| THE ROLE VOLUNTEERS and COACHES PLAY
The roles that coaches play have tremendous impact
on themselves as individuals, the team, the FDSA and
the players that look up to them as role models. With
this in mind, here are some time to write down some
helpful reminders for all of us. If you should have
any questions about these thoughts, please feel free
to discuss your concerns with any of the FDSA executive.
RESPONSIBILITES OF VOLUNTEERS
The coach's purpose is not to shape a youth to your
values, but to help them be everything they have the
potential to be.
- COMMUNICATION: Ensure the terminology you use is
clear and precise. Let players know you are in charge.
- POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: Whenever possible give
individuals and/or groups positive reinforcement.
Refrain from using negative comments. Use praise as
an incentive.
- PROPER CONDUCT: Coaches are expected to be punctual
and maintain a positive TEAM attitude at all times.
Proper conduct and language is expected of all coaches
both on and off the field
- SHOW RESPECT: Coaches are required to show respect
for other coaches, officials, parents and FDSA authorities,
opponents, officials, fans and anyone else associated
with the sport of soccer. Poor sportsmanship cannot
be tolerated. Remember, you are the role model for
the players. Win or lose – stay positive.
- BE CREATIVE AND USE INITIATIVE: If the drill or
game is too advanced, modify to increase the chances
of success.
- MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Be motivational and inspirational.
Enthusiasm and being energetic are contagious.
- KEEP PLAYERS ACTIVE: If the drill is static, create
need of helpers or assistants to keep everyone involved.
- EACH PLAYER IS AN INDIVIDUAL: Be aware of player
differences. Aggressive or quiet, recognition of player
personalities will allow you to respond to all players,
and they will respond to you positively.
- STRIVE FOR QUALITY: In all demonstrations make
the desired objectives clear. If a player shows mastery
of a skill, use him/her to demonstrate.
- REINFORCE CORRECT TECHNIQUE: In all drills and
games, continually emphasis the use of correct techniques.
- DEVELOP PLAYER RESPECT: Continually get players
to support one another. Show good sportsmanship towards
all players including opponents, and respect for others
attempts and effort.
- EQUALITY AMONGST PLAYERS: Give equal attention
to all players in group or games. Do not leave the
less competent players behind.
- FUN AND ENJOYMENT: Players will respond and want
to continue if things are fun. Create their enjoyment.
- EQUAL PLAYING TIME: In all recreational games –
remember all players must play equal time.
REMEMBER, AS A COACH, YOU SHOULD BE DEDICATED
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL PLAYERS, WHETHER TECHNICALLY
ABLED OR NEW TO THE GAME. YOUR POSITION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL TO THESE CHILDREN. SET EXEMPLARY
STANDARDS AND SPORTSMANSHIP. STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE
ATMOSPHERE – THIS IS THE GOAL OF KEEPING PLAYERS
IN THE GAME OF SOCCER. KEEP AWAY FROM CREATING A PRESSURE
TO WIN. MAINTAIN EQUALITY THROUGHOUT YOUR SESSIONS AND
EMPHASIZE FUN AND DEVELOPMENT.
COACHES MUST UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE COACHING
Since each child matures at different levels, you must
treat each person as an individual. Not all players
participate for the same reason – please read
the typical characteristics of each age level listed
below:
CHARACTERISTICS OF U6 PLAYERS
- Short attention span.
- Can attend to only one problem at a time.
- May understand simple rules that are explained briefly
and demonstrated.
- May or may not understand or remember: what lines
mean on the field; what team they are on; what goal
they are going for. We need to be patient and laugh
with them as they get 'lost' on the field.
- Easily bruised psychologically. Shout praise often.
Give "hints", don't criticize.
- Need generous praise and to play without pressure.
No extrinsic rewards (trophies, medals, etc.) should
be given for winning.
- Prefer "parallel play" (Will play on a
team, but will not really engage with their teammates.
Thus, a 3 against 3 game is, in reality, a 1 against
5 game because they all want the ball at the same
time.
- Very individually oriented (me, mine, my).
- Constantly in motion, but, with no sense of pace.
They will chase something until they drop. They are
easily fatigued but recover rapidly.
- Development for boys and girls are quite similar.
- Physical coordination limited. Eye - hand and eye
- foot coordination is not developed. Need to explore
qualities of a rolling ball.
- Love to run, jump, roll, hop, etc.
- Prefer large, soft balls.
- Catching or throwing skills not developed.
- Can balance on their "good" foot.
INVOLVING THE PARENTS
It is imperative that coaches get the parents involved.
Not only are they are a major resource for your team,
but the U6 player still views their parents as the most
significant people in their lives. A pre-season meeting
should be held with the parents so that objectives and
team policies can be addressed.
