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Ask The Coach

 

Coaches have to deal with all sorts of scenarios week in and week out. Each week John will address a question that has been sent in by an AYSO coach. If you have a question that you want answered please e-mail John (heycoach@ayso.org). This week's question is:

June 8, 2010

Question: "Why does AYSO recommend no goalkeepers in U-8? Is this really soccer?"

• Answer: Soccer games without goalkeepers provide a better experience for 5, 6 and 7-year-olds for several reasons, which is why not only AYSO but also U.S. Soccer, the national governing body of soccer in America, discourages the use of goalkeepers at the U-8 level and below.It's the right way to teach soccer for these young ages.
  
  First of all, the goalkeeper is denied a chance to run around and chase the ball. The boy or girl who must guard the goal is being prevented from doing what he or she signed up for - play soccer!
  
  Depending on the game, the young goalkeeper is also likely to get bored (if the action is on the other end) or get discouraged if the ball keeps flying into the goal.

In their early experience with soccer, we want young players to shoot on goal as much as possible, because striking the ball is such an important skill for players to master. Young kids are more likely to shoot often when they're aiming at a goalkeeper-free net. With a goalkeeper there, they become apprehensive, looking for the perfect shot that they are not physically mature enough to pull off.

Nor are the very young kids physically prepared to make saves. They may get in front of a tough shot now and again, but they just don't have the tools for the position's requirements and are inclined to feel devastated when scored upon.

In fact, not using goalkeepers makes the coach's job much easier because the coach doesn't need to cajole players to take turns in goal.

Coaches and parents who have soccer knowledge, but not much experience with coaching young children, are most often the proponents of including goalkeepers in soccer games with even our youngest kids. They mean well, but don't realize that there is a more effective way of teaching soccer skills at this early age.

The use of goalkeepers at such young ages creates a temptation for the coach to make his bigger and more advanced athletes play goalkeeper, because this will greatly increase his team's chances of winning. In other words, the use of goalkeepers encourages the results-driven approach to coaching that hinders long-term player development and can suck the fun out of soccer. The players who are more advanced athletically at the young ages shouldn't be kept from enjoying field play so that the coach can rack up some wins.

In the worst-case scenario, players who are forced to play goalkeeper at the early ages lose their enthusiasm for the soccer.

When goalkeepers are used, at the U-10 level for example, the goalkeepers should be rotated frequently. Even players who enjoy playing goalkeeper should not be restricted to the position and should get plenty of time playing in the field. Players shouldn't specialize at any one position until they are well into their teens.

Many of the nation's best goalkeepers - Hope Solo, Tim Howard, Brad Friedel and AYSO alum Brad Guzan - spent much of their youth as field players. This not only prevented them from burning out on the position, but honed the foot skills goalkeepers need and their ability to read the game, which is crucial to being good goalkeeper.

To hear more from John on this topic, please click here

 

 

 

U6 Key Coaching Points

The primary job of a U6 coach is to make a nonthreatening, team oriented, fun-focused environment for little kids to discover the game of Soccer. Use lots of games to help them develop soccer skills. Tactical training is limited to the first Principles of Play – Penetration vs. Delay. This means dribble or shoot the ball into the goal if your team has the ball, or get between the ball and the goal if the other team has the ball. Beyond giving the kids the basic idea of the game, the only technical development targeted at this age group is:

·         Dribbling – U6 players should learn to dribble properly. This means that they should:

o   Use the different surfaces of their feet to dribble and control the ball

o   Keep their heads up (maintain vision) when dribbling

o   Keep the ball close to foot when dribbling

o   Dribble to penetrate to the goal

·         In-step Kick (for passing and shooting)

o   Place non-kicking foot next to ball

o   Bend non-kicking knee

o   Swing leg straight back at hip

o   Cock lower leg at knee and lock ankle with toes pointed down

o   Strike ball with shoelaces

o   Drive through the ball

·         Throw-in

o   Stand on or behind touchline, facing the field

o   Hold ball in both hands behind head

o   Keep both feet on ground through the throw

 

U8 Key Coaching Points

At U8, the game is still about the child’s self-discovery of soccer. As they mature, the kids become capable of more training potential (both physically and emotionally), but mainly you are working on many of the same skills they started to learn in U6. In addition to the U6 tactics of Penetration vs. Delay, U8 players start to learn about Width vs. Concentration and Depth vs. Depth. As for skills, the U8 player adds push passing and inside foot control to their repertoire.

·         Push Passing – the most accurate passing technique

o   Place nonkicking foot next to ball

o   Turn kicking leg out at the hip so that knee points to side

o   Lock ankle with toes pulled up

o   Swing kicking leg like a golf putter, striking ball with inside of foot

o   Use body weight to push the ball with the swing

·         Inside Foot Control – often called “collecting the ball” or “trapping”

o   Player shifts all weight to one leg, allowing other to receive the ball

o   Receiving leg is lifted with knee turned out to side (just like push pass)

o   Foot is extended toward ball

o   Leg is drawn back as soon as ball hits foot, to cushion the ball and stop it in place

With more players on the field, U8 teams start to develop team tactics and the basic use of the “triangle” between players to create support. Passing opportunities are taught, as well as very basic defensive tactics. Still, the focus remains on letting them play and have fun! Every practice should end with a small-sided scrimmage game between all players on the team so that they can use the skills you covered during practice.

 

U10 Key Coaching Points

Players at this level are gaining the strength, speed, and stamina to start playing more aggressive soccer, and they are more emotionally prepared for competitive team play. However, they still like to play for fun as well as to develop their skills! Tactically, U10 teams add Mobility vs. Balance to their Principles of Play, and defensive training begins. Skills expand to include:

·         Tackling using front block tackle

o   Player steps next to ball controlled by attacker

o   Ball is truck like a push pass, with toes up and ankle locked, hitting with the inside of the foot

o   Head is over the ball and body is leaning forward to put weight behind the tackle

o   Foot, ankle, knee and leg remains locked until ball is taken from attacker

·         Goalkeeping

o   Player learns goalkeeping rules

o   Stopping shots with hands, fists, and body

o   Proper way to dive and slide for shots

o   Distribution of ball by throwing or kicking

U10 teams look and play like soccer as adults know it, but it is still a kid’s game! Teach and coach during practices, then only cheer and observe during games – this way, you know what to work on in the next practice! Scrimmage after your training games and drills, so that the team can use those skills.

 

U12 Key Coaching Points

The game now resembles soccer as most people know it. The players are motivated and able to play this physically demanding sport. Now is when all Principles of Play are taught and used for all tactical training. Technical skills must be honed now and perfected – by age 14, most players cannot fix improper technique! Practice sessions include vigorous training drills and small sided games to encourage skill development, as well as physically condition the players. Maintaining shape is more important than positional play now, so U12 players must learn to work in triangles. Playing to space instead of to foot is encouraged to take advantage of new speed and athleticism. New skills include:

·         Sole of foot ball control/trapping

·         Thigh traps

·         Heading

·         Adding “moves” to dribbling

U12 coaches need special training, and must be certified as U12 Youth Coaches. Advanced training is strongly encouraged, and is available from AYSO! However, kids still play soccer because it is fun, so keep it that way!