Coaching 6 to 10 year olds
Coaches of players ages 6-10 will focus primarily on technical development focusing on the key skills of passing, control, dribbling and shooting. The practices will be structured to enable players to work as individuals, in pairs and in small groups.
The practices should be fun, relatively short and each drill or game should repeatedly use the skill that you are focusing on and the organization of the group should provide the maximum opportunity for each player to be involved. Within the practice you will be able to progressively develop the specific skill you are working on. Once the players have a good understanding of the basic technique you can add pressure by restricting space or adding time limitations.
Teams at this age will play organized 6 v 6 games and the players will begin to understand the different roles played in goal, defense, midfield and forward. It is essential that players be rotated throughout each of the positions druing the season.
The breakdown below shows the typical technical, tactical, physical and psychological expectations we should have when working with 6 - 10 year old players.
Physical
Make repeated sprints without being totally out of breath
Challenge other players fairly for the ball
Shield the ball using the body as a screen
Be able to play for two periods of 25 minutes.
Technical
Dribble with close control
Run with the ball at speed
Control the ball with inside of the foot
Shield the Ball
Pass the ball on the move with both feet
Shoot the ball with the laces
Head the ball correctly
Make a block tackle
Perform a correct throw in
Tactical
Players spread out on offense and retreat on defense
Look to use wide players in attack
Understand individual defending
Introduce Goalkeepers
Understand rules of play including fouls and restarts
Introduce the concept of offside
Psychological
Become comfortable with one on one battles
Try your hardest to win each game
Learn how to behave when winning and losing
Have fun learning and improving
The practices should be fun, relatively short and each drill or game should repeatedly use the skill that you are focusing on and the organization of the group should provide the maximum opportunity for each player to be involved. Within the practice you will be able to progressively develop the specific skill you are working on. Once the players have a good understanding of the basic technique you can add pressure by restricting space or adding time limitations.
Teams at this age will play organized 6 v 6 games and the players will begin to understand the different roles played in goal, defense, midfield and forward. It is essential that players be rotated throughout each of the positions druing the season.
The breakdown below shows the typical technical, tactical, physical and psychological expectations we should have when working with 6 - 10 year old players.
Physical
Make repeated sprints without being totally out of breath
Challenge other players fairly for the ball
Shield the ball using the body as a screen
Be able to play for two periods of 25 minutes.
Technical
Dribble with close control
Run with the ball at speed
Control the ball with inside of the foot
Shield the Ball
Pass the ball on the move with both feet
Shoot the ball with the laces
Head the ball correctly
Make a block tackle
Perform a correct throw in
Tactical
Players spread out on offense and retreat on defense
Look to use wide players in attack
Understand individual defending
Introduce Goalkeepers
Understand rules of play including fouls and restarts
Introduce the concept of offside
Psychological
Become comfortable with one on one battles
Try your hardest to win each game
Learn how to behave when winning and losing
Have fun learning and improving