Teaching U9s to Understand the Game

At that age you are developing players, not a team, so you should grade yourself on how the players are developing and whatever other goals you set for the season (I hope having fun is one of them!).

As for your question about how long to scrimmage--If by scrimmage you mean divide up the players into two sides and play soccer devoting a lot of training time to that has some downsides. There is no answer in terms of a set number of minutes. If you went extreme and devoted all your time to it, you will be minimizing touches on the ball (1 ball in play for the whole team) instead of maximizing touches on the ball during the training session. On the other hand kids really love to scrimmage so there is good reason to scrimmage in some fashion. I used to devote between 1/4 to 1/3 of my training time to a scrimmage for u10s through u12's. (I never coached kids younger than 8 in a formal setting.) In that age group I have read about well-qualified coaches having great success using only 3v3 during the entire practice even though the kids were playing larger sides in matches (6v6 for instance). They used the rest periods for demonstrations. I can imagine well-qualified coaches being able to control all the varibles and make the appropriate teaching points that way but I think it would be a challenge for less experienced coaches and especially if working alone with a dozen or more kids.

 

I'm in the same boat. My rec U-10's pick up the individual skills (some quicker than others) but they really struggle with "seeing" the game. They don't recognize where they are in relation to their opponents or teammates or how to gain an advantage by just moving to a better place. I think part of it is that they just haven't played the game much. Our adult/parent indoor team has the same problem so I don't feel too bad about the kids not getting it yet.

Some of the teams the boys play have figured out the basic concepts of passing and we've struggled in those games. I tried encouraging passing at our last indoor game for a few of the boys who are excelling at dribbling just to see how they would respond. During a rest break, I asked our best ball handler why he wasn't looking to pass. His response: "If I pass it, I'll never get it back." I didn't expect that response but he was probably right. Most of his teammates just don't have the skills or awareness to return the pass. It's probably past time for him and one or two others to move to a select team where their development is on par with their teammates.

 

I think that game awareness is built from two things.

One - Building technical skills to control the ball under pressure.
Two - Being a calm coach that allows his players to control the ball and make their own decisions.

Plus, at U9, we should just be telling them to dribble. They should only pass if they are trapped by defenders, IMO.

 

Maybe not. Remember that they're 7-8 year old kids. They're going to be inconsistent by nature. In my teams I've seen definite individual improvement from the start of the season to the end, but consistent play from game to game is a crapshoot sometimes. They'll play great one game and then in another game the following day they act like they've never set foot on a soccer field.

It could be the team they're playing, what they ate before the game, the weather conditions, did they get enough sleep, etc.

 

This is an intriguing thread. What I've concluded from my U-9 clinic is to work on footwork over strategy. It's like this, all that's going through their mind at this age when they have the ball is, "oh crap, oh crap, oh crap". The best we can do is try to calm that mind by teaching them ways to control that ball without too much thought.

So, when the defender is flying at them, screaming like a Neanderthal, the player must trust their instincts to avoid having the ball stolen. Because in all honesty, that's what they're thinking about, how can I avoid having this ball kicked or stolen from under me? We all know what's on the defenders mind as he's flying like a banshee at the attacker, "how can smash into her and kick the ball off the pitch and into the street as quickly as possible"?

I'm not minimizing strategy or the passing game, it's absolutely vital to include it in your practices/clinics but it's secondary to good footwork and controlling the ball, at this age. If you instill strategy in small doses it will eventually unfold on the pitch, just give it time and be patient. The game will come, but for now, let them have fun and help them learn how to work that ball in game situations. It's all a big game of "keep away" at this age, why not nurture that and teach them how while moving the ball down the field? Another reason why small sided matches are important at this age, plenty of touches for everyone.

 

It's funny. These two paragraphs really sum up the mindset of any U-little.

And, I think, when we "waste" our valuable time with these kids on strategy and tactics, they still have this mindset at 14, 15, 16. Then, it just becomes sad.

 

Yeah, I've watched coaches teach strategy at this age and it's like deer in headlights, all of which goes right out the window when they hit the pitch. This feeds the coaches ego but is wasted on the kids, imho

However, skills like "give and go" are preliminary strategy tools that are excellent for this age. My kids use this one all the time now to fool the defender. It also slows down that charging defender when he realizes his maniacal charging doesn't always work.

