Soccer 101Soccer 101

Information for the Novice Information for the Novice CoachCoach

So now you are a coach, So now you are a coach, what next?what next?

Develop a philosophy.Develop a philosophy.

Why do you want to coach?Why do you want to coach?

What do you hope to accomplish?What do you hope to accomplish?

How will you do it?How will you do it?

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Wednesday 02/13/02

Quinn & Fleck, 1995

What tools will you need?What tools will you need?

Gear – Balls, cones, training vests, Gear – Balls, cones, training vests, space.space.

Ideas for training topics.Ideas for training topics.

PatiencePatience and and supportsupport from players from players and parents.and parents.

Team AdministrationTeam Administration

Pre-season parent meeting.Pre-season parent meeting. Practice time, location, pick-up and Practice time, location, pick-up and

drop-off guidelines, parent drop-off guidelines, parent responsibilities, player responsibilities, responsibilities, player responsibilities, sharing of your philosophy, goals for sharing of your philosophy, goals for season, and protocol on how to season, and protocol on how to approach coach with concerns and approach coach with concerns and questions.questions.

Team Administration Team Administration (cont.)(cont.)

Pre-season player meeting.Pre-season player meeting. Practice time, location, parent Practice time, location, parent

responsibilities, player responsibilities, responsibilities, player responsibilities, discussion on appropriate behavior at discussion on appropriate behavior at practice, games, and events, sharing of practice, games, and events, sharing of your philosophy, goals for season, your philosophy, goals for season, discussion on respect for game, discussion on respect for game, teammates, opponents, and match teammates, opponents, and match officials, and protocol on how to approach officials, and protocol on how to approach coach with concerns and questions.coach with concerns and questions.

Risk ManagementRisk Management SDSSA and League Requirements.SDSSA and League Requirements. General concerns that you may not have General concerns that you may not have

thought of:thought of: Being alone with players after training or Being alone with players after training or

games.games. Use of social networking sites.Use of social networking sites. Names of jerseys.Names of jerseys. Publication of photos after season, tourney, Publication of photos after season, tourney,

etc.etc. Use of alcohol or drugs around players by Use of alcohol or drugs around players by

player parents, coaches, friends, etc.player parents, coaches, friends, etc.

Player Development Model

Player Attributes

OrganizationCulture & Context

CoachAttributes

LEARNING PLAYING

Gamein theChild

Quinn & Fleck, 1995

The Game in the ChildThe Game in the Child The youth soccer player is defined as any The youth soccer player is defined as any

child playing soccer from pre-school child playing soccer from pre-school through adolescence. It takes the through adolescence. It takes the approach that the GAME WITHIN EACH approach that the GAME WITHIN EACH CHILD, is at the center of all beliefs, CHILD, is at the center of all beliefs, decisions, and actions taken by the child, decisions, and actions taken by the child, coach, and organization. It is the ultimate coach, and organization. It is the ultimate goal of youth soccer development within goal of youth soccer development within the United States to unlock the game the United States to unlock the game within each child to reach full soccer within each child to reach full soccer potential.potential.

U6 PlayersU6 Players

Lots of imagination in games.Lots of imagination in games. Trainings should last 50 minutes to 1 hour Trainings should last 50 minutes to 1 hour

max.max. Need to have 4-6 games for players as they Need to have 4-6 games for players as they

lose interest in activities quickly.lose interest in activities quickly. No concept of pace. Can quickly burn No concept of pace. Can quickly burn

energy.energy. Body doesn’t regulate temperature well.Body doesn’t regulate temperature well. Equate their quality of play to the amount of Equate their quality of play to the amount of

effort exerted.effort exerted.

U6 Player – Essential U6 Player – Essential SkillsSkills

Balance and coordination.Balance and coordination.

Initial introduction into different surfaces of Initial introduction into different surfaces of foot that can be used to dribble ball.foot that can be used to dribble ball.

