Coaching Kids Soccer, What Are They Ready For?

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Written by Steve Miles

Monday, 20 April 2009 20:46

by SteveMiles

In any neighborhood in the United States it's not uncommon to see soccer goals in the backyard or a group of kids kicking a ball around. There is a reason for this. Kids like playing soccer. Each year more and more kids are introduced to the game in organized leagues. If more and more kids are playing, where are the coaches coming from? In many cases the coaches are parents who have been asked to coach by the organization that their child is playing for. Many parents who never played soccer now find themselves coaching. One of the biggest questions for the parent in coaching kids soccer is "what are they ready for"?

Kids as a rule love to play soccer. Everyone on the field is involved in playing the game. When kids play a baseball game, chances are that the player in right field never gets a ball hit to him. In soccer, there is no right field everyone on the field is involved in the match. Soccer is a game that involves running, is fast and provides opportunities for every level of player.

With the growth of soccer as an organized game in the United States many coaching manuals have been published. One of the best is the manual provided by the United States Soccer Association. This manual is the one that is provided at USSF coaching clinics and provides the basics of the game along with drills and exercises that improve the ability of the players. Age groups generally separate players. Organized play can start as young as Under 6 and progress in two year age groups. In the younger age groups girls can and do play with boys.

U-6 players should be taught the basics of soccer. These basics include striking the ball with the foot, controlling the ball when it comes to them and dribbling the ball while running. These basics are what the U-6 player is mentally able to accept. Many U-6 matches resemble a ball surrounded by a small herd of players. This "bumblebee" soccer results from the mental concept of the U-6 player "It's my ball and I'm going to play with it".

Players at the U-8 level are functionally advanced U-6's. Many players at this level are entry level players and have never been exposed to soccer before. The fundamentals of striking the ball, trapping or controlling it and moving with the ball should be stressed. At this age, the player should be encouraged to use both feet to play the ball. It is far easier to define and hone the skill of using both feet at a young age than it is at a later age. The mental concept of "my ball" still exists at this age level and while many of the players will not be ball chasing some bumblebee games will exist.

U-10 players (8 and 9 year olds) are more mentally mature and physically coordinated. This is a natural aspect of growth. The U-10's are ready for more challenging practices and more advanced ball control techniques. When the matches are played the maturity of the U-10 player surfaces. Players actually develop the concept of playing in a position and balls are passed, sometimes successfully to a teammate. The more mature psychology and physiology allow matches to actually resemble a "real" soccer match.

U-12 players (10 & 11 years old) are mentally ready to accept the concept of tactics in a match situation. These tactics are enhanced by the introduction of more complex ball skills that are introduced into practice. The ball is not simply kicked in the general direction of a teammate but kicked to the teammate, sometimes with English put on the ball to curve it. The players in this age group are ready to have actual tactical plays introduced into the match. This enhances the enjoyment of the players and makes the match more fun for both the participants and the fans.

Soccer is often described as both a beautiful game and a simple game. The pure enjoyment of running on the field provides aerobic exercise for the youth player. Practices are generally looked forward to and matches provide the necessary competition for the youth. The parent coach should provide practices that are active, challenging and enjoyable for the player. The parent coaches educating themselves as to what drills and exercises will provide these goals for the player can only accomplish this.

About the Author:

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