Coaching U6s

[obewan]

I'm coaching a U-6 team. I know the things my son and I work on at home, but I don't think many of the kids are ready to use both feet/take balls off the bounce/etc. Does anyone have any drills they've used/seen used for small kids that work? Pretty much, I plan on teaching them not to use their hands. Then we'll work on the end/side lines (stopping at them), throw-ins, and how to kick properly to start off. Thanks for any ideas.

[cleansheetbsc]

Live big on this site. Take the U-6 practice plans

http://www.decatursports.com/drills/practiceplans.htm

Just gotta keep tricking them into playing games where the keep getting touches on the ball. Make sure they are laughing and having fun. Don't scare them off the sport for good.

[IASocFan]

.. Does anyone have any drills they've used/seen used for small kids that work? ...

U-littles don't need drills, they need games. Your drills should be introduced as games.

- Everybody dribble through the cones.
- Relay races (with the ball).
- Everybody dribbles between two lines of cones and the monster in the middle (a coach and/or one or more players) tries to kick the ball away.
- Everybody in large square with a ball and one player tries to kick the ball out of the square until there's only one player with a ball left.

Check this forum for the U8 thread, it has many good ideas.

[obewan]

Sorry - I used the word "drills" for lack of a better term.

I've been working with my son since he's been about 3. He loves soccer more than any other sport. We'll do things like keep-away and see who can kick the ball the hardest with right/left foot (right now, he thinks he can kick it as hard as I can...and that's good that he does!).

I've told my parents that the main thing is fun, second is exercise, and we'll learn some soccer along the way. Thanks for the ideas! Keep 'em coming!

[goyoureddevils]

obewan you can use the game of "who can kick it hardest" you mentioned and tweak into a really fun game my little ones play. We call it "Soccer Bowling". Two kids play it together in as large an area as you can get. One kid kicks his ball out first, in any direction thats safe. The second kid now tries to kick his ball and hit the first one. If he misses, the first player gets a turn to try to hit the second players ball from wherever the two balls lie. The kids keep going, taking turns trying to hit the other's ball until someone scores. The winner of that point gets to be the first to boot his ball out for the next round!

From U6 to my high school boys, this is an addicting, silly game that is hard to get them to stop playing..... my high school boys end up in trash talking, titty twisting brawls over this one, and it makes a great mid-season break for them. What is even funnier is to watch how excited your U6's will be that they get to just "KICK IT!" as hard as they can to start the game....I swear 5 year olds just live to boot the crap out of the ball don't they?

[NHRef]

You probably won't need to worry about throw ins, in fact some of them may not be able to physically hold a ball over their heads yet.

Games I use to play with kids this age:

- Red light/green light, the old kid favorite except with a ball. Teaches them to stop the ball, dribble under control and avoid each other.

- pick up the yard. Take all your cones and just toss them all around. Yell go. Kids have to dribble to a cone, touch the cone with the ball and they get to pick it up. Whoever has the most cones wins.

- Ducks and hunters. Pick 2 "hunters" rest are "ducks". Put all the ducks in a circle (center circle or cones if center circle is to big). Ducks run around, hunters try and take them out by kicking a ball at them. Teaches kids without the ball (ducks) to find the ball and move and be aware. Teaches hunters to kick accurately, lead the runners. Etc. Last 2 "ducks" become hunters for next round. Oh ya, make the ducks "quack" loudly ;)

- Shark attack. Sort of reverse ducks and hunters. Everyone in the circle WITH balls, except 1 or 2 "sharks", turn the sharks loose and they have to get balls out of the circle. Your ball goes out , you loose.

- follow the leader, pick smaller groups of 3-4 and have them follow a coach dribbling, weave in and out of parents, turn both directions, go in circles etc.

- Have kids dribble forward, you blow the whistle and yell a body part, they have to put that body part on the ball. Start with "foot", then move along to other more "fun" body parts: head, nose, butt, elbow

- Put all the balls in the center, the more balls the better, 1 ball per kid is not close to enough, two teams one on each side of the balls say 20 yards away. Yell "go", kids have to race forward, get a SINGLE ball and dribble it back to the starting point, then go get another one. Team with the most wins. First wave will be quick, everyone takes one ball. Next wave you get fights for the ball.

Basically anytime they are laughing and using a ball, you are doing great. Any time they are standing in line, that's trouble.

