Everything we do needs to be appropriate for the age and ability of our players

• Clear, Concise, Correct Information
• Keep it short and sweet
• Simple to Complex
• Start with the basics and only when you are sure they can handle it, increase the difficulty

No Lines

Our players deserve more than some boring line to stand in

• When 90% of the team are standing around watching, children lose interest, focus, and enjoyment
• If you need to set up a game with lines, run multiple games at once
• If you have an assistant or another person to help, use them

No Lectures

• Keep it clear, concise and easy to understand
• Explain  the game,  and let them play
• If you have a point to make, do it quickly, and get them playing again

No Laps

Coaching Philosophy

Your unique coaching philosophy

• Motivation
• Experiences
• Beliefs
• Methods

• Lengthened attention span
• Are far more team orientated
• Still in motion buy not as busy. Will stay in place long enough for a short explanation
• Psychologically becoming more firm
• Boys and Girls beginnning to develop seperately
• Overall and small motor skills becoming more refined
• Prefer team type balls and equipment
• Pace factor being developed (they do think ahead)

• Attention span yeond U6 but still not extended
• Inclined more toward group activities
• Still in motion
• Still very sensitive (dislike personal failure in front of peers)
• Beginning to develop physical coordination. (Most can ride a two wheeler at this point)
• Still into running, jumping, climing and rolling
• More in to the real balls through imitation of the big guys (sports heroes becoming important)
• Still lack sense of page (go flat out)

• Short Attention Span
• Most are individually orientated (me, my, mine)
• Constantly in motion
• Psychologocially easily bruised
• Little or no concern for team activities
• Physical and psychological development of boys and girls quite similar
• Eye hand and/or eye foot coordination is primitive
• Love to run and jump
• Prefer large soft balls and nerf balls
• Catching skills not developed
• Can balance on good foot
• No sense of pace – will run flat out until exhausted, catch breath and then run again

1. Standing foot next to the ball pointed in the direction of the target.
2. For different passes the ankle locked with:
1. Toe pointed toward the shin for inside the foot pass.
2. Toe pointed down and inside for outside the foot pass.
3. Toe down and heel up for driven pass.

Receiving

1. Get in the line of the flight of the ball.
2. Watch the ball.
3. Make an early selection in the body surface to use.
4. Relax the controlling surface.
5. Control ball into a space or away from pressure.
6. The first touch should allow the player to shoot, pass or dribble with the next touch.

Dribbling

1. Head up to read the game.
2. Ball close enough to the body to keep control.
3. Change of speed.
4. Change of direction.
5. To beat an opponent.
1. Body feint or dribbling movement to “throw” the defender one way.
2. Change of direction.
3. Change of speed
6. Individual Possession
1. Body between the ball and opponent.
2. Keep body “sideways”.
3. Lower center of gravity.
4. Use arms to keep space.
5. “Spin turn” away from opponent to relieve pressure
7. Running with the ball for speed.
1. Ball is pushed out further in front.
2. Use the instep (laces) and outside of the foot
3. Longer running strides

Heading

1. Get in line with the flight of the ball.
2. Watch the ball.
3. Make contact with the forehead.
4. Keep eyes open and mouth closed.
5. Time the run and jump to head the ball at your highest point.
6. For attack.
1. Direct the ball down toward the target – goal, teammate, path of teammate.
2. Glance the ball toward the target.
7. For defense.
1. Direct the ball high, wide and for distance.

Shooting and Finishing

1. Approach to the ball at an angle (open the body).
2. Standing foot next to the ball pointed in the direction of the target.
3. Ankle locked – toe down and heel up.
4. Body over the ball – momentum forward.
5. Solid contact.
6. Follow through – toe pointed.
7. Land on kicking foot.
8. Watch the ball during this whole process.
9. Consideration should be given to placement versus power in certain situations in and around the penalty area.

Crossing

1. Look at the “runners in the box.
2. Select the type of cross – pull back on ground, driven low near post, driven high far post.
3. Prepare the ball on an angle toward the “box”
4. Standing foot along side the ball and towards the middle of the field.
5. Pull the ball back away from the goal line.

Tackling

1. Non tackling foot close to the ball – do not reach for the ball.
2. When making contact with the ball, ankle should be locked.
3. Momentum forward through the ball.
4. Watch the ball.
5. Time to tackle – after opponent touches the ball and foot goes down.
6. Low center of gravity.
7. Block tackle – use back foot.
8. Poke tackle – use front foot.