Here we have some research presented by US Soccer over player development and ideas from around the world of what we should be looking to develop in young soccer players.  This is just an overview and I invite anyone to go online and do some research on each of these systems and topics.

Passing and Receiving from U6 to U14

 

U6 and U8 ideas:

 

• Big words are FUN, simplicity, freedom, patience.

• Everything is new, everything unknown.

• Practice should feel like a playground. The activity leader should be

as unobtrusive as possible: talk and involvement should be minimal.

• Everything is on the kids’ terms: imagination, creativity, and trial and

error are encouraged.

• From UEFA: “specialized movements of action and reaction”.

• In a simple, understated way, we’re beginning to train the players’

central nervous systems.

 

U6 activities:

• Fast feet – and with a partner.

• Kicking at a target.

• Kicking at a moving target.

• 2 v 2 or 3 v 3.

 

U8 activities:

• Fast feet, with a partner.

• One touch passing – then combine these two.

• Passing through a rectangle.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4.

 

U10 and U12 ideas:

• FUN, simplicity, freedom.

• Continuing to become (as the Swedes say) “friends with the ball”.

• From UEFA: “,,,the learning of precise and fast actions and

reactions….”

• Lots of repetition, more refinements of motions, stabilizing movements.

• Communication!

 

U10 activities:

• Passing triangles: right and left. Specific requests of the passers and

receivers.

• 4 v 1 keepaway.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4.

• Game to one: scoring v. possession game.

 

U12 activities:

• 5 v 2.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4.

 

 

 

Technical Development from U6 to U14

 

What is technique?

 

tools finesse ball control / body control feel

the how flair touch mechanics mastery

coordination the way you move skill

 

Technique in soccer:

 

• US Soccer Federation: technique, tactics, fitness, mentality = the

whole.

 

• KNVB (Royal Dutch Soccer Federation): TIC – technique, insight /

intelligence, communication.

o Virtually all the KNVB activities have two-way competition – so

players have to attack and defend.

o Combining skill and timing.

 

• Czech Republic: big years for technical development are six to 10.

 

• Sweden: becoming “friends with the ball”.

o ‘isolated technical activities’

 

• Ajax: target for technical development is 10 to 14.

o TIPS – technique, insight, personality, speed.

o For scouting: SPIT.

o The first objective – for the 8, 9, and 10 year olds: controlling the

ball with any surface of either foot in any direction. (!!)

 

• English academies: more practice, fewer games – 3:1 ratio of practice

to games. For example: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (“pregame”)

practices – and a Sunday game.

o Becoming balanced and two-footed.

 

• UEFA: Young soccer players must accumulate “a vast stock of

specialized movements of action and reaction, ranging from the easy

to the variable and complex.” Practice is “the learning of precise and

fast actions and reactions.”