[goyoureddevils]

You probably won't need to worry about throw ins, in fact some of them may not be able to physically hold a ball over their heads yet.



Sorry but that is retarded.... my 4's and 5's, in the two programs I run, wing the ball a good 5 yards if the wind isn't blowing too hard. Plus, teaching them a decent throw in at this age sure makes it easier to keep them from having to try all those stupid flip throws when I get them again in high school!

Something just occured to me......are you using size 5 balls with your U6's?

[NHRef]

Our U6 guys do not use throwins, those come at U8. We line the "field" with parents who just steer the ball back on the field. At 4 years old, some kids bodies have not developed to the point where the arms are long enough to hold a soccer ball (size 3 BTW) over their head with both hands. Check out a baby, the arms are not long enough to go over their head, at some point they do grow long enough, this is aroudn 4-5 years old. But I have coached 4 year olds that physically could not hold a ball in both hands over their head, the ball hit their head.

at 4-5 get the kids chasing after the ball and having fun.

[obewan]

My 5 year old does live to kick the living crap out of the ball. :rolleyes:

They do throw-ins in our U-6 league. Most of 'em just throw it up in the air and it lands anywhere from 3-10 feet out in front of them, but it teaches them the concept. Fortunately, I've taught my son to try to pick out one of his teammates and throw it to him, and he does it pretty well (for a 5 yr old).

Again, thanks for the great ideas...I'm looking forward to using some of them in practice this year!

Edit - they use a size 3.

[DoctorK]

I think I've used each of the drills mentioned already in this thread, and there's only one that I use that I don't see mentioned.

I call out two players, by their numbers (if they have jerseys on, I use those, otherwise they are assigned numbers), and then I kick the ball into space. The two each race after the ball, and try to obtain possession and score - or conversely, defend to steal and then score. They get a great thrill out of this, though I have to be careful to try to get ideal match-ups in terms of skill levels.

As for the throw-in bit. In the U6 league I'm coaching in right now (my son's team), we have thirty minutes to practice and thirty minutes to play. I see no reason to waste time working on how they should use their hands. But I've seen other coaches in our league (all teams practice at the same site at the same time) spend great chunks of time on throw-ins. Yet, the kids on my son's team do a fine job making a throw-in, by simply imitating how they saw the first throw taken correctly. It simply hasn't been an issue. So I'm dead set that with what little time we have to work together, it is best spent giving them touches with their feet.

[monster]

I'm gonna resurrect this because I found out last night that I am head coach for my daughter's U-6 team - this is her first year playing. I thought I only signed up to be an assistant, but don't mind being head. The assistant has coached U-6 and U-8 before so he will help, but I want to look like i know what I am talking about (I only have a rec playing background).

The things in here are great and I have a coaches clinic coming up next weekend so I think I'll be OK. Any other advice would be appreciated.

And BTW, I don't know if the league uses throw-ins, but my daughter is basically screwed from playing anoy sport that involves throwing because she learned how to throw like a throw-in. It's awesome. :D

[VOwithwater]

I'm coaching a U-6 team. I know the things my son and I work on at home, but I don't think many of the kids are ready to use both feet/take balls off the bounce/etc. Does anyone have any drills they've used/seen used for small kids that work? Pretty much, I plan on teaching them not to use their hands. Then we'll work on the end/side lines (stopping at them), throw-ins, and how to kick properly to start off. Thanks for any ideas.

Make the little kid in you come out. Practice for an hour in the morning whjen no one else is around easer to hold their attention that way. When they just learning they have no favorite foot so always have them use both fweet alternate touches and work on getting their head up when they are dribbling. Everyone has a ball. Once they learn the push pass the side of the foot pass playing a short bounce is not difficult take the bounch back into the ground. let them control bouncing balls with all parts of their body even their heads. There is no force behind the bakll on a bounce.

Work on 3 touches or more to turn with the ball and not a drag back then turn.

They should get a lot of touches on the ball.

Practice ends give them each a lollypop or chocolate soccer ball small.

Kid wants to ignor practice have parents as assistants and use them tell them what to do. You might create future coaches who knows. Then go to the digger and sit on the field with him and dig with him for a short while.

No drillks at least make them look like games at the end they can score goals. Then you go wild with their success. Then take 5 minutes and work on their goal scoring celebration they dig that at it is fun.

Show your love of game to everyone around you the kids and to the parents it is habit forming to them.

