U-12 Lesson Plan CHARACTERISTICS OF U - 12 PLAYERS: They begin to develop the abilities to sustain complex, coordinated skill sequences. Some of the players have reached puberty. Girls, in general, arrive earlier than boys. Most players are able to think abstractly and are thus able to understand some team concepts that are foundational to the game. They are beginning to be able to address hypothetical situations, and to solve problems systematically. They are spending more time with friends and less time with their parents. They are susceptible to conformity to peer pressure. They are developing a conscience, morality and scale of values. Players tend to be highly self-critical. Instruction needs to be enabling. Show them what can be done instead of telling them what not to do. Although they are more serious with their play, they are still mainly involved because it is fun. They are openly competitive. A few may foul on purpose. They are looking towards their role models and heroes in order to know how to act. They have a more complex and developed sense of humor.
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 U-12 player still relies on their parents for support and encouragement. A preseason 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 U-12 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 10 and 12 year-old players have "turned the corner" and are looking like real soccer players. However, games are still frantically paced and a bit unpredictable for the most part. These players know how much fun it is to play the game skillfully. As a result, we begin to see some the players drop out who recognize the importance of skill and become discouraged with their lack of it. Some other things that we can expect when working with this aged player are: They will yell at their teammates when they make a mistake. They will openly question the referee's decisions. Players will encourage each other. They will pass the ball even when they know that they will not get it back. Team cooperation is emerging. They will run to a spot, away from the play, even when they know that they might not get the ball. They will point out inconsistencies between what you say and what you do. They are "moral watchdogs". The difference in skill levels between the players is very pronounced. Some players might be as big as you are, some might be half your size. Not only will some of the players come to training with expensive cleats, but some will also come with matching uniforms, sweatsuits, and bag. Parents, during games, can be brutal. Some will yell at the referee at almost every call. They will get together with their friends and be able to set up and play their own game.
COACHING RATIONAL Coaching at this age level is a challenge because many of the players view themselves as real soccer players, while others are at the point where it is not as much fun as it used to be because they feel that their lack of skill development does not enable them to have an impact on the game. They see their skillful friends able to do magical things with the ball and since they can not do this themselves, they start to drop out. Our challenge then, if the players are willing, is to keep all of the players engaged, involved, and make them feel important. (as though they are improving.) Skills still need to be the primary focus of training and players need to be put into environments where they are under pressure so that they learn how to use their skills in a variety of contexts. Here are a few other considerations as we think about working with this aged youngster: Our goal is to develop players in a fun, engaging environment. Winning has its place but must be balanced with the other goals of teaching them to play properly. Some decisions will need to be made that might not necessarily lead to wins (ie: having players play different positions, or asking players to try to play the ball "out of the back".) Smaller, skilled players can not be ignored. Although it may be tempting to "win" by playing only the bigger players in key positions, the smaller, skilled players must be put into areas of responsibility. Small sided games are still the preferred method of teaching the game. This makes learning fun and more efficient. Flexibility training is essential. Have them stretch after they have broken a sweat, and, perhaps most importantly, at the end of the workout at a "warm-down". Overuse injuries, burnout and high attrition rates are associated with programs that do not emphasize skill development and learning enjoyment.. Single sexed teams are appropriate. Train for one and one-half hours, two to three times a week. Training pace needs to replicate the demands of the game itself. They are ready to have a preferred position, but, it is essential for their development for them to occasionally play out of their preferred spot, in training, as well as during games. Training is now best if it focuses on one, perhaps two topics a session. Activities should be geared to progressing from fundamental activities that have little or no pressure from an opponent to activities that are game like in their intensity and pressure.