 

I run a lot of youth coaching clinics with my club and within the state, and one of the biggest problems that I tackle in these courses are coaches who are more worried about the winning and tactical side of soccer than the technique side.

Remember, the kids you are coaching are 8 years old. Winning should not even fathom in your mind for practices or come game days. Your primary focus at these ages are to put these players into a situation where they have the technical abilities necessary to be able to play and compete on any team they play on later in life. A typical player, from U6 through U19, will play on 7 or 8 different teams during this time, so what's the point of forming a team identity this young?

The best you can do for these kids is teach them how to understand all surfaces of their feet. Introduce how to dribble for possession, dribble to beat an opponent, basic short passing (focused on accuracy and speed of pass) and enjoyment in the game. Players are still in a bee-hive phase of soccer at this age, and it is completely natural. Kids are egocentric at this age, so teaching them to move away from the ball goes against their basic fabric. Don't worry, they will understand it at the right time during their development. Until then, just give them the tools necessary to build off of.

Like I always tell my coaches: We need to teach our players how to play their instrument before they can play in the orchestra.

Good luck.

 

We spend a great deal of time developing foot skills and ball handling during the bulk of the early part of every practice - then we move into typical situations that those skills will be used - then a short scrimmage. Surprising how U9-U10's can take what you teach and apply it directly on the field in a short frame of time.

 

He needs to be playing 1v1 vs. LIVE opposition in training A LOT more. No more cones, because cones don't defend. Make the space small and have him play 1v1 against your best defenders.

 

This is a product of age and immaturity, IMO. He'll just keep doing it until he gets old enough to manage his energy.

 

I really like this quote Blitz: "We need to teach our players how to play their instrument before they can play in the orchestra."

Footwork drills are definitely the crucial area for this age group. Besides using small-sided games, I also recommend small skills exercises that teach players basic concepts like taking advantage of 2 vs. 1 situations, so they can practice fakes and give and goes.

This one, we call "Bermuda Triangle," is great:

Players work in pairs as teams (2 vs. 2). Three big cones in a triangle 10 yards apart act as goals. Players score a point by hitting any of the three cones with the ball. Ball switches possession after a goal. Play continues non-stop for two minutes then players switch triangles. No out of bounds.

Progression:
• Play 3 vs. 3 with four cones.

www.coach-smart.com has a bunch of great games for U10 teams..

 

You don't want to overcontrol the practices. They should be spending the majority of time in small sided games or scrimages: 1v1, 3v3, 5v2, whatever. While you might have taught dribling last week and trapping this week, they will get a chance to use all the ball skills plus tackling in the small sided games. That is what they mean by letting the game teach them. You demonstrate, make coaching points, but let them play as much as possible. Skill development takes repetition. Kids might understand the proper technique the first time, but they need repetition under gradually increasing pressure (until you get to game-like conditions) to improve their skill level. For instance collecting a pass on the ground with the inside of the foot is relatively simple to execute while standing still with the ball coming to your feet. But what about while moving away from the ball, running, a pass off the ground, or under defensive presure. Or all of the above at the same time. It takes a lot more skill to control the ball under those conditions even if you understand the technique.

 

"...but they need repetition under gradually increasing pressure (until you get to game-like conditions) to improve their skill level."

Here is a link to a general discussion of how to vary drills (including small-sided games) to increase the level of difficulty. http://www.nscaa.com/subpages/20060331172815126.php

 

Play variations of handball. It makes them focus on seeing the field instead of individual skills. It also breaks the monotony. You can let them run with the ball in their hands or only allow movement of the ball by throwing it or dribbling with their feet. If I had them playing at a goal, my rule was that the ball had to go back on the ground in the penalty area and shots not allowed with a throw. It is a technique used in Europe all of the time.

 

I struggled with this topic with both my son and daughter in terms of coaching. We dedicated about 1/2 the practice to individual skills and the basics, trying to build a foundation that we could always go back to during the year. We also spent about a 1/4 of the time on team tactics and set plays. It is very tough at this age to get a team concept going, but I do think it is important to discuss and spend time on it. I found the following to be extremely helpful in teaching position and spacing at this age. Combine this with practice games we saw results of the kids starting to recognize spacing and the importance of playing a position; however, be patient because these moments were brief but resulted in a great feeling as a coach as well as for the players. I hope this drill helps, but please let me know if not or if there are suggestions for making it better.