Some topics that you may want to address at this meeting
are:
- A means of contacting everyone without one person
doing all of the calling. (Phone chains.)
- Choosing a team administrator-someone to handle
all of the details.
- Complete all paperwork required by your league or
club.
- Discuss the laws of the game.
- Carpool needs.
- Training and game schedules. How you feel about
starting and ending on time, what your attendance
expectations are, what you think is a good excuse
to miss training.
- What each player should bring to training: inflated
ball, filled water bottle, soccer attire, shin guards
(Cleats are not mandatory.)
- Most importantly, your philosophy about coaching
U6 players. Let them know that everyone plays; that
the game does not look like the older player's games;
that you are there to ensure that their player is
safe and has a good time, as well as learn about soccer.
- What your expectations for them is during game time.
How do you want them to cheer? Do they know that they
should not coach from the sidelines?
- Above all, try to enjoy yourself. If you do they
probably will too.
THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT
As coaches of these younger players there are things
that we know that we can expect during training and
games. If we know what to expect, we will be more effective
in dealing with the hundreds of situations that come
up. This will help us relax, and, in turn, allow us
to enjoy the unpredictable nature of working with these
children even more. Here are some of the things that
we can expect.
- Most players cry immediately when something is hurt.
Some cry even when something is not hurt.
- No matter how loud we shout, or how much we "practice"
it, they can not or will not pass the ball.
- Somebody will come off the field in need of a toilet.
Somebody will stay on the field in need of a toilet.
- The only player to hold a position is the goalkeeper
(if you play with one). Don't even consider teaching
positional play.
- Twenty seconds after the start of a game, every
player will be within 5 yards of the ball.
- Several players will slap at the ball with their
hands, or pick it up. Several parents will yell at
them not to do that.
- During a season, you will end up tying at least
40 - 50 shoe laces.
- They will do something that is absolutely hysterical.
Make sure that you laugh!
COACHING RATIONALE
It is important to understand at the outset that players
coming to any sport prior to the age of 6 years old,
in general, do not do so by their own choice. As a result,
their coaches need to give them something about which
to get excited. Further, at this age, learning to play
soccer is secondary to most other things in their lives.
With the above assumptions, let’s look at some
things that we can do to energize the U6 players, and,
hopefully, get them to the point where they will enthusiastically
initiate the sign up for next year!
- Each session should be geared around touching the
ball as many times as possible. Involve the ball in
as many activities as possible. Basic movements such
as running, skipping, hopping, etc. need to be emphasized.
If these can be done while kicking, catching, rolling,
or dribbling a ball... all the better!
- Training should not last for more than one hour.
This is primarily due to physical fatigue and attention
span considerations. Train once or twice a week. Any
more than this may lead to their and your burnout.
- Have as many different kinds of activities ready
as you can get into one hour. Emphasis needs to be
placed on what is FUN!
- Remember, although they may have very similar in
birthdates, their physical and / or mental maturity
may vary as much as 36 months. Activities need to
accommodate these individual differences whenever
possible.
- Team play and passing is an alien concept to these
players. They know that if they pass the ball, they
may never get it back. In fact, they often will steal
it from their own teammates. Do not get uptight if
they do not pass, let them dribble to their heart's
content.
- Plan for at least 4, 90 second drink breaks, especially
in warmer weather. Their "cooling system"
is not as efficient as in older players.
CHARACTERISTICS OF U8 PLAYERS
- Attention span is a bit longer than U6 players but
still not at a "competitive" stage
- Inclined towards small group activities.
- Always in motion: scratching; blinking; jerking;
rocking.
- Easily bruised psychologically. They will remember
negative comments for a long time. Shout praise. Give
"hints".
- They want everybody to like them.
- Developing physical confidence. (Most are able to
ride a two-wheeler.)
- Starting to imitate older players or sports heroes.
Want the same "gear" as them.
- Lack sense of pace. They go flat out until they
drop.
- Skeletal system growing rapidly. Often results in
apparent lack of coordination.
- Cardiovascular and temperature regulation system
is not developed. Their heart rate peaks quickly and
they overheat quickly. Make sure that they get adequate
water breaks.
- Limited understanding with personal evaluation.
"If they try hard, they performed well"
regardless of the actual performance. Thus, they need
to be encouraged constantly, and asked "Now,
can you do this?"
- Better at recognizing when the ball is out of play
and remembering what goal they are going for... but,
in the heat of battle, they will sometimes still forget.
They still find it difficult to really be aware of
more than one thing at a time.
INVOLVING THE PARENTS
It is imperative that coaches get the parents involved.
