What is the best number of players for each age group?

[hillsaus]

Hi I'm a coaching coordinator for a club in Australia. Here we play
6 vs 6 Under 6,7 and 8's
9 vs 9 Under 9+U10's
11vs11 Under 11's and higher.

I reckon this is to early. What do they do in your country and how do you find this?

Cheers


hillsaus

[Ray Luca]

Hi I'm a coaching coordinator for a club in Australia. Here we play
6 vs 6 Under 6,7 and 8's
9 vs 9 Under 9+U10's
11vs11 Under 11's and higher.

I reckon this is to early. What do they do in your country and how do you find this?

Cheers


hillsaus

In this country they find out what they do in Netherlands or England meaning other countries and do that. The youth part of the USSF thinks it must be right so they suggest not order that we do it because they actually have no real power to order anything. What they do have power over is our state cup tournament. So they can order how the state cup should be played. So if you want to be in and have a chance to win the state and after that a National championship you have to play as they say.

Here in the US they play smaller number then you play at those ages. Obvious reason they say is less numbers play the more touches they get. They play on a smaller field, rational young kids can't play on a bigger field.

This is what I think about it even the smaller field is too big to play in.

Even if you play on a mens field around the ball you will always find small sided play. That space is much smaller they their small feld that they think is perfect for kids.

In 1970 when i started to coach youth soccer games were played on adult field even kids games. So fitness training was more important then it is today with young kids. All games at that time were 11 v 11 even 6 yrs olds.

We knew that even on a big field with 11 v 11 a lot of the play was 3 v 3 in small space 10 yards square near the ball under high pressure before you could make a break out pass to bigger space. So a lot of training was 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 in a small space. Also fitness with the ball and without the ball. Much more without the ball fitness then they do today.

Some how we still put out very good players at young ages playing 11 v 11 on big fields.

So I think if you train like we trained them no matter what numbers you played on the field in games you will still put out good soccer players.

[cleansheetbsc]

Hi I'm a coaching coordinator for a club in Australia. Here we play
6 vs 6 Under 6,7 and 8's
9 vs 9 Under 9+U10's
11vs11 Under 11's and higher.

I reckon this is to early. What do they do in your country and how do you find this?

Cheers


hillsaus

Our rec. club (with enough coaches volunteering)

U6 3x3 field 30 yds x 20 yds - no 'keepers or positions
U8 4x4 field 40 yds x 25 yds - no 'keepers or positions
U10 7x7 field 60 x 30 - goalkeepers but no offsides
U12 9 x 9 field 80 yds x 40 yds - offsides introduced
Full size fields for all older ages.

[BC_Ref]

Gradual transition from 3 vs 3 up to full 11. Keepers introduced at the 8 vs 8 level (we have some parks set-up for this spacing)

Full 11 is at U12 for boys, U13 for girls (I'm expecting this will change in the few years). Offside is introduced half-way through U10 - after Christmas.

Concept is to give the kids as many touches as possible - much more fun for them and gets them handling the ball in game situations as much as possible. The fitness component would be better addressed by limiting subs at either some age or some level (ie: at the metro) - otherwise I see platoons of players getting put on and taken off.