TYPICAL TRAINING SESSION Here are some items that should be included in a U-12 training session: WARM-UP: A brief warm-up is appropriate in order to get the players thinking about soccer and to prepare them physically for the time ahead. This should involve individual or small group activities that involve the ball. Since there can be one theme to the session, hopefully, the warmup will lead into the theme of the day. Static stretching is also appropriate at this time, after the players have broken a sweat, again, hopefully done with the ball. The warm-up should get the players ready to play. It should be lively, fun, and engaging as well as instructional. There is nothing like a good, fast-paced activity to grab the player's attention and make them glad that they came to practice. INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES: Follow the warm-up with some kind of individual activity, not necessarily a real 1v.1 game, but some kind of activity where players act as individuals or cooperate in small groups in a game environment. An example would be a kind of keep-away game, or small sided games that bring out or emphasize a specific skill or topic. Keep players in motion at all times. Avoid having them wait on lines. Play games of "inclusion" instead of games where the "looser sits". Be creative. These players like "crazy" games with a lot of action. PLAY THE GAME: Small sided soccer can be used to heighten intensity and create some good competition. Play 4v.4 up to 8v.8. Be creative. Play with 4 goals, or 2 balls. Play with or without boundaries. Perhaps play to emphasize a particular skill (can only dribble the ball over a goal line in order to get a point). Use cones if you don't have real goals. Keep players involved. Have more than one game going on at a time if necessary. Switch teams often, give everyone a chance to win. Also, it is important that every player has a chance to shoot on goal as often as possible. Finish this stage with a real game with regular rules. Players need to apply their newly learned abilities to the real game. WARM-DOWN & HOMEWORK: Finish the session with a warm down. Give them some more stretches to do with the ball. You may want to review what you started the session with. Also, give them some homework so that they practice on their own. Challenge them with some ball trick. Can they complete a juggling pattern? Can one player kick a ball to a partner and then back without it hitting the ground? Can they do that with their heads? How many times can they do it back and forth? It is important to finish on time. This is especially essential if the players are really into it. Stop at this point and you will get an enthusiastic return.
WARM-UP: CAPTURE THE PENNIES Up to 12 players, in 2 teams. No ball to start. Each player has a pinnie (or an old t-shirt) tucked into his/her shorts, hanging down roughly to the hem of their shorts. Go! run around the field and try to capture all the opposing team s pinnies by pulling them out of their shorts. The last player with a pinnie gets a point for their team. Each player has a ball, and must dribble it around the field while trying to capture the pinnies. Introduce a knockout format, where players who lose their pinnie (or have their ball kicked out of bounds) have to leave the field. The last remaining player wins a point for their team.
Dribbling and acceleration Fast foot work exercises will help the young players... Improve dribbling technique. Build confidence. Teach players how to accelerate away from defenders. Build a rhythm by getting the magic hop into your fast foot work training. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY #1) Inside-Outside Move How do you develop a foundation with fast foot work? Start with the inside - outside move... The player starts with the ball at his or her feet. Inside left foot touch - outside right foot touch - hop. Repeat going the other way. Inside right foot touch - outside left foot touch - hop. Coaching point: The players will need to cut the ball back across the body to avoid traveling around. The coach can help get the player into a rhythm by starting out the exercise slowly, moving to a faster pace when the player is comfortable. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY #2) Pull - inside - outside move The player is practicing inside - outside but adding a pull to the beginning of the move. Right foot pull with sole of the foot - inside- outside - hop. Repeat going the other way. Left foot pull - inside - outside - hop. Coaching point: The training hop is on the end of the move to help the player to transition to the other side.
GROUP ACTIVITY #3: SOCCER RUGBY Two teams of 4 players plus 2 goalkeepers. Go! proceed with a normal soccer game but players can t pass the ball forward, they can only dribble forward before shooting on goal. Teammates provide support from behind or beside the dribbler (i.e., they find open space to receive a pass), as in rugby. Rotate goalkeepers. An attacking player must dribble past at least one defender before shooting on goal.
GROUP ACTIVITY #4: ZONE FUN Up to 10 players, in 2 teams; plus 2 goalkeepers. Use cones to mark out 3 equal zones on the field. Go! to start, players are distributed as shown in the three zones. Proceed with a normal soccer game but players can only leave their zone by dribbling. If a team loses the ball, all the players on that team must return to their original zones. Rotate goalkeepers. An attacking player must dribble past at least one defender before shooting on goal. SMALL SIDED GAME 3V3, 4V4, or 6V6
WARM-UP: CAPTURE THE PENNIES Up to 12 players, in 2 teams. No ball to start. Each player has a pinnie (or an old t-shirt) tucked into his/her shorts, hanging down roughly to the hem of their shorts. Go! run around the field and try to capture all the opposing team s pinnies by pulling them out of their shorts. The last player with a pinnie gets a point for their team. Each player has a ball, and must dribble it around the field while trying to capture the pinnies. Introduce a knockout format, where players who lose their pinnie (or have their ball kicked out of bounds) have to leave the field. The last remaining player wins a point for their team.