Initial introduction into different surfaces of Initial introduction into different surfaces of foot that can be used to kick ball.foot that can be used to kick ball.

Nearly all activities have 1 player to 1 ball Nearly all activities have 1 player to 1 ball ratio.ratio.

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Monday 04/15/02

U8 PlayersU8 Players

Still have quite an imagination.Still have quite an imagination. Love activities that they can relate to.Love activities that they can relate to. Relate their performance to effort Relate their performance to effort

exerted on task or game.exerted on task or game. Team identity important, not great at Team identity important, not great at

sharing their ball.sharing their ball. Body doesn’t regulate temperature well.Body doesn’t regulate temperature well. Starting to play because they desire to Starting to play because they desire to

play.play.

U8 Players – Essential U8 Players – Essential SkillsSkills

Balance and coordination.Balance and coordination.

More exposure to dribbling with different surfaces of More exposure to dribbling with different surfaces of foot. foot.

Initial concepts of individual moves, fakes, and Initial concepts of individual moves, fakes, and faints.faints.

First exposure to working in groups of twos. Passing First exposure to working in groups of twos. Passing and receiving ideas.and receiving ideas.

Trainings should involve 1 to 2 players and 1 ball Trainings should involve 1 to 2 players and 1 ball ratios and intermix ideas with these ratios.ratios and intermix ideas with these ratios.

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Wednesday 04/17/02

U10 PlayersU10 Players Psycho-motor skills are better Psycho-motor skills are better

developed.developed. Can manage more difficult tasks and Can manage more difficult tasks and

activities.activities. Have a more developed sense of self.Have a more developed sense of self. Love to be part of team environments.Love to be part of team environments. Physical differences in boys and girls are Physical differences in boys and girls are

noticeable.noticeable. Starting to think ahead.Starting to think ahead. Intrinsically motivated to play.Intrinsically motivated to play.

U10 Players – Essential U10 Players – Essential SkillsSkills

Dribbling with different surfaces of each foot should be Dribbling with different surfaces of each foot should be encouraged and expected.encouraged and expected.

Concepts of individual moves, fakes, and faints should be Concepts of individual moves, fakes, and faints should be encouraged and expected.encouraged and expected.

Working in groups of twos and threes is common. Working in groups of twos and threes is common. Passing with different surfaces of foot is expected and initial Passing with different surfaces of foot is expected and initial

ideas of tactical application presented.ideas of tactical application presented. Receiving with different surfaces of foot and with deception is Receiving with different surfaces of foot and with deception is

presented and encouraged.presented and encouraged. Initial introduction to combination play (wall pass, overlap, etc.)Initial introduction to combination play (wall pass, overlap, etc.) Initial attacking and defending concepts are introduced in Initial attacking and defending concepts are introduced in

trainings.trainings. Goalkeeping is introduced to all players.Goalkeeping is introduced to all players. Trainings should involve 1 to 3 players and 1 ball ratios and Trainings should involve 1 to 3 players and 1 ball ratios and

intermix ideas with these ratios. (ex. Warm-up in individual intermix ideas with these ratios. (ex. Warm-up in individual activities and build to larger numbers. 1v2/2v2/3v2/3v3 etc.) activities and build to larger numbers. 1v2/2v2/3v2/3v3 etc.) Directional play to zones, targets, or areas should be Directional play to zones, targets, or areas should be emphasized.emphasized.

Quinn & Fleck, 1995

U12 PlayersU12 Players Pubescence is now becoming a reality for some players.Pubescence is now becoming a reality for some players. Ability to sustain complex coordinated skill sequences is Ability to sustain complex coordinated skill sequences is

demonstrated.demonstrated. Show ability to creatively solve problems, so games and Show ability to creatively solve problems, so games and

activities must present problem solving opportunities.activities must present problem solving opportunities. Start to seek peers that are most like them in age, race, Start to seek peers that are most like them in age, race,

sex, and socioeconomic status. sex, and socioeconomic status. Overuse injuries, burnout, and high attrition rates are Overuse injuries, burnout, and high attrition rates are

associated with high-intensity children’s programs that associated with high-intensity children’s programs that fail to stress skill development and learning enjoyment.fail to stress skill development and learning enjoyment.