Have to try to make it fun for the parent so they want to bring there kids to practice.

Have a good time. Don't undrr estimate what a littl kid can learn if you have there attention they will surprise you.

[DoctorK]

In AYSO at that age level, these are the only things addressed:

Objectives of play: score & prevent scoring

Principles of play: penetration & delay

Techniques: instep kick, dribbling, throw-in

Knowledge: what is in & out of play, don't kick or trip others, no handling of the ball.

For many of the U6s I've coached, that's all rather simple, but others struggle for weeks over any one of the above aims.

Most important thing, that may be difficult if you've coached before at older age levels, or are going by your own memory as a player: don't let anyone watch; they need to be either with the ball or trying to get the ball at all times. The more touches on the ball the better.

Lots of drink breaks. Remember, they don't sweat the way adults sweat.

And as for the dribbling through cones mentioned above. I did it just last season, but at a recent conference I was convinced they are ineffective, especially as it teaches them to dribble with their heads down, looking at the cones. And of course, the cones aren't moving, much less trying to take the ball away from you. Games like sharks and minnows are much more effective for training dribbling skills.

As already mentioned, get down on your knees to their level, and don't worry about coaching all these skill sets. Its not about you proving your knowledge base or inspirational abilities. The less instruction the better. Teach some basics, but just let them play. Its about the kids having fun discovering the beautiful game.

[soccerdrills]

theres some good practice drills on http://www.soccer-drills.co.uk

[EJDad]

Any kids game can be made into a soccer game -red light green light; tag (in a million variations); red rover, red rover; mother may I; etc.

A game every team I have ever coached has loved is "dirty back yard" Divide the field in half, split the players into two teams, one on each side of the field. Split the balls in half (use as many balls as you can get your hands on) making sure there is an odd number of balls. On your signal they start kicking the balls into the other half of the field "cleaning up" their yard. When you say stop count all of the balls- the team with the fewest wins.

Kids love the opportunity to just kick the ball HARD. they are not encouraged to do this to often. It is fun

[Grizzlierbear]

At this age the ball is the teacher but if you can incorporate the triangle as a fixture in much of what you do it is the first conceptual target to get them in the next mode for wide, deep, and support. I link the kids together with a snap on belt and climbing snaps with a a series of various lengths of rope to id 3 yards 5 yards 8 yards and 10 yards. In practice we have three hooked up and they move about keeping the lines between them taunt or not dragging. If they complete the game without the ropes touching the ground we incorporate a prize to honour the achievement.

Two favourite games
Communicate for possession
is a series of 4 stations about 5 to 10 yards apart in a square. In the middle of the square a cluster of balls. At each station 2 to 4 players is a 1meter triangle of cones where the balls must be stored at in each corner Each station has the one go to guy the rest are communicators. These positions change at each cycle. The premise is simple go to the cluster of balls and bring back 3 to 4 balls and place them inside your triangle(but only one at a time) before any other corner of the square. The two main factors to limit are number of balls at the centre AND it is ok to STEAL any of the other teams balls. . NONE of the communicators can touch ANY of the balls and that includes shielding them from the other 3 go to guys who come to steal only their go to guy can interact.
You can initially allow the balls to be retrieved by hand and then go to feet for the dribble. The communicators job is to not only watch their go to guy but tell him to steal a ball from the other groups if it looks likely they are close to retrieving the specified amount. Maximum two minutes generally takes less then switch order. Match up those who are faster and encourage good communication I suggest you make them use his name ."JOHN to your right steal" rather than scream randomly We later incorporate passing at the older stages but as in most adaptations see what interest and abilities are required to be worked on

The kick the crap out of them game
a LARGE cluster of balls inside a circle (which is adjusted in size as needed)surrounded by the rest of the team while usually start with 1 player you can add additional players, The object is to kick all of the balls outside of the circle before the rest of the surrounding players can get the balls back inside the circle. If those kicking from inside the circle manage to achieve a clean circle with no balls they win and the rest of the team perform some homage. Again a 2 minute drill but the constant kicking running and retrieving is really hectic and fun. You will occasionally have a player outside the circle impacted by the ball so remind the players to be concentrating.
It is funny but kids will establish an order of sorts. .
Some kids will try and stay on the outskirts of the circle, either a bit lazy or intimidated or very smartly aware they can block many shots from leaving the circle.
Some players will chase the balls that are kicked away and will then go get it and bring that ball back into the circle only to turn follow a ball and do it all over again. hard worker but not the brightest crayon in the box.
Some players will run out to get a ball and then kick it back and stay out there to retrieve other balls. Hustle and some smarts or perhaps tire easily. Look for the leaders who try to grasp the reasoning of positioning and teamwork here where the group SHOULD be stronger than any one player.

