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Junior Member
 
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Last Login: 25/08/2009 04:24:57
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| Wow todays practice was an abysmall failure I realize I got a little too technical and it took too long. So I quickly switched to a small side scrimmage which got the kids involved again but I think I've undone all the hard work I've done.And its solely my fault! I want to develop the younger kids talents and yet give the kids that will be moving up an age group next year their skill so they can compete. Should I split them up according to age, with my other two coaches but some u7s are good enough to compete with the u8 and some u8 belong with the u7. I'm very confused and only want the absolute best for my kids. When I do drills designed for the younger kids the old kids start yammering, and vise versa. I love doing what I'm doing but damn it can be confusing! Help would be appreciated
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Last Login: 04/09/2009 06:26:12
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I coach both of these age groups. If the kids start talking, they are bored. Try not to talk for more than 30secs at a time and keep them moving. Avoid lines, laps and lectures.
Structure your practice in thirds. 1/3rd technique, 1/3rd drills to reinforce technique. 1/3rd SSGs that incorporate your topic. Be sure to periodically freeze play and make a few coaching points that reinforces the topic.
Keep your SSGs to no bigger than 3v3. It seems that more than that causes kids to get fewer touches on the ball.
Only focus on ONE or TWO things for the entire season. If you do more than that, it will overwhelm the kids. Footwork/Ball Control should always come first.
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| I shall keep that post and print it for my records when I return to this age group in the future. Footwork and bal control are non issues as my kids (except one who refuses to listen thanks to his parents) have a lot of those skills down pat. After 6 weeks they should. The problem I'm having is the u8's spacing is incredible. Those kids were coached by me last year as u7 and as you said in your other post development cannot be judged until next year and it blatant that they've learned. The new ones the U7s and the one u8 boy (except in his defence has learned from the other u8s about spacing). I've done the same drills to teach them about it. I've even borrowed puppies and brought them onto the field and had them chase a food dish about to show them what they looked like. Last year I had my now u8s making progress by week two after being forced into the coaching position and by week 6 the final week looking like the kids that are progressing so rapidly that u9-10-11& 12 coaches are presently grabbing them up for bigger and better tournaments this year. I've driven to all of their individual games and cheered them on and they don't look out of place on the big field at all! My u7's are making no progress in the spacing dept at all! And its getting to the point where the u8's are getting frustrated with the u7s! I've told the u8s to help the u7s with encouragement and chatter and they're doing it to no avail! I talked to the last previous coaches down to u5 and all come across as well meaning but doing their kids no favours by not teaching their kids anything! How in gods green earth do I teach them the game when all they've learned is MOB BALL. Should I just be thankfull I got footwork and ball control across to them and pray that their coach next year will put their time and dedication into them? Or am I simply expecting too much? Because of my results last year? I'm staying calm but are there any suggestions to solve it?
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davey18 (17/06/2009)
I shall keep that post and print it for my records when I return to this age group in the future. Footwork and bal control are non issues as my kids (except one who refuses to listen thanks to his parents) have a lot of those skills down pat. After 6 weeks they should. The problem I'm having is the u8's spacing is incredible. Those kids were coached by me last year as u7 and as you said in your other post development cannot be judged until next year and it blatant that they've learned. The new ones the U7s and the one u8 boy (except in his defence has learned from the other u8s about spacing). I've done the same drills to teach them about it. I've even borrowed puppies and brought them onto the field and had them chase a food dish about to show them what they looked like.
Last year I had my now u8s making progress by week two after being forced into the coaching position and by week 6 the final week looking like the kids that are progressing so rapidly that u9-10-11& 12coaches are presently grabbing them up for bigger and better tournaments this year. I've driven to all of their individual games and cheered them on and they don't look out of place on the big field at all! My u7's are making no progress in the spacing dept at all! And its getting to the point where the u8's are getting frustrated with the u7s!I've told the u8s to help the u7s with encouragement and chatter and they're doing it to no avail!I talked to the last previous coaches down to u5 and all come across as well meaning but doing their kids no favours by not teaching their kids anything!
How in gods green earth do I teach them the game when all they've learned is MOB BALL. Should I just be thankfull I got footwork and ball control across to them and pray that their coach next yearwill put their time and dedication into them? Or am I simply expecting too much? Because of my results last year? I'm staying calm but are there any suggestions to solve it?
Footwork and ball control should always be part of your warm up activities no matter the age. It seems like your U8s are feeling much more comfortable with this. For them, you should work on their first touch. Make sure their receiving the ball technique is correct (the should ALWAYS be on their toes and be trapping with the foot to the side. Most importantly they should give a little "hop" when receiving the ball). Show them the dangers of creating a 50/50 ball if the first touch is not good. I do this by putting a ball exactly in the middle of two kids and have them sprint to the ball and just put a foot on it. They will reach it at the same time. Explain that their is a 50/50 chance that either person will get the ball. Then move the ball closer to one kid creating a 70/30 ball then repeat them running at it. Ask if this is better or worse for the kid closest and furthest away. Then ask what would be even better. They will tell you it's better if the other person has no chance to get it. This is how I kickoff the importance of first touch.
As for the U7s:
I would have them work on their own, away from the U8s. I don't believe the adage that the better players will bring up the skill of the weaker players. What I have found, especially in SSGs, is that the weaker players never touch the ball. They should be matched together based on their abilities. You don't want to hinder the progress of the much stronger U8s.
As far as spacing goes:
Remember, kids like to figure things out for themselves rather than just being instructed. Asking probing questions and by having them think, gets the point across much better than just explaining why something has to be done.
To get them to think about spacing, I have them all get in a circle and hold hands. I put one kid in the middle of the circle (obviously it will be a very small circle). I then give one of the outside kids a ball and tell them to play keep away from the girl in the middle. I tell the girl in the middle to kick the ball out. As soon as you say "go", the ball is usually kicked out immediately. I then ask the kids, "Was this easy or hard for the defender?". The response is "Easy". I then ask, "How can we make it harder for her to get the ball?" They think about it and say, "We need more room." I say, "Good idea. lets take two steps back." I then repeat the exercise and the defender will still knock it out fast. I then ask the same question to the kids and they will respond the same. "We need a lot more room!" I then have them back up about ten big steps and have them repeat the exercise. I then ask them if it was easier or harder for the defender this time. Obviously it's harder. Finally, I ask them what they learned from this.
Once they get that concept, moving into drills that reinforce that, works much easier. Of course you will have to freeze play to have them think back to the exercise occasionally, but the idea is now in their minds.
Hope this helps
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 25/08/2009 04:24:57
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| Thats a great drill! Simple and straight to the point! Thank you very very much! I'll give it a whril next practice. Thanks again Davey18
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