Self-esteem influenced by: where they are in terms of Self-esteem influenced by: where they are in terms of puberty, how popular they are, race, religion, social puberty, how popular they are, race, religion, social class, clothing, etc.class, clothing, etc.

U12 Players – Essential U12 Players – Essential SkillsSkills

Dribbling with different surfaces of each foot should be encouraged, Dribbling with different surfaces of each foot should be encouraged, expected, and demonstrated.expected, and demonstrated.

Concepts of individual moves, fakes, and faints should be encouraged, Concepts of individual moves, fakes, and faints should be encouraged, expected, and demonstrated.expected, and demonstrated.

Working in groups of twos and threes is expected on offensive and Working in groups of twos and threes is expected on offensive and defense. defense.

Passing with different surfaces of foot is expected and ideas of tactical Passing with different surfaces of foot is expected and ideas of tactical application presented.application presented.

Receiving with different surfaces of foot and with deception is Receiving with different surfaces of foot and with deception is encouraged.encouraged.

Combination play is part of trainings and games.(wall pass, overlap, Combination play is part of trainings and games.(wall pass, overlap, take over, etc.)take over, etc.)

Attacking and defending concepts are part of trainings and realized in Attacking and defending concepts are part of trainings and realized in games.games.

Goalkeeping is worked on with all players.Goalkeeping is worked on with all players. Trainings should involve 1 to 4/5 players and 1 ball ratios and intermix Trainings should involve 1 to 4/5 players and 1 ball ratios and intermix

ideas with these ratios. (ex. Warm-up in pairs and build to larger ideas with these ratios. (ex. Warm-up in pairs and build to larger numbers. 2v2/3v2/3v3/4v2/5v3/3v5 etc.) Directional play to zones, numbers. 2v2/3v2/3v3/4v2/5v3/3v5 etc.) Directional play to zones, targets, or areas should be used so players learn how to manipulate targets, or areas should be used so players learn how to manipulate field space.field space.

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Sunday 04/21/02

U14 – U19 PlayersU14 – U19 Players

Good luck…they already know it all.Good luck…they already know it all.

U14 – U19 PlayersU14 – U19 Players Huge difference between those who have Huge difference between those who have

or have not reached maturity.or have not reached maturity. Peer pressure and perception can have Peer pressure and perception can have

huge impact on team play.huge impact on team play. Coaches now are dealing with coaching Coaches now are dealing with coaching

personalities and attitudes.personalities and attitudes. Winning and losing becomes important.Winning and losing becomes important. Players start to identify with and choose a Players start to identify with and choose a

sport to play.sport to play. They are teenagers, what else can be They are teenagers, what else can be

said? (boy or girlfriends, driving, jobs, said? (boy or girlfriends, driving, jobs, school, hanging out, video games, etc.)school, hanging out, video games, etc.)

U14 – U19 Players – U14 – U19 Players – Essential SkillsEssential Skills

Still need to practice individual skills.Still need to practice individual skills. Tactical play is emphasized. (Forwards, Tactical play is emphasized. (Forwards,

central midfielders, outside midfielders, central midfielders, outside midfielders, defenders, etc.)defenders, etc.)

Spatial awareness is emphasized on offensive Spatial awareness is emphasized on offensive and defensive.and defensive.

Need to begin to understand roles of offense Need to begin to understand roles of offense and defense.and defense.

Should introduce principles of attack and Should introduce principles of attack and defense.defense.

Learning to play different positions and Learning to play different positions and formations is important for players.formations is important for players.

Communication by players.Communication by players.

Soccer 101Soccer 101

Information for the Novice Information for the Novice CoachCoach