Teaching about Offside (U-10 comp) team

[tedwar]

Forgive me if this topic has been raised before, I only went back a few pages.

I'm asst coaching a U-10 comp team this season, and a few of our forwards, one moving up from U-8 (4v4 and no offsides) and one who played comp last year, are having trouble staying on-sides. It's not a big deal yet, as we are only scrimmaging, but I'm interested in how people got their offensive players to understand when they were offside and when they are onside.

I'm also figuring that I have to talk with my midfielders about not passing the forward the ball when the forwards are offside.

thanks

Tony

[loghyr]

We played with endzones. A point could only be scored when the ball was passed to a receiver who was outside the endzone when the ball was kicked. The receiver had to get to the ball and control it.

We started with a 1 or 2 touch rule. I soon saw that it really helped the kids understand they had to pay attention to where they were on the field. And the other kids really get on the cases of those who can't figure it out. They want to win the game.

You can see kids camping out just outside the line once they figure it out. And they ought to start timing their "runs" at that point as well.

You can add a goal inside the endzone and say the receiver has 2 touches on the ball to score.

I don't know how far I would change the rules, perhaps you could make the line be a coach standing on the field. At some point it ought to click and the kids will pay attention.

[loghyr]

The initial focus of the game was another vehicle for 2 touches and keeping their heads up. The endzone was an added line of complexity beyond looking for who to pass the ball.

It soon became clear the game was helping them with offsides in the real games.

[tedwar]

rep gladly given loghyr, that is a great idea, thanks

Tony