[Grizzlierbear]

Looking for some help here.

While we know that FUN is the mainstay of youth soccer in the mini format for the kids 6 & 7 or 8 & 9.

As a coach just where do you begin to run a effective session for practice? What is the first few things one should concentrate on in preparing them to play in a league?

Given the attention span and cognitive abilities are limited I assume lots of related material to a specific theme?
How long is an effective practise?
What portion of the practise for instructional games?
Should we scrimage at some point all together or is small 3 aside ok?
Just what can be effectively taught and in what order should it be introduced?

I appreciate any and all thoughts! thankyou!

[Richie]

I would not lump 7 to 9s in the same boat.

The attention span of a 9 yr old is a lot longer then a 7 year old.

You can do a lot with and 8 and 9 yr old. They are starting to become real players at 9 yrs. old. Can handle 2 or 3, 1 and half hour practes a week at this age.

On What to teach all age groups all the technical skills needed to play the game. Push pass controling the ball on the ground, and in the air, shooting and even volleys. Dribbling and moves to beat people 1 v 1 and a movie to reverse their field.

Tactics - simple tactics takeovers, give and goes. Attacking first attacker, second attacker and third attacking. Defense pressure first defender, cover 2 nd defender and balance further away from the ball.

Also thinking a head first touch, and thought behind their pass and putting spin on the ball to make it do what you want it to do, and movement of the body to set up the opponent and the keeper for your true intention.

So they can do a lot and they can learn alot.

[Grizzlierbear]

Originally posted by Richie
I would not lump 7 to 9s in the same boat.

The attention span of a 9 yr old is a lot longer then a 7 year old.

You can do a lot with and 8 and 9 yr old. They are starting to become real players at 9 yrs. old. Can handle 2 or 3, 1 and half hour practes a week at this age.

On What to teach all age groups all the technical skills needed to play the game. Push pass controling the ball on the ground, and in the air, shooting and even volleys. Dribbling and moves to beat people 1 v 1 and a movie to reverse their field.

Tactics - simple tactics takeovers, give and goes. Attacking first attacker, second attacker and third attacking. Defense pressure first defender, cover 2 nd defender and balance further away from the ball.

Also thinking a head first touch, and thought behind their pass and putting spin on the ball to make it do what you want it to do, and movement of the body to set up the opponent and the keeper for your true intention.

So they can do a lot and they can learn alot.

First off thanks for taking the time to respond. I regularily coach older kids and admittedly I remain a bit hesitant about what to expect, what to demand or what to initiate for the wee ones. I agree each kid as an individual can be vastly different than another be it a year difference in age or simply the mental and physical developement of some exceeds others.

I play them in 3 on 3 or 5 on 5 groupings to emphise triangle and diamond shaping. I ask they listen and to ask questions if they do not understand something or wish to know more.

I run them through a gauntlet which I call soccer olympics. They travel with the ball around a course set up with many different avenues of success. They kick, run, jump, crawl, shoot, pass, dribble, head, knee and throw their way around to the various stations. A wonderful warm up and it lets me see how each is progressing on their abilities.

Just a point my heading drill is low impact, I suspend a ball in the air usually off a goal crossbar and the kids head that benign dangling ball. Then they toss their own ball into the air and let it bounce trying to head it if they wish into the goal. I have them team up and toss a nerf or low plastic bubble ball. When the kids are eager I toss the real soccer ball gently at their heads to ensure good service. Later as their confidence and abilities mproves they assume that role as well. I emphises. the proper contact and motion and reinforce doing it correctly. I would never force a youth to head but if we show the correct method they will at some point begin the transition.

I have 3 or 4 types of ball retrival training aids by which a player can kick the ball and it is elasticed to return. They are a useful tool as is a training wall for which to rebound the ball off of. I also use 10 yard ropes clipped onto the players by way of belts to visulize the concept of triangles, who the immediate players you are connected too and how a team moves in unison up and down, back and forth across the field in supporting roles.

The ball is a toy and the game is the teacher. Let the kids play with the toy more often and they will get better.
The concept I teach is based on a principle called SPAM. Space, Pace, Angles & Movement!
Kids generally catch on to things if they can actually are doing them. I will often stop and make the point when they do instinctively the very thing or point I wish to make. In a recent practise we had a 8 year old young lady cry out "pass I am open I am in space" and she truly was about 15 yards behind the opposition free and clear. The problem was there was 3 defenders betwen her and her teammate with the ball who could not effectively give her the ball unless she moved to an angle which she did and the ball was hit towards her she reached out with sole of the foot and drew the ball back and turned to follow seting up for a shot on the cones. I went to full time glorification, SUPER MOVE Mellissa syndrome and pointed out the fantastic space, angle and movements used in the execution of this manuver.

