 Posted 09/07/2007 09:47:34
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| Many of my under 8s are only just starting to acquire basic skills. A common problem throughout the team is that they are slow. Watching them turn is like watching oil-tankers in the English Channel. I'm aware of speed training techniques and agility ladders etc. But should I be using these with under 8s? Any other tips to build up their speed and dynamism? Thanks
Dwyer
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Posted 09/07/2007 22:17:51
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I personally don't like speed an agility ladders and equipment for this age. Kids this age are still developing so much physically. They typically have coordination and balance issues from their changing bodies that keep them from doing everything in as quick a manner as you might hope. Give them a jump rope and you will see what I mean. They just cannot coordinate that as quickly as you might expect. Their little brains aren't always on the same page as their bodies and this can make many tasks like agility ladders frustrating as they will not find success in replicating the particular pattern you are looking for. I started introducing straight agility work in very small ways at warm ups for games at U9 using cones and replicating some of the things that you would normally work on with agility ladders. Even then the boys struggled with getting their feet to do some of the things I was asking. I didn't worry about it being perfect just that they tried. And just the effort helped to get them going before the match.
To overcome this I use lots of elements in my practices that are going to help them with their techniques. The stronger those become the more confident they will be in trying to do them faster. Sometimes you train technique and it doesn't come with speed. You can also train speed, but without technique the two will have trouble marrying. Set up small obstacle course. Dribble with foot A around cones that are staggered, bounce the ball off a wall or board and change directions, dribbling some more, etc. Mix it up so they don't just get used to a pattern. Time them doing this. Have them do each course you prepare 3 to 5 times and see if they improve over those reps and then ultimately their speed of play should increase during the season as well.
Another way to get them to move faster is to play some small sided games on concrete or a court type surface even indoor. 3v3 in a racquetball court with a futsal ball, 4 v 4 or 3 v 3 out door on a parking lot or basketball court. The ball really moves quickly on these surfaces so their touch and speed of play becomes very important. We did some technique training session in a racquetball court and finished with a 3v3 tournament. It did good things for the kids.
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Posted 09/07/2007 22:24:46
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| Really well put sharks, At this age give them a ball each and teach them the basics let them enjoy themselves without an ADULT trying to complicate things.
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Posted 09/07/2007 23:51:56
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| You can play lots of games where you can introduce elements in a fun way. For instance, I've played some 4 v 4 games where players can only touch the ball with one foot IF the OTHER foot is off the ground at the same time. Now at first this seems impossible, but the kids have fun trying and they are also learning how to be moving off the position on contact with the ball instead of controlling the ball first then deciding on where to move it then moving the other foot etc etc by which tiome they have been tackled and lost the ball.
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Posted 10/07/2007 15:35:53
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Completely agree Frankie. Free play with a ball forms the basis of our approach. Our sessions usually start with a ball each, ball manipulation, turns in tight spaces etc, moving on to one ball between two, tackling dribbling, to 3v3 or 3v2 problem solving, to game to finish off.
Dwyer
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Posted 11/09/2007 16:37:32
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| Love this drill, tried it with my U12 players, they didn't want to stop. By the end of our 'tournament' they were kicking into open space and running onto the ball instead of at each other. Mind you, they still had difficulty kicking with one leg in the air, but the laughter and team bonding was incredible.
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Posted 01/07/2008 12:04:51
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Hi Guys,
I am 19 and have been coaching two years and gained a fair amount of knowledge and experience. One thing i realised from coever is that if the child be it male or female from 5-11 years of age, can't make the ball do what they want then there is tiny hope from the start. If they can gain a good feel of development with a ball then they will self teach. I use what i call a "Skill Square" as an indtroductry warm up prior to every session. I have constantly coached one team throughout the year and at first it became apparent i needed give numbers and basic techniques for the players to perform, but now my players arrive at training see the square and automatically go in and get there own outcomes. Try to encourage on the floor off the floor, all techniques, i say skill square but it can be any shape you wish ot test. You can even throw little cones or discs in for players to avoid, you can ask the players to use toe-taps, shuffles from one foot to another. Never the less they have a ball. And This can encourage them to do things at home without you forcing self learning. I also used one of the skills modules if one has heard of it. if your interested feel free to email me at seanmillette@gmail.com
Right now my question to you guys is, what drills do you guys use to develop the overlap run, as we played a side which were very effective at it, and struggled to maintain the side. i believe its a very effective tool for players as they create more space and opportunities.
Thanks Guys
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Posted 02/07/2008 13:00:31
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| A simple routine to start with would be to have three players in a 20 x 20 grid. One player starts with the ball while another closes down from the front. The third player starts behind the player with the ball and overlaps as the "ball player" is closed down and then the ball can be dished out when the supporting player i) gets square ii) has gone past the player in possession. You could replace the "closing down" player with a cone to start with then advance to an actual defender. If you advance it to a 4 v 4 just ensure that when players are closed down a player overlaps. Alternatively you could have two "feeder" players out wide and off the pitch who are on whatever side is in possession and who overlap and recieve the ball wide but can not ber tackled, then once in a good position can either cross the ball or play a pass into the grid.
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Posted 23/10/2008 19:11:22
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| I have coached from 5 to adult and have hardly ever used a ladder. I think the kids think they are great fun ,until they actually use them and they soon become boring. So I would not use them for quick feet. Personally I think SAQ are nothing more than a bloody good money maker for the inventor. Agile and quick feet come from having the ball at your feet and playing ssg for the reality. I work on confidence with the youngsters, always applauding a child who will try to beat an opponent,even if they lose it every time, as eventually they will get it and this works on another level because they eventually want to try every kind of trick they have seen or sometimes instinctively pull of a move to beat players. I never ever tell a 7/8/9 yr old to pass the ball, they figure that out for themselves as they grow older, eventually you end up with players who are able to beat players in 1v1 and more importantly they have those skills for life and the confidence to try them. As they grow older you bring in the importance of team play and passing and moving. Typical methods for quick feet are toe taps, inside - inside, rolling feet over ball from left to right and right to left, rolling ball front to back. As they get better bring in more movement, encouraging them to go forward ,sidewards etc. But rememebr as amateurs if they only ever do this once a week it will take a long time to see real improvement. Use ssg such as outrageous, which awards tricks.
I MUST THANK MY FATHER FOR ALL THE COACHING HE DID NOT GIVE ME !
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