It is important to note that each player and each team is different. The following document thus serves as a "guideline" or "standard" by which players and coaches can plan development. Individual and team needs can therefore be identified and addressed. Individual strengths can be stabilized while deficiencies can be improved. Of course, an accurate assessment of each player's and team's needs are essential. It is imperative that each coach take the time to observe and study the level for which their team is preparing to compete.
The ultimate goal of each coach should be to prepare the players to compete at the “next level.” I hope this document will assist you towards our goals of developing more sophisticated players and teams.
U8
(Individual play and a little
passing)
Trainer/Coach:
Sensitive teacher; Enthusiastic;
Possess basis soccer awareness; Ability to demonstrate;
Knowledge of the key factors of basic skills; Gives
encouragement.
USSF ‘E' License or higher
U8 (Training = Curriculum only!)
Spring: Technical
- Juggling (All body parts)
- Ball skills with right and left foot (Coever)
- Dribbling (Unchallenged using cones)
- Basic control and passing
- Shooting technique ( Stationary balls on ground facing the goal)
- Receiving balls from out of the air (All body parts using self service)
- Basic heading (Build self confidence)
- Throw-ins
Tactical
- Basic team shape in a 2-3-2 formation
- Basic use of the width of the field (Where is the space?)
Games (No GK's)
3v3. Gaining
confidence on the ball. Coach free
environment!
U9 and U10
(Individual play, Support, Ball circulation and Small group tactics)
Trainer/Coach:
Sensitive teacher; Enthusiastic;
Possess soccer awareness; Ability to demonstrate;
Knowledge of the key factors of basic skills; Gives encouragement.
USSF ‘E'
License or higher
U9 (Training = Curriculum only!)
Fall: Technical
- Juggling (All body parts)
- Dribbling (Over short confined spaces)
- Shooting technique ( Balls moving on the ground facing the goal)
- Basic control and passing (Inside of the foot)
- Passing the ball out of the air. (Side foot volleys, thigh volleys etc using self service)
- Basic shielding (Body between the ball and opponent)
- Heading (Offensive and defensive)
- Throw-ins
Tactical
- Team shape in a 2-3-2 formation
- Playing goal side
Games (No GK's)
3v3 – 4v4. Emphasize
passing and receiving, without taking away the players
ability and confidence to dribble at opponents. Minimal
coaching!
Spring: Technical
- Juggling (All body parts)
- Dribbling (Unchallenged and challenged)
- 1v1 Offensive skills to beat an opponent
- 1v1 Defensive skills to stop an opponent
- Shooting technique (In the air)
- Ball control using the inside and outside of the foot. ( 1 st touch into space, body position )
Tactical
- Team shape in a 2-3-2 formation
- Playing the way you are facing
- 2v1 Offensive skills to beat an opponent
- 2v1 Defensive skills to stop an opponent
Games (No GK's)
3v3 – 4v4. Emphasize beating and stopping
an opponent with combination play. Again try not to eliminate
the individual skill and player confidence to beat an
opponent, or eliminate their aggression in a 1v1 defensive
situation. Minimal
coaching!
U10
(Training = Curriculum once/twice a week and one practice session game related!)
Fall: Technical
- Juggling (All body parts)
- Receiving the ball and turning
- Shielding the ball from an opponent
- Shooting technique (In the air, volleys, half volleys)
- Dribbling (Over large spaces, changing pace to beat an opponent)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 2-3-2 formation
- Pass and move
- 1v2 Defensive skills to delay an opponent
- 2v3 Defensive skills to stop an opponent
- 3v2 Offensive skills to beat an opponent
Games (No GK's)
3v3 – 4v4.
Emphasize beating and stopping an opponent with combination
play. Again try not to eliminate the individual skill
and player confidence to beat an opponent, or eliminate
their aggression in a 1v1 defensive situation. Incorporate
coaching into the first part of the games.
Spring: Technical
- Juggling (All body parts)
- Crossing
- Crossing and shooting
- Long passing (Lofted and driven, technique only!)
- Receiving the ball from a long pass
Tactical
- Team shape in a 2-3-2 formation
- Working together as a 2 or 3 team defense
- Pushing out with and without the ball
- Using the width of the field
Games (Use GK's)
4v4 – 7v7.
Emphasize working together as a team. Crossing the
ball from wide positions! Incorporate coaching
into the first part of the games.