Dribbling and acceleration Fast foot work exercises will help the young players... Improve dribbling technique. Build confidence. Teach players how to accelerate away from defenders. Build a rhythm by getting the magic hop into your fast foot work training. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY #3) Pull back - behind standing leg move Add a pull back behind the leg now... Right foot pull back - touch with inside of right foot behind standing leg - outside left foot touch - hop. Repeat going the other way so players work both sides. Left foot pull back - touch with outside of left foot behind standing leg - outside right foot touch - hop. Coaching point: This move turns into a good shielding move. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY #4) Add a scissors move The player does a double scissors move around the ball for 30 seconds as fast as the player can go. Don't know the scissors move? The player steps inside and around the soccer ball with the right foot. The player then steps inside and around the left foot - feet come apart. Repeat this exercise for thirty seconds.
GROUP ACTIVITY #3: ATTACK IN THE BOX Up to 10 players, in 2 teams; 2 coaches/parents at opposite ends. Two small goals (or gates marked out with cones) at each end. Two defenders and 3 attackers in each half of the field. Players have to stay in their boxes. Go! both teams try to score on their opponent s 2 goals. Players move the ball up the field by dribbling to the center line and passing to a teammate on the other side. If a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, the coach/ parent at that end serves the next ball immediately. Switch! players swap roles every 3 minutes. Have players dribble into the goal with the ball under control, rather than shooting to score. An attacker must dribble past at least 1 defender before shooting. Allow one attacking player to drop into their team s half as a defender to create a 3 v 3 situation. Remove restrictions and allow free 5 v 5 play.
GROUP ACTIVITY #4: ATTACK ZONE Five players (3 attackers, 2 defenders); 1 goalkeeper. Work on a half field, with 1 large goal, 2 small goals (or gates marked out by cones). Use small cones in a semi-circle to mark out the attack zone around the large goal. The defenders start on opposite sides of the large goal. The attackers form a line between the small goals. Go! a defender passes the ball to an attacker and both defenders run out on to the field to challenge for the ball. The attacker who receives the ball dribbles it into the attack zone and tries to score, supported by his/her 2 teammates. If defenders win the ball, they can score on either small goal. Add another defender to create a 3 v 3 situation. The 3rd defender starts behind the attackers, and is released when the ball moves into the attack zone. SMALL SIDED GAME 3V3, 4V4, or 6V6
WARM-UP: REACT FAST Up to 12 players in a circle; no ball to start. Go! players run freely around the circle. Listen! change the way you re moving on the coach s command: 1. Run backwards. 2. Shuffle to the side. 3. Jump in place. 4. Sit down and get up fast; keep running. 5. Knees up. 6. Kick your heels back. 7. Touch the inside of your foot, etc. Each player starts by dribbling a ball around the field. Listen! 1. Turn and dribble in the other direction. 2. Dribble to the side. 3. Jump in place with the ball between your knees. 4. Throw the ball up and catch it. 5. Drop the ball, volley it with your thigh, then catch it, etc. Continue dribbling.
Teach ball striking with instep work Good technique - toe pointed and ankle should be locked. The coach can go around and check the ankle and see if the players have the ankle locked. The coach will see 1 of 3 things happen to the ball. The ball will spin back over the player s heads means the toe came up. The ball bounces away from the player means the toe was pointed too far down or sideways or the ball hit the very end of the toe. Go straight up which means the player hit the sweet spot and the toe was pointed out, success! The player is on the way to learning where to hit the ball for a good instep drive. The basic format for these games is... The players will sit on their backsides. The players will drop the ball down onto the instep. The players will pop the ball up with instep on right foot or left foot depending on what foot the player is working on. The player will catch the ball and repeat. This game really emphasizes where the sweet spot on the foot. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY#1) Right foot - left foot The game starts with the kids playing this fun game... In 1 min how many can you get on the right foot - move to left foot and see how many you can get in a minute. Variation: Now have the kids attempt right then left and catch or left then right practice. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY#2) Left and right foot The game starts with the kids... Working to get as many combinations of left and right catch or right and left catch in 1 min. Variation: See how many the players can do in a row without the ball hitting the ground. The players can use left or right foot.
GROUP ACTIVITY #3: PARRELL PLAY Up to 12 players, working in 4 small groups; 1 goalkeeper. Number the groups 1-4. Go! the first player in Group 1 passes to the first player in Group 2, who receives the ball and shoots on goal. Repeat with Groups 3 and 4. Remember to control the ball and shoot in just 2 touches. On the diagonal! Group 1 passes to Group 4. Group 3 passes to Group 2. From the side! Groups 1 and 3 pass from the sides of the penalty area. Challenge! After passing the ball, Group 1 and Group 3 players come out to challenge the shooter.