[GKbenji]

I have classes with U4's a few times a week, so sometimes the U6s seem downright advanced! :eek:

A good thing to do with any game at this age is to make a "story" out of it. A couple of very popular games I use have already been mentioned, but if you give them a name, add animals or characters, and add some sound effects it really makes it fun. For example:

NHRef's "Shark Attack" is also commonly known as "Sharks and Minnows". Select a "shark" (who is a mean, nasty hammerhead shark! Gnash your teeth!) and put them in a "pen" in a corner of the area. Tell the minnows they are happily swimming around in the ocean (by the way, you can't leave the ocean--cones--, right, kids? minnows have to stay in the water) with their soccer ball... swimming, swimming around... when suddenly.. "Shark's on the loose! Swim faster! Swim for your life!"

A variation on Griz's "Communication for possession" becomes "The Pirate Game". (I leave out the communication part; I'm not sure 5year olds would have much success at that part.) We put all the balls in a square in the middle: this is the castle, and all the treasure (soccer balls). We have two or more groups: one is the castle guards who have to keep the treasure in the castle. The other groups are pirates, each with their own goal, or "hideout". Pirates go to their hideouts. Tell the pirates (who must say, "Arrrrr!") they have to steal the treasure away from the guards of the castle and take it back to their hideout, and whichever pirate group gets the most treasure wins.

The simplest game can be fun if there's a story. "House on Fire", or as I play it, "Volcanoes". Mark two squares with cones 15-20 yards apart. Kids dribble in the area, at first slowly. I say, "Are your feet getting warm? Mine are! I'd better move faster. Wow, it's getting hot! Move, quick, quick, don't let your feet get burned! Wait a minute... we're on a volcano! Run, run, get away!" and lead the charge across to the other square. "Whew! We're safe now. We can slow down. I think. Hang on... are your feet getting warm again?" Repeat the process. You're teaching them to dribble at speed and all you're doing is dashing back and forth between two grids. But because of the story the kids will all come back next week and want to play the volcano game. :)

Finally, don't underestimate how well a 5yo can handle a ball. I teach them not just to squash (step on) the ball and a pull turn, but shoulder fakes, fake kicks, stepovers and even a maradonna spin. A few months ago I had a 5yo pull a perfect maradonna spin and one-time the ball into the corner of the net. He was so matter-of-fact about it. "We win!" :D

[DoctorK]

Grizzlierbear,

Ropes between five year olds? With treats when they pull of your commanded tricks? :eek: Sounds like dog training.

Let them discover the game.

[blind_clown]

Sorry but that is retarded.... my 4's and 5's, in the two programs I run, wing the ball a good 5 yards if the wind isn't blowing too hard. Plus, teaching them a decent throw in at this age sure makes it easier to keep them from having to try all those stupid flip throws when I get them again in high school!

Something just occured to me......are you using size 5 balls with your U6's?

actually a lot of U6 leagues don't use TIs

[CoachUSA]

Keep it simple and make it fun. U-6's don't see the world like adults. They just want to play with their friends. Find a nice safe grassy area, have them remove shoes and socks and play. If you must, keep boots on.

Two v two or three v three with goal is best for games with goals. Play for three minutes and your good. Do not allow static positions. When "we" have the ball everybody is on offense, when "they" have the ball everybody is on defense. Non goalies, no stoppers, no cherry-picking strikers; everybody runs the length of the pitch. Game training.

Three v three is best for passing game with no goals; a triangle will always be formed jsut be patient. Have three v one while the other two watch. The three with the ball get one point for each completed pass while the one try's to intercept/defend. Once touched by the defender, tally the score and move in another defender (note here, the passing team always "wins"). Cycle so both sides have three games. Passing training.

At the end of practice, have them stand on the end-line and drop-kick the ball forward. They will get the feel of stricking the ball properly and they love to see the ball soar. Once good enough, have them kick to a partner. Shooting training.

Smile alot, encourage alot and every once in a while join in. Try it.