We run a ball drill where a single ball is placed in front of 2 players you then say the word draw each tries to snap out the foot and draw the ball back with the sole of the foot. You make up a story with the word draw in it several times. Kids like it and in point of fact so did I. We do the same for other control drils as well.

In teaching dribbling or other techniques I find the attention span is often quite limited so try to encourage them to try things without actually breaking down the kinesiology of the movements. This was foreign to me as I will often demonstrate the proper motion by videoing the correct way in a pause by pause segment to hightlight, non kicking foot, body weight distribution, foot contact. head down well you get the picture. It is easy to over coach these wee ones but as Rich points out many are unquenchably thirsy for information and demand more than others.

It boils down to expectations and the willingness to adapt the practices to fit their needs as wel as their wishes. I tend to do far less talking at the wee ones and to some extent it has made me a better communicator to the older groups as well.

[Kelly Vargas]

the most important thing is just to instill in them early that winning is the most important thing.. who cares if its fun... you play to win.

[Crazy Old Lady]

Originally posted by Kelly Vargas
the most important thing is just to instill in them early that winning is the most important thing.. who cares if its fun... you play to win.

This is typical of the rubbish spouted by this knuckledragger.The most important thing to instill in the children is the game is fun. they get enough pressure put on them as they get older. Too much pressure early can destroy any love of the Game..

[Pokeden]

I agree. This age, just keep them moving. There are a lot of ways to incorporate movements, skills, etc into active play with the players not even knowing that they are WORKING on DRILLS. Keep it FUN. Why else would 7 year olds PLAY soccer?

[Kelly Vargas]

i strongly , but respectfully, disagree. it is vital for you to teach them that winning is important early on. You are cheating these kids if you dont give them the skills they will need as a professional soccer player.. they need to look at soccer as a business and not a game. they have plenty of time to learn dribbling and passing but coaches should be honest with these kids that you play to make money and become famous, not just to have fun.

[Pokeden]

So, you want your 7 year old to be paid. Let's be realistic. If it is all work and no play....DUH. Burn out, big time. Look how many get burn out from going to school for 12 years. And that is not even counting pre-school, kindergarten, college, etc. I am not saying not to emphasize winning, but to not over emphasize. You are leading these CHILDREN in for a big let down.

? Were you lead this way? Or are you harboring negative feelings that you are a wannabe that wasn't.

Go to the statistics concerning turout for the big paying jobs in soccer. Most will tell you to be sure and have a back up plan. What about the injury factor, the factor that they just do no measure up.

Also, how long is the average Soccer Playiang Life. Have you actually spoken to a PRO Player. I mean really....spoke with them. What about a second opinion. What works for some, does not necesariy work for others.

[Kelly Vargas]

Originally posted by Pokeden
So, you want your 7 year old to be paid. Let's be realistic. If it is all work and no play....DUH. Burn out, big time. Look how many get burn out from going to school for 12 years. And that is not even counting pre-school, kindergarten, college, etc. I am not saying not to emphasize winning, but to not over emphasize. You are leading these CHILDREN in for a big let down.

? Were you lead this way? Or are you harboring negative feelings that you are a wannabe that wasn't.

Go to the statistics concerning turout for the big paying jobs in soccer. Most will tell you to be sure and have a back up plan. What about the injury factor, the factor that they just do no measure up.

Also, how long is the average Soccer Playiang Life. Have you actually spoken to a PRO Player. I mean really....spoke with them. What about a second opinion. What works for some, does not necesariy work for others.

im glad you arent my little boys coach. i shudder to think of how many good players dont succeed because they arent taught that to the victor go the spoils.. i make my son take 100 free kicks a night and he doesnt complain because he knows that soccer is his only chance to make somthing of himself. good kid, 10 years old and strong as an ox, and he knows the reason to play the game. he lives to win

[Pokeden]

I hope you son has a very long life. I really do. But, realistically, you should seek psychological help for yourself. I think that you would fall much harder than he. He is just pleasing you. And if you do not have the decency, intelligence, and foresight to see this. You DO need help. And they put the blame on video games !