Again, we found this to work but we struggled and had the same feeling in all he above replies, but I think that is what makes coaching so fun and rewarding.
-------------------------------
As we all know spacing is so very important in soccer but one of the most difficult aspects of the game to teach to youth players. I personally feel it is never to early to at least start discussing the topic. For example, when I watch matches on TV with my kids we discuss spacing at every given chance. However, discussing and coaching are entirely different. We need to be realistic in that there is no way you will get 5 and 6 year old players to spread out consistently. I personally think a good age to start practicing spacing is at U8/U9, depending on the level of the players, but again it should be discussed at all ages to gain an understanding.

I have always discussed spacing in two aspects. An offensive player wants spacing and needs spacing to operate on the field. It is their job to create their space by moving away from opposing players when they do not have the ball, as well as move away from players on your team when they have the ball. Offensive moves practiced and used in games are done so to create additional space, where they can either shoot, pass or advance the ball.

Defensive players do not want to a large amount of space between them and the offensive players, so they are continuously trying to take away space from opposing players. In many cases they are even layering and backing each other up in the event an offensive player creates space on their own, they can then close that space to limit the damage.

This discussion combined with watching professional soccer matches will at least give a base concept to begin teaching space. I have always started teaching it on the practice field by putting players on a full field in their respective positions. Field only one team facing the other half of the field, which is empty of players (this works for all sizes fields and ages). I then take a ball and kick it to the other side of the field and ask the players to sprint to where they feel they should be on the field with respect to where the ball is being played. This also will help teach your philosophy on positioning. By doing the "shadow" drill over the entire field, back and forth, while correcting and explaining why the positioning and spacing is important; it will tie your above discussion together with the physical part of the game. I like to try to implement a triangle on the field, so midfielders should be backing up offensive players for drop passes. By using this shadow technique the players will begin to understand the importance of spacing. You can do the same to discuss weak side spacing on crosses so a player does not get sucked into the middle, or how mid fielders can advance to a scoring position. Again, incorporate you philosophy and positioning.

Once you feel they have a base understanding it is time to scrimmage and apply spacing in a game situation. You should play with them, showing them how to move with and without the ball. I also recommended yelling out "Freeze" so the players stop and you can reinforce position and spacing. Always explain why it is important.

A couple of tips I have also used along the way to help teach players to not crowd their own team-mates when they have the ball is to explain to them that is good to be aggressive, but when your team has the ball you should really be running away from them to open up a passing lane and create space for him and yourself. The player with the ball should then start to look for the pass when his space closes on him. Defensive players should be shown how to close the space without diving in, as well marking players in space.

 

I like this approach.

I also think that U9 players are still psychologically unable to truly grasp many team tactics aside from basic messages like "take the ball down the side and pass/cross it in front of the opponent's goal."

But there seems to be a mental breakthrough at the U9/U10 threshold however (at least with girls). I've seen it routinely...the 8 y.o.s are literally all over the place on the field except for offense/defense while the 9/10 y.o.s are making runs off the ball, switching on defense etc. It's wierd, really.

 

[rant]

Sorry, but, I have to disagree that an attacker needs/wants MORE SPACE. Rather, an attacker needs MORE SKILL!

Only when the field becomes congested at 11v11 with highly athletic individuals does the large amounts of space become a concern.

At U9, the field is probably still TOO BIG for the players. If you're not forcing them to use skills to beat players at U9, they aren't going to get better. And, then, at U16, when there is no more space left to exploit, they will be overly-passive and possession-happy.

[/rant]

 

I agree 100%, which is why we spend 1/2 the practice on individual 1:1 skills and only 25% on this team aspect. Bunch ball at this age seems to be the norm which is why we liked to mix in some team aspects. To each their own...I'm not saying this is the way and follow, only that we saw success with it (at times) and the original post was asking for advice. Cheers!

 

No, I understand where you're coming from. And, it's all down to the right "mix".

It's just lately I've got a bug about the whole thing - spreading out that is.

 

Liverpool is looking good right now. Rec. is so hard at that age. I think the club Player Development Programs do a great job of teaching the individual skills also and try to get them in the mix when possible. The disparity in skill level from player to player can make it very difficult to coach and keep everyone involved while challenging them to learn. I have always struggled with teaching aggression to players. I'm going to search the board for help on that..any advice?