U11 and U12
(Individual play, Support, Combination play and Large group tactics)
Trainer/Coach:
Sensitive teacher; Enthusiastic;
Possess soccer awareness; Ability to demonstrate
or utilize someone who can paint a good picture; Knowledge
of the key factors of basic skills; Gives encouragement.
USSF ‘D'
License or higher
U11 (Training = Curriculum once/twice a week and one practice session game related!)
Fall: Technical
- Repetition work with ball, combining last four seasons
- Crossing and shooting
- Heading (Offensive and defensive differences)
- Long passing (Game related)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 3-4-3
- Working and attacking as a front 3
- Correct runs into the box
- Working as a 3 man defense
- Playing the ball out of the back
- Covering/recovery runs
Fitness
- Fun and with the ball, totaling 10% of overall training.
Games ( Use GK's)
5v5 – 9v9
Communication is now key. Emphasize working as a team
and have them start to play controlled soccer with positions
relative to a game formation. Again, allow them to also
play coach free for a large portion at the end of practice.
Coach within the game.
Spring: Technical
- Repetition work with ball, combining last five seasons
- Checking to the ball
- Shooting (Side volleys)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 3-4-3
- Changing fields/point of attack
- Creating angles
- Overlaps
- High and low pressure on the ball as a team
- Attacking with width
- Heading on goal from crosses
Fitness
- Fun and with the ball, totaling 10% of overall training.
Games ( Use GK's)
5v5 – 9v9 Communication is now key.
Emphasize working as a team and have them start to play
controlled soccer with positions relative to a game formation.
Again, allow them to also play coach free for a large
portion at the end of practice. Coach within the game.
U12
(Training = Curriculum once/twice a week and one practice session game related!)
Fall: Technical
- Use and incorporate into warm-up
- Proper body position when receiving a ball in relation to the field and opposition
- Defensive headers from goal kicks
- Shooting (Bicycle kicks!!)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 3-4-3
- Zonal defending in a back 4
- Working and attacking as a front 2
- Playing under pressure
- Playing around the back
- Playing your position
- Connecting the midfield with the offense
- Basic set plays (Offensive corners and free-kicks)
Fitness
- Fun and with the ball, totaling 10% of overall training.
Games (Use GK's)
6v6 and up
Always end your practice now incorporating what has been
taught in a controlled environment into a real game situation.
Coach within the game.
Spring: Technical
- Use and incorporate into warm-up
- Tackling (Block tackle and slide tackle)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 3-4-3
- Connecting the midfield with the defense
- Possession
- Zonal defending within the midfield 4
- Defending from the front
- Forcing the opposition and ball into pressure situations from the front line and midfield
- Double teaming the opposition
- Basic set plays (Offensive corners and free-kicks)
Fitness
- Fun and with the ball, totaling 10% of overall training.
Games (Use GK's)
6v6 and up
Always end your practice now incorporating what has been
taught in a controlled environment into a real game situation. Coach within the game.
U13 and U14
(Individual play, Large group tactics and Team building)
Trainer/Coach:
Strong personality; Soccer knowledgeable;
Enthusiastic; Patient but demanding.
USSF ‘C'
License or higher
U13 (Training = Curriculum once/twice a week and one practice session game related!)
Fall: Technical
- Repetition work for warm-up
- Decision making
- Curving/bent balls (inside and outside of foot)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 4-4-2
- Shape and balance in midfield
- Possession with a purpose
- Attacking from out wide
- Offensive and defensive runs from midfieldChanging positions within the game
- Changing the point of attack from midfield
- Set plays (Offensive and defensive, corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, kick-offs)
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 15% of all training
Games (Use GK's)
8v8 – 11v11
A competitive environment is definitely needed now to
get the most out of your players. During this phase of
the player's development they really need to start to
understand their roles within the team and what is expected
of them, and the players around them. Allow
the game to flow, but coach within it on a more individual
basis.
Spring: Technical
- Repetition work for warm-up
- Decision making
- Heading as a pass
Tactical
- Team shape in a 4-4-2
- Using your keeper as an outlet
- Attacking from down the middle
- Transition from defense to offense and from offense to defense
- Possession with a purpose
- Set plays (Offensive and defensive, corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, kick-offs)
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 15% of all training
Games
(Use GK's)
8v8 – 11v11 A competitive environment is definitely
needed now to get the most out of your players. During
this phase of the player's development they really need
to start to understand their roles within the team and
what is expected of them, and the players around them.