Not only are they are a major resource for your team,
but the U8 player still views their parents as the most
significant people in their lives. A pre-season meeting
should be held with the parents so that objectives and
team policies can be addressed. Some topics that you
may want to address at this meeting are:
- A means of contacting everyone without one person
doing all of the calling. (Phone chains.)
- Choosing a team administrator-someone to handle
all of the details.
- Complete all paperwork required by your league or
club.
- Discuss the laws of the game.
- Carpool needs.
- Training and game schedules. How you feel about
starting and ending on time, what your attendance
expectations are, what you think is a good excuse
to miss training.
- What each player should bring to training: inflated
ball, filled water bottle, soccer attire, shin guards
(Cleats are not mandatory.)
- Most importantly, your philosophy about coaching
U-8 players. Let them know that everyone plays; that
the game does not look like the older player's games;
that you are there to ensure that their player is
safe and has a good time, as well as learn about soccer.
- What your expectations for them is during game time.
How do you want them to cheer? Do they know that they
should not coach from the sidelines?
- Above all, try to enjoy yourself. If you do they
probably will too.
THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT
Six, seven and eight year old players are a bit more
compliant than their U6 counterparts. They will be able
to follow 2 or 3 step instructions and are starting
to have a good understanding about what it means to
play a "game". They are also starting to cooperate
more with their teammates. In fact, they now will recognize
that they even have teammates by the fact that they
occasionally, and I mean occasionally, will pass the
ball to a teammate, on purpose. Often, they will repeat
the phrase "I can't do that!", but, will quickly
run to you to show you that they can, even when they
only think that they can. Some other things that you
can expect to happen during a season with this age group
are:
- There will be at least 200-300 falls during the
season, but, now they will usually pick themselves
back up.
- The puddle in front of the goal is still too tempting
to resist.
- Keep a spare pump in your bag as the players usually
do not realize that their ball is flat until they
try to kick it, or the coach tells them that it is
flat.
- Some of the girls are a lot tougher than the boys.
- They will still want to wear a pinnie, even when
the color is identical to their shirt.
- It will be impossible to remember who is whose best
friend as you try to make up teams.
- They will wear their uniform to bed.
COACHING RATIONALE
Some of the players that are playing as a 7 year old
have had two years of soccer experience and thus have
already touched the ball a few thousand times in their
lives. This, however, does not mean that these players
are ready for the mental demands of tactical team soccer.
True, they do have some idea of the game, but the emphasis
still needs to be placed on the individual's ability
to control the ball with his/her body. They are still
there to have fun, and because some of the players may
be brand new to the sport, it is imperative that activities
are geared towards individual success and participation.
Following are some more items that a coach of U8 players
should consider.
- Small sided soccer is the best option for these
players. Not only will they get more touches on the
ball, but, it is an easier game to understand.
- Because of rapid growth spurts during this age,
players will go through times when they seem to have
lost control of their body. What they could easily
do 2 weeks ago now seems unattainable. Be patient.
- Passing is not an important part of their game,
no matter how much anybody yells at them to do otherwise,
it is much more fun to dribble and shoot. Let them.
- Training once or twice a week is plenty, and should
not last longer than one hour and fifteen minutes.
- Learning how to control the ball should be the main
objective. They need to touch it as many times as
possible during fun activities that will engage them.
- Challenge them to get better by practicing on their
own. There is no rule which states that they can't
learn by themselves, no matter how important we think
we are.
- Incidental things are important. They are forming
the habits that will impact their future participation.
Ask them to take care of their equipment (water bottle
included), cooperate, listen, behave, and try hard.
Realize, however, that they often forget and will
need to be reminded often.
- Ask them to work with others to solve a particular
challenge. Start them with just one partner and work
from there.
CHARACTERISTICS OF U10 PLAYERS:
- Gross and small motor skills becoming more refined
and reliable. Boys and girls begin to develop separately.
- Ability to stay on task is lengthened. They have
the ability to sequence thought and actions.
- Greater diversity in playing ability and physical
maturity.
- Skills are emerging. Becoming more predictable and
recognizable.
- Some children begin moving from concrete thinking
to abstract thinking.
- Able to pace themselves, to plan ahead.
- Increased self-responsibility. They remember to
bring their own equipment.
- Starting to recognize basic tactical concepts, but
not exactly sure why certain decisions are better.
- Repetition of technique is very important, but it
must be dynamic, not static.
- Continued positive reinforcement needed.
- Explanations must be brief, concise, and mention
"why".
- Becoming more "serious". Openly, intensively
competitive, without intention of fouling.
- Still mostly intrinsically motivated. Peer pressure
starting to be a factor.
- Adult outside of the family may take on added significance.
- Prefer identification with a team. Like to have
good uniforms, equipment, balls.
- More inclined towards wanting to play instead of
being told to play. Will initiate play more often.
