Our goal is to develop players’ basic skills. We can’t expect these young players to master everything all the time, they will get it over time.
Objectives
- Have fun
- Get as many touches on the ball as possible
- Players should be sharing the ball
- Intermediate skills
- Individual, pairs and small group activities up to 3-4 players
- Very basic tactics (verbal mostly)
A focus on helping players develop intermediate skills and very basic tactics is critical as it will serve as the foundation for skills and tactics that will be introduced when these players move on to the next age group. The key focus is still the technical aspects of the game and to ensure all the players are having fun.
Technical Skills
- Dribble with all sides of both feet (inside, outside, sole)
- Dribble out of trouble
- Dribble past someone (feints, fakes, crossovers etc)
- Changes of direction and turns (pullback, inside/outside turns, cruyff turn)
- Soft first touch
- Receiving the ball with inside and outside of foot and chest
- Shielding – Players should develop proper technique to shield the balls from opponents
- Shooting with both feet (with inside of foot and laces)
- Shooting for power, for accuracy and volleying
- Passing with inside and outside of both feet
- Juggling with both feet and thighs (allowing one bounce between juggles if needed)
- Basic throw-in technique
- Introduce basic defending technique
- Introduce basic heading technique
Players should spend equal time developing both feet – this is very important but difficult to implement!!!
Continue to focus a fair amount of practice time on dribbling
At this stage, players can be taught a number of dribbling moves that are used frequently in football, such as step-overs, scissors, cuts, turns, and so on. We should continue to encourage them to be creative in their dribbling.
Incorporate other basic skills into practice sessions
- First Touch / Receiving: Players should be encouraged to focus on developing a soft first touch when receiving the ball. Players should first be shown the proper technique to receive the ball on the ground with both feet. Only when they are comfortable receiving the ball on the ground, should they be shown how to receive balls in the air using both feet, thighs and chest.
- Shielding: Players should be shown the proper technique to shield the ball from opponents.
- Shooting: Players should be shown proper shooting technique (using their laces) and have plenty of opportunities to practice with both feet.
- Passing: Players should be shown the proper technique of passing the ball with the inside and outside of their feet. They should be able to pass the ball accurately over 8-10 metres.
- Juggling: Players should continue to work on their ball juggling skills using both feet and thighs.
- Throw-ins: Players should be shown the proper way to perform a throw-in.
- Defending Technique: Players should be shown the proper defensive stance. Players should also be encouraged not to rush into their tackles but to be patient and wait for the right time to win the ball.
- Heading: Basic heading technique can be introduced to the older or more experienced players.
Tactical Skills
- Wall pass (also know as give and go or 1-2)
- Importance of the first touch
More 1v1 games/duels are incorporated in most sessions to allow the players to get plenty of opportunities to figure out how to dribble past an opponent and how to stop one.
Psychological Development
We want to have an environment where players can grow in confidence, express themselves, try new things and have fun while doing it.
- Keep it fun
- Build confidence
- Encourage imagination and creativity
- Promote independent decision making
- Promote problem solving
- Encourage player to learn to deal with winning / losing
The most important aspect of psychological development for young players in this group is for them to have fun. We strive to create an environment where the players, and the coach, are all having fun.
Allow players to make mistakes and encourage them to make their own decisions
For this age group, in a game, dribbling may not always be the best option. Players will need to start understanding when to dribble, when to pass, and when to shoot. At this stage, they will often choose the wrong option, but we need to
be patient with them and encourage them to make these decisions independently. Aimless “kicking away” of the ball is not encouraged.
At this age, the players are aware of the score (in games and in trainings) and many parents and coaches are paying more attention to the results. You will start noticing many coaches and parents yelling directions from the sidelines. We should remind ourselves that improving their play and having fun are the main objectives. As far as possible, we should refrain from yelling directions to the players from the side of the pitch.
Physical Development
- This is not a priority
- Just play