Allow the game to flow, but coach within it on a more
individual basis.
U14
(Training = Curriculum once/twice a week and one practice session game related!)
Fall: Technical
- High repetition with high demands and work rate (Game speed)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 4-4-2
- Patterns of play
- Possession with a purpose
- Beating the offside trap
- More complex set plays (Offensive and defensive, corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, kick-offs)
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 15% of all training
Games (Use GK's)
8v8 – 11v11
During this phase training and games within training
need to be played at game speed with the same demands
and expectations as a real game scenario. A large portion
of training needs to be done within large group activities
creating a more complex teaching tool relative to the
11v11 game
Spring: Technical
- High repetition with high demands and work rate (Game speed)
Tactical
- Team shape in a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3
- Creating numbers up in the attack
- Counter attacking
- Speed of play
- Making the right decisions depending on filed position and pressure from opposition
- Possession with a purpose
- More complex set plays (Offensive and defensive, corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, kick-offs)
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 15% of all training
Games (Use GK's)
8v8 – 11v11
During this phase training and games within training
need to be played at game speed with the same demands
and expectations as a real game scenario. A large portion
of training needs to be done within large group activities
creating a more complex teaching tool relative to the
11v11 game. Coach within the game.
U15 and U16
(Team building, Functional training and Learning to win)
Trainer/Coach:
Charismatic; Experienced; Knowledgeable;
Articulate; Disciplinarian; Managerial know how;
Thoughtful persuader.
USSF ‘B'
License or higher
At this stage of a player's development, team tactics are critical to the success of the team. Therefore, your player's individual ability and understanding of the game will dictate the formation that you play!
U15 (Training = Relative to pre-game and post game problems within the team incorporating generic training sessions into the program which require high intensity and repetition)
Spring: Technical
- Use as a warm-up geared towards main coaching topic, relative to the 11v11 problem solving that the players will encounter
Tactical
- Patterns of play
- Creating options for your team mates
- Attacking in the final third
- Decoy runs
- Speed of play
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 20% of all training
Games (Use GK's)
At this stage
in a players development the game needs to be the biggest
teacher! Maximum group/team tactics and coaching within
the game is essential. Concentration and focus is key
to the development of the players and team. Coach within
the game.
U16
(Training = Relative to pre-game and post game problems within the team incorporating generic training sessions into the program which require high intensity and repetition)
Spring: Technical
- Repetition work
- Improving first touch (Place players outside their comfort zone)
Tactical
- Patterns of play
- Creating options for your team mates
- Speed of play
- Decoy runs ( More complex runs on and off the ball)
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 20% of all training
Games (Use GK's)
8v8 – 11v11
Preparation and exposure to the college scene is what
matters. Players now have an understanding of the game
and what is expected of them. Psychological, physical
and tactical awareness is now the main focus of the coach
and players. Therefore, demanding the most from your
players is critical for the player to move onto the next
level. Coach within the game.
U17 and U18
(Development of Functional & Team Play)
Trainer/Coach:
Charismatic, well informed, up
to date, experienced, knowledgeable, articulate,
disciplinarian- No doubts about his/her authority; Managerial
know-how.
USSF ‘B'
License or higher
U17/18 (Training = Relative to pre-game and post game problems within the team incorporating generic training sessions into the program which require high intensity and repetition)
Spring: Technical
- Repetition work
- Improving first touch (Place players outside their comfort zone)
Tactical
- Patterns of play
- Creating options for your team mates
- Adapting to the oppositions formation
- Controlled possession when winning and losing.
- Different styles of play when winning and losing!
Fitness
- With and without the ball, totaling 25% of all training
Games (GK's)
8v8 – 11v11 Preparation
and exposure to the college scene is what matters. Players
now have an understanding of the game and what is expected
of them. Psychological, physical and tactical awareness
is now the main focus of the coach and players. Therefore,
demanding the most from your players is critical for
the player to move onto the next level. Coach within
the game.
“There are many people, particularly in sports who think that success and excellence are the same thing and they are not the same thing. Excellence is something that is lasting and dependable and largely within a person's control. In contrast, success is perishable and is often outside our control ¼ . If you strive for excellence, you will probably be successful eventually ¼ . people who put excellence in first place have the patience to end up with success ¼ . An additional burden for the victim of the success mentality is that he/she is threatened by success of others and resents real excellence. In contrast, the person fascinated by quality is excited when he/she sees it in others.”
Joe Paterno – Penn State University