INVOLVING THE PARENTS:
It is imperative that coaches get the parents involved.
Not only are they are a major resource for your team,
but the U10 player still views their parents as the
most significant people in their lives. A pre-season
meeting should be held with the parents so that objectives
and team policies can be addressed. Some topics that
you may want to address at this meeting are:
- A means of contacting everyone without one person
doing all of the calling. (Phone chains)
- Choosing a team administrator, someone to handle
all of the details.
- Complete all paperwork required by your league or
club.
- Discuss the laws of the game.
- Carpool needs.
- Training and game schedules. How you feel about
starting and ending on time, what your attendance
expectations are, what you think is a good excuse
to miss training.
- What each player should bring to training: inflated
ball, filled water bottle, soccer attire, shin guards
cleats or sneakers.
- Most importantly, your philosophy about coaching
U10 players. Let them know that everyone plays; that
the game does not look like the older player's games;
that you are there to ensure that their player is
safe and has a good time, as well as learn about soccer.
- What your expectations for them is during game time.
How do you want them to cheer? Do they know that they
should not coach from the sidelines?
- Above all, try to enjoy yourself. If you do they
probably will too.
THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT
Some coaches say that the 9 and 10 year-old players
are beginning to "turn the corner" and starting
to look like real soccer players. However, games are
still frantically paced and unpredictable for the most
part. These players are starting to find out how much
fun it is to play the game skillfully, but they will
still stop and laugh if the referee gets hit in the
backside with the ball during a game. Some other things
that we can expect when working with this aged player
are:
- They start to understand off sides, but still forget
themselves when the goal is in front of them.
- They will really beat up on each other during practice,
especially boy's teams.
- They might cry after the game if they loose, but
will forget it if you ask them if you want to go out
for burgers and fries.
- You might actually catch them practicing on their
own without you telling them to do so.
- Their parents are telling them to do one thing during
the game, you are telling them another thing, but
what they end up doing might be what their friend
is telling them to do.
- You will see a pass that is deliberate. You might
even see a "back pass".
- You will see your first $100 pair of cleats during
practice.
- They will call the other team bad names... really
bad names.
COACHING RATIONALE
Some of the players that are playing as U10's are
seasoned veterans of the youth soccer scene. Some of
them may have already been involved in traveling to
play in tournaments. As a result, some of them might
be very nervous about the whole process. It is our job
to keep things in perspective for these young, developing
players. True, some of them are becoming quite skillful
and are seeing how fun it is to play the game when they
can really control the ball. However, many of them are
still learning the ropes. Even the more experienced
players need to have the game be fun!!!
Emphasis is still placed on having players learn how
to control the ball with his/her body, but now, they
need to find themselves in more game-like situations.
Training is more dynamic and starting to have players
make simple, basic decisions such as "Which way
is there more space?" or "Who should I pass
to?”
Following are some more items that a coach of U10 players
should consider:
- Use small sided games as the main teaching vehicle.
Not only will they get more touches on the ball, but
the full sided game is still too complicated for them
to understand.
- How we group players during training takes on even
added significance because of the wide margins of
ability levels. We need to mix players up often.
- Stretching is becoming more important, along with
a good warm-up. Since the game is faster, make sure
that they also have good shin guards. Safety and preventive
measures take on added significance.
- Training twice a week is plenty. Sessions need not
go longer than one hour, fifteen minutes.
- They need to be encouraged to play with the ball
on their own as much as possible.
- Put them into competitive environments as much as
possible. This will not only keep them focused, but,
it will allow the game itself to teach them. It also
will keep things fun for them, and allow you to deal
with issues such as 'winning' and 'losing' which is
now a very big concern for them.
- Now it is possible to teach them positional play
with the expectation that they will get it some of
the time. However, it is absolutely necessary that
you do not allow players to specialize in any one
position. They need to learn basic principles of the
game, first. Having them play all of the positions
is best for their individual development. Remember,
our first responsibility is to develop players and
let them have fun.
- Whenever possible, allow them to solve their own
puzzles. Don't immediately give them solutions on
how they can play better.
The “Older Players” – Highlights
- Under 12
- Enjoys competition
- Psychological development has progressed
- Team work has improved
- Technical competency has improved
- Development of speed and strength
- Problem solving with teammates
- Self appearance and peer pressure are a concern
- Varying stages of puberty
- Under 14
- Differences in mental development
- Sense of belonging
- Varying stages of puberty
- Displays independence and is self critical
- Aware of praise, status and recognition
- A time of self discovery
- Under 16 and above
- Transition from childhood to adulthood
- Biological, cultural and psychological transition
- Strive for a personal identity and self definition
- Independent
- Conflicting influences between parents and
peers
- High expectations of themselves
- Need to belong
- Invincible
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