GROUP ACTIVITY #4: SCORING COMBINATION Eight players, in 2 teams; plus 2 goalkeepers. Use cones in diagonal lines on both sides of the field to narrow the playing area from the halfway mark to the goal posts, and to mark out the halfway line. Two players from each team must stay in their designated half of the field. Go! players try to score on the opposing team s goal. Only players in their own team s half of the field can shoot (i.e. the defenders). Their teammates in the other half can pass back to create shooting opportunities. Only players in the opposing team s half of the field can shoot on goal (i.e. the attackers). Players get an extra point if they complete a one-touch goal (i.e. without controlling the ball first). Allow players to move from one half to the other and allow any player to shoot from anywhere in the playing area. SMALL SIDED GAME 3V3, 4V4, or 6V6
WARM-UP: REACT FAST Up to 12 players in a circle; no ball to start. Go! players run freely around the circle. Listen! change the way you re moving on the coach s command: 1. Run backwards. 2. Shuffle to the side. 3. Jump in place. 4. Sit down and get up fast; keep running. 5. Knees up. 6. Kick your heels back. 7. Touch the inside of your foot, etc. Each player starts by dribbling a ball around the field. Listen! 1. Turn and dribble in the other direction. 2. Dribble to the side. 3. Jump in place with the ball between your knees. 4. Throw the ball up and catch it. 5. Drop the ball, volley it with your thigh, then catch it, etc. Continue dribbling.
Teach ball striking with instep work Good technique - toe pointed and ankle should be locked. The coach can go around and check the ankle and see if the players have the ankle locked. The coach will see 1 of 3 things happen to the ball. The ball will spin back over the player s heads means the toe came up. The ball bounces away from the player means the toe was pointed too far down or sideways or the ball hit the very end of the toe. Go straight up which means the player hit the sweet spot and the toe was pointed out, success! The player is on the way to learning where to hit the ball for a good instep drive. The basic format for these games is... The players will sit on their backsides. The players will drop the ball down onto the instep. The players will pop the ball up with instep on right foot or left foot depending on what foot the player is working on. The player will catch the ball and repeat. This game really emphasizes where the sweet spot on the foot. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY #3) How many can they get? See how many they can get in 1 minute-start at zero if ball hits the ground. Take highest average! Kids love it!! The players play the ball into the air and try to jump off their backsides and onto their feet and catch the ball. If they hit the ball correctly with the instep it should provide enough time to get up and catch the soccer ball. Variation: The players partner up in pairs. One player sits on the ground on his or her backside, sitting in the same posture as the exercises above. The second player stands in front of the player with the ball in hands... INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY #4) Work with a partner The player drops the ball down and the player on the ground uses the right instep to knock the ball back to the serving player s hands. When the serving player can catch the ball the pair gets a point then use left foot for a minute. Coaching point: Make sure the player drops the ball down and does not throw the ball. Variation: All the players stand in pairs. The player with the ball serves the ball underhanded and the partner volleys the ball back with the instep.
GROUP ACTIVITY #3: BERMUDA TRIANGLE Up to 10 players, each with a ball, working in 2 teams; 1 goalkeeper. Coach/parent stands inside a triangle marked out with cones. Go! the first player in line throws the ball to the coach/parent. The coach/ parent catches the ball and rolls it to their left or right. The player chases the ball and shoots on goal, then runs to the back of the line. Ground pass! instead of throwing the ball, the player passes to the coach/parent. The coach/parent passes it back just beyond the triangle. Players try to get the ball past the coach/parent in just one touch (with the inside or outside of the foot) before shooting. Challenge! Put a player in the triangle rather than a coach/parent, and have them come out to challenge for the ball after passing it to the shooter. After one turn, the shooter moves to the triangle, and the player in the middle moves to the back of the line.
GROUP ACTIVITY #4: 1-2-3 DEFENSE Up to 8 players (5 strikers; 3 defenders) plus 1 goalkeeper. Number the defenders 1-3. Go! the coach rolls the ball forward. The first striker in line chases the ball and tries to shoot on goal while Defender 1 tries to block the shot and win the ball. Defender 2 challenges the second striker and Defender 3 the third striker before starting again with Defender 1, and so on. Switch! when all the strikers have had 3 turns, rotate positions. Coach shouts out the Defenders numbers randomly each time so the striker has to make a quick decision about where the challenge is coming from. Send out 2 strikers and 1 defender to create a 2 v 1 challenge. Add a second defender to create a 2 v 2 situation. SMALL SIDED GAME 3V3, 4V4, or 6V6