Steamboat Soccer Club U8 Coaching Manual In order for coaches to run a smooth, fun and informative practices, we must understand the characteristics of U8 children. Although U8 children may begin to be far more physically and emotionally advanced than U6 children, we must remain patient and not try to force them to develop too quickly. We need to make sure that games and practices are fun, and that each practice had a central theme. Player development will occur most appropriately if all players are enjoying themselves. Typical Characteristics of U8 Players Cognitive Development Beginning to take another s perspective they have a sense of how others are feeling Beginning to have an understanding of time and sequence if I do this, then that happens Limited attention spans keep verbal coaching condensed to 20 second intervals, and keep directions concise and to the point. Change activities every 10-15 minutes. Great imaginations if we utilize their imaginations in practice activities, they will love practice! Beginning to develop more special awareness Learning that performance is equal to effort Physical Development Heating and cooling systems are less efficient than adults we need to give frequent water breaks Enjoy playing, not watching keep everyone engaged in practice, and remember NO LINES! Improvement of pace and coordination instead of just know how to be extremely fast or stopped, players are learning how slow down and still play. Wide range of abilities your challenge is to manage this range and challenge each player at a level that is reasonable for them Beginning to develop motor memories by attempting fundamental technical skills they are training their bodies to remember certain movements Social and Emotional Tend to play well with others, especially in pairs Extremely aware of adult reactions be very aware of your verbal and non verbal reactions, as they will look to these frequently Seek out adult approval be supportive when they ask about their performance or try to show you skills. They very much need reassurance and you need to help build their confidence to try new things Begin to become aware of peer perception a social order is beginning to develop, and there are easily bruised by peers Self concept and body image are fragile
Role of a U8 Coach The role of a coach in the U8 age group is to be a sensitive and patient teacher with an enthusiastic and imaginative approach. It is helpful if coaches have the ability to demonstrate, and understand the technique they are teaching. How to Structure Your Practice We want to make practice days as easy and stress free as possible for you! Here we have outlined what a typical practice schedule should look like, and will provide activities for you to plug in each week. The overall goal of each practice should be to keep your players moving and engaged, teach them how to work with teammates and improve their individual ball work. Each activity should last 15-20 minutes, with time in each activity for water breaks. Keep your talking points short and concise, no more than 20 seconds. 1. Warm up Activity 10 to 15 mins a. As soon as practice starts, you can start your warm up activity. These activities are free flowing, easy to learn, and easy for players to jump into if they arrive late. Feel free to use multiple warm up activities during this time, add fun twists to the activities in your guidebook, or use one of your own creative activities! 2. Technical Skill 10 to 15 mins a. Each week, we will give you one technical skill activity to incorporate into your training session. We will use these activities to introduce and practice one main skill/concept each week. 3. Scrimmage 15 to 20 mins a. For the end of practice, split your team into two groups and have them scrimmage. During this time, encourage them to use the skill that was emphasized in that day s training session, and give them lots of positive reinforcement. What Skills Should a U8 Player Learn? At this age, the main goals are to get players to understand how to work with their teammates, improve their individual ball skills, and how to go to goal. Dribbling: teach your players to keep the ball close to their body and use their toes, insides of their feet, outsides of their feet, and how to change speed and direction Receiving: teach how to receive ground balls with inside, outside, and sole of foot, how to receive bouncing balls, and how to receive the ball with various body parts