for first few practices until everyone can name all their team-mates. The U6 Player Overall development of the U6 player is the same for boys and girls. The game and practices should be focused on having fun with the ball which is viewed as a toy. They need to explore the qualities of rolling & bouncing the soccer ball. Creativity should be encouraged.

Physical Development – The child is typically uncoordinated and has little hand-eye or foot-eye coordination. Motor skills are just developing and proceed from the head towards the feet and from the center of the body outwards. Characteristics of U6 Player:  Enjoy Bending, Stretching, Twisting, Pulling, Pushing, Throwing, Striking, Kicking, Walking, Running, Leaping, Jumping & Hopping.  Sideways movement and Skipping are physical challenges.  Can balance on good/primary foot  Catching skills are not developed  Heat up quickly  Fatigue and recover rapidly (heart rate = 90 BPM)

Mental Development – Play is highly imaginative. Characteristics of U6 Player:  Short Attention Span – Simple rules and directions  Process small bits of information at a time. Problem Solving is via single tasks.  Body in Constant Motion. No sense of pace.  Immature understanding of time & space relationships

Social Development – Fragile psyche bruises easily and they need much praise. Characteristics of U6 Player:  Self-image, Self-concept and body awareness is being developed through movement.  Egocentric (me, mine) – See the world from their own perspective. Don’t understand collective play, although they can verbalize a team concept.  Play without pressure.

Summary for U6  No Lines, Laps or Lectures  1 Hr. practice (20 minute warm up, end with scrimmage/game)  Organized fun with ball in appropriate space – Simple, directional games related to the game of soccer. Stress creativity and decision-making  Running, jumping, spinning, rolling, bouncing games that involve body awareness  Creative, Imaginative, Pretend Games with few cones  Tactics = this way & that way. No positions.  Set up fun games and let them go flat out. Don’t overcoach.  Short simple games. Change it up often.  Many short rest periods. Keep them busy with the ball during Rest periods  Use Time-Outs for behavior correction (No laps). Recognize Irresponsibility of the age vs. Defiance (Chill out & have some fun with the kids)  Encourage fun Soccer Ball activities outside of practice Skills Needed to Excel beyond U6:  Dribble/Carry the ball with any part of both feet  Roll soccer ball with bottom/sole of primary foot  Perform half turn without defensive pressure  Shoot/kick the ball at the goal with any part of primary foot  Understand direction of offensive attack  Be able to perform a legal Throw in The U8 Player The U8 Player exhibits much of the same basic traits as the U6 Player (See above). They are now developing, but are still physically immature. Overall, boys and girls are still developing about the same. Some differences from U6 to U8:

Physical Development:  Better understanding of Pace. But, they are still in constant motion.  Attention span is increasing  Coordination and Confidence is developing. Most U8 Players are now able to catch a ball and ride a 2-wheel bike.  Skeletal System is growing. Growth plates are near the joints and injuries should be carefully evaluated.

Mental Development:  Time and Space Concepts are starting to develop.  Limited capacity for multiple tasks  Little experience and capacity with personal evaluation (Performance = Effort)

Social Development:  Role Models are beginning to emerge  Beginning to develop self concept and body image. Like to show off individual skills.  Need approval from parents, teachers and coaches. Negative comments carry great weight and are very destructive.  Still very emotionally fragile and easily bruised psychologically.  Universe is expanding to the neighborhood.  Seek social acceptance and want to be liked. Don’t want to fail in front of peers  The inclination for small group activities is emerging.

Summary for U8 Many of the same concepts as U6 apply. Players are still running, jumping, climbing and rolling. They are still going flat out. Some additional comments for U8:  Demonstrate a handful of the simple moves &/or do foot drills at the beginning of each practice. Have each Player pick 1 or 2 of their favorite moves. Allow them to do moves their own way and let them create their own moves.  Demonstrate basic skills  Teach foot skills in both feet and teach them to keep the ball close  Use older players as role models and to demonstrate skills. They are now learning heavily by watching and copying, and then experiencing.  Encourage them to do their favorite move(s) in scrimmages and games.  Provide more Challenge in drills/games and set up competitive situations  Practice Plans should have a theme for the night. Apply conditions to end of practice scrimmage to emphasize the theme (e.g. 2 points for a successful push pass and trap/receipt by team mate)  Note that practice skills may not yet translate to games as this is just developing. This is especially true of passing. Teach passing in practice, but don’t get upset if they don’t pass (Peer pressure will get them to pass).  While the concept of team is starting to emerge, don’t teach team tactics or combination plays yet. Start with partner activities.  Start using cones and more focused drills (mazes, target games, etc.). Step up the practices, but still keep them fun.  Tactics = Directional and now also Sideways.  Still No Positions, except maybe Offense/Forward & Defense/Fullback. But, allow them to stray from this.  Continue with much praise and encouragement to develop confidence. Teach them to take chances and experiment.  Create a failure-free culture. Teach that they learn by failing and practicing. If they’re not failing, then they’re not learning and growing.  Start teaching them to not fear the ball. Skills Needed to Excel beyond U8:  Dribble/Carry the ball with multiple surfaces of both feet  Perform half turn with defensive pressure  Perform technically correct Push pass with defensive pressure  Perform technically correct Wedge trap with defensive pressure. Understand the importance of the first touch and going towards space.  Perform legal Throw in. Some Players may be able to improve on the technique.  Dribbling-look up and see the field when carrying the ball. Head up and peek down to feet and ball.  Be exposed to approximately 5 moves that they can perform slowly with no pressure. Have 1 or 2 favorite moves that they can perform with defensive pressure. Understand the idea that a move is any change in direction or speed Some basic moves:  Half turn  Quarter turn  Stop & Go  Stop & Turn  Scissors  Inside Chop  Outside Chop/Escape move  Magic Hop  Cruyff  Foot drills:  Toe Taps - progressing to moving in a circle around the ball & drawing the ball backwards or sideways  Inside foot taps with both feet (popcorn)  Ball Rolls – Inside and Outside rolls with both feet  Inside/Outside dribbling with one foot (snake)  Dribble the ball while Skipping-One touch per skip