 Posted 18/07/2007 11:58:02
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| I have 2 teams of under 7's about to be under 8's this year. I dont have them running laps around the pitch or sprinting but I do have them doing stretching. This isn't because I believe the 7 yr old's body needs stretching but I do it to get them in the habit of doing it so hopefully in a couple of years when they do need to stretch their muscles they are used to doing it and do it without even thinking about it. I start by getting them jumping up and down on the spot moving their feet out and in, then forward and back. Then some star jumps whilst they all shout 'easy, easy' etc' I get them rolling their arms trying to waft some air to cool me down, roll their heads around and shaking their hands. Just basically getting as many parts of their bodies moving as possible to get the blood flowing. Then about 3-4 minutes of stretching. They aren't going to get injured by not doing this, but they are more alert and ready for the session about to begin and like I've said above, they are accepting that its part of football training which hopefully will stay with them. I took an under 11 team about 1 month ago who had just ran around the pitch a few times for their warm up. They just couldn't be arsed basically to do any stretching because they'd never done it before.
Woolston Rovers Warrington
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Posted 16/10/2007 21:02:25
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| Swift1 and Nick, I personally agree with both of you will disagreeing at the same time. What I mean by this is (Nick), fitness is a big part of this game and yes I have seen the guy who thinks 30 laps of the pitch is benefitting his 9 year olds. I think what the issue here is or rather the challenge, is how do you incorporate fitness into a 1, 1.5 or 2 hour session so that not only do the benefit from the movement but they are getting lots of touches. The anwer I think is very simple...put a ball on their feet. Does this mean that they now do laps with the ball in circles...NO. When I run my sessions (for the last 2 years U-9,U-10 and now they will be U11 girls soon), I spend the first half hour with constant movement in a 20 x 20 area dribbling and introducing various moves. By the time they have finished this half hour, I can almost guarantee you that they have run the equivalent to 8 laps of the pitch. The difference is, they don't realize it. Now how do I know that this is working...out of 13 girls on my team....11 girls came in the top 20 regional school cross country race in our area (aprox. 200 runners). 3 of them were in the top 5. So in short...Fitness is very important, but how you do it so you the players are learning something, is the what we should discussing. My 2 cents...more like 25.
Matteo
1997 Competitive Girls Aurora, Canada
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Posted 24/10/2007 17:00:58
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| I can understand where you're coming from, but as a coach of an u10s team, I can see the need for some fitness work, as - and forgive me if this sounds like a rose tinted glasses view - kids just aren't as naturally fit today. You can have all the skills in the world, but if you can't run, you can't play. As one nearing 40 yrs old and still playing 11 a side and 5 a side weekly - I know this to be true ! - I don't think my ability to trap a ball, pass, see a move, any less than 20 years ago - but I can't run as well as I use to. Take my kids - I have 5 who are like whippets and can run (and do) all day I have 4 who can't and funnily enough don't - especially during a game - so what can I do ? I have 2 hrs a week and cannot get them into shape, as my influence is 2hrs a week -what they do at home/school is beyond my control...what i do, is talk to them about fitness, eating right etc and whilst ever conscious that I aim my talks in a way that doesn't stigmatize or offend - I can't help wonder if collectively, we're all sooo sensitive that it's no wonder obesity in the UK is a real worry. However, I do think playing football is as good a way to get fit as running. Most kids won't run, so I do build in "fitness" work into my training sessions, but have devised lots of "drills" with the ball - so the kids don't see it as fitness work, more ball work. E.g we do regularly do shuttles - but always with a ball - either dribbling, running or mixing it up, so we carry a ball to say shuttle 2 and next player when they get to 2, pick it up and move to 3 etc. Also, spend time running around a marked area, but with the ball - so whist the kids get use to dribbling and getting as many touches as possible -they also get to expend energy and so improve fitness and stamina Finally - as 10 yr old, flexibility and "natural" fitness does start to go unless worked upon, so I do all in all, think it's important to have balance and some fitness work is necessary - though I do agree as coaches of children, we should refrain from doing the same "pre season" work that I have to undertake for myself and it's not all about running.
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Posted 30/10/2007 16:02:12
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| James, Bang on!!
Matteo
1997 Competitive Girls Aurora, Canada
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Posted 11/01/2008 23:08:47
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I agree completely with MattR. Running laps is just plain lazy coaching. Get there early, set up a fitness circuit, speed ladders, hurdles, rings, sprint races, intermixed with ball work, keep-away, dribbling courses heading challenges, juggling, and rapid shooting drills stations. Keep the players moving to the next station every five minutes and they never stop moving for an hour (water breaks needed). The kids are getting power, stamina, speed, agility and ball skills and there are loving every minute of it. Yes, you need parental help and assistants but you can do it.
When you scrimmage try these "house rules"- all players except the keeper have to be in the attacking half or the goal doesn't count, all defending players have to be in the defensive half or the goal counts for two. After every goal the attacking team has to touch their own goal post before they can re-join the game. Build the stamina needed for football by playing or practicing football not running laps.
Sport science is coming to the understanding that static stretching is of limited value and then most of the benefit is from a "cool down". Your warm-ups should be ball touches, passing, movement and then dynamic stretching only once the body temperatures are up. Do not letyour kids blast the ball until they are fully warmed up, sooner or later you will get a serious muscle pull if you don't heed this.
Candu
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Posted 01/02/2008 09:51:16
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| hi, get use to stretching habit and light dynamic warm up is good. BUT any variaty? like warming up with the ball, ball mastery, foot work, fun game or incoroperate basic motor skill in it.. regards, steven
Phuabh
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Posted 07/02/2008 20:43:59
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| What really makes a good point about running for me is a quote from Jose Mourinho: "A great pianist doesn't run around the piano or do push ups with the tops of his fingers. To be great, he plays the piano. He plays all his life and being a footballer is not about running, push-ups or physical work generally. The best way to be a great footballer is to play." He's right isn't he. I try and limit the amout of just running to a bare minimum in the warm-up and if more ABSOLUTELY has to be done, then I make sure somewhere a ball is involved.
Calum McIntyre
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Posted 08/03/2008 12:58:15
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| Guys Have read through some of the posts but not all and everyone has made some valid inputs. I will add my tupence worth which you may or may not agree with but then if we all thought the same way and did things similarly then there would be no need for these forums... Well here goes... Kids should not be standing around in lines and queues, kids should not be spending 20 minutes doing 'shuttles' and sprints. These activities take away valuable ball working time, kids should be having as many touches of the ball as possible during a session. A session can be structured to ensure that the kids get maximum amounts of touches on the ball as well as improving their fitness levels at the same time. My sessions last for about one and a half hours, my kids will touch the ball in excess of 600 times each and they will also run on average about 2.5 to 3km they will also not be inactive for more than 20 seconds and this can all be done in an area less than 20 square meters.
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Posted 10/03/2008 10:13:06
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| All fair points but i still go along with the fact that fitness work does improve work rate and energy levels. Its a well known fact that during a 90 minute game each player is probably in possession for two minutes. Technique with the ball is essential but there is a lot of work off the ball during a match which means having a good work ethic and fitness level should be worked on in its own right. Sooner or later wheteher a player is 10 years old or 18 years old they will need to win a match with as much hard work as technique thats just the nature of the game. If the sessions are balanced and everything is looked at then that will create more rounded and complete players. If you have some superstar player who has wonderful technique but when he's tired he has no desire to push himself to do the off the ball things essential to his team then you wont have such an effective footballer - there is more to football than just kicking the ball. Work rate is vital and that can not be instilled by everyone ONLY working on technique. My players technique is more than adequate and we play an effective passing game yet my principles have always been the same and it hasnt effected my players.
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Posted 21/10/2008 17:12:53
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| I agree with coachdownunder. General rule of thumb for practices promoted by our state soccer program - No Lines, No Laps, No Lectures! every practice routine / drill / whatever is an opportunity to work on 4 key soccer components: Physical Fitness - Mental Fitness - Technique - Tactics Done right, you should not have to spend valuable time running laps around the field, though I do see teams that continue to take laps during warm-ups but are at least having the team dribble or pass with a partner while taking those laps. At least they are getting in valuable touches (technique) as well as getting in some physical fitness. I suspect, however, that much of the physical fitness training to be done at practice can be accomplished with extensive (and creative) small-sided scrimmage opportunities. Great way to work on all 4 components at once.
Ed Longo
Westborough Youth Soccer
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