U-7

Dribble with all sides of both feet

Dribble out of trouble

Dribble past someone

Soft first touch

Introduce Passing

 Typical Characteristics of U7 Players:

• Focused on themselves.

• Unable to see the world from anothers perspective – it is “the world according to me”.  

• Everything is in the here and now – forget about the past and future, they live in the moment.

• Enjoying playing, not watching – they feel no enjoyment from watching others play when they could be playing too.

• Limited attention span (on average 15 seconds for listening, 10-15 minutes when engaged in a task).  

• Effort is synonymous with performance – if they have tried hard, they believe they have done well. This is a wonderful quality and we should be supportive of their enthusiasm.

• Active imaginations – if we utilize their imaginations in practice activities, they will love practice!

• Look for adult approval – watch how often players look to you for approval or to see if you

are looking. Also be encouraging when they say “Mom, Dad, look what I can do!”

• Unable to think abstractly – asking them to think about spatial relations or runs off the ball is difficult.

• Typically have 2 speeds -- extremely fast and stopped.

• Usually unaware of game scores – we should keep it that way.

• Often like to fall down just because it is fun they are just children having fun.

 

U8-U9

Dribble with all sides of both feet

Dribble out of trouble

Dribble past someone

Shielding

Soft first touch

Proper shooting technique

Passing inside & outside w/ R&L

Introduce advanced dribbling

Combination Play

Receiving the Ball

Typical Characteristics of U8 Players:

• Tend to play well in pairs.

• Are now able to take anothers perspective – they now have a sense of how others are feeling.

• Still unable to think abstractly.

• Limited attention span (on average 15-20 seconds for listening, up to 20 minutes when engaged in a task) – this may vary greatly on any given day depending on school, diet, etc.

• Have an understanding of time and sequence – they now understand “if I do this, then that happens”

• Many have incorporated a third or fourth speed into play – not all players, but many have incorporated a speed or two between stop and full speed.

 • Seek out adult approval – be supportive when they ask about their performance or try to show you skills. They very much need reassurance and you need to help build their confidence to try new things at this age.  Be aware of your nonverbal reactions.

• Begin to become aware of peer perception.

• Wide range of abilities between children at this age – children all develop at varying paces.

• Keeping score – We do not need to stress winning and losing at this age. Progression of player abilities should be important at this age.

• Beginning to develop motor memories – learning proper technical skills is crucial as they are training their bodies to remember certain movements.

U-10

Continue with dribbling U8 & U9 Advance Passing w/inside/outside R&L

Shooting with both feet using laces

Receiving the ball w/all parts of body

Receiving Ball Away from Pressure

Heading

Tactical Priorities

Basic Attacking Ideas

Basic Defending Ideas

Comprehend 1 v 1 concepts

Comprehend 2 v 1 concepts

Introduction to 2 v 2 concepts

Comprehend role 1st & 2nd defenders

Comprehend role 1st & 2nd attackers

Communication

Pressure versus Containing

 

Typical Characteristics of U10 Players:

• Attention span lengthens from U9 – they start to show the ability to sequence thought and actions.

• They start to think ahead – “If this, then that”

• They are more inclined towards wanting to play soccer rather than being told to play

• Demonstrate increased self-responsibility – bringing a ball, water and all gear should now be

their complete responsibility

• They start to recognize fundamental tactical concepts

• Children at this age begin to become aware of peer pressure

• Players greatly affiliate with their team or their coach—“I play for the Tigers” or “I play for

coach Amy’s team”

• Players at this age are extremely rule bound—remember each rule you create is the

equivalent of a bar in the prison in which you would like to live

• There is a wide continuum of maturity evident on most teams this is still a crucial age for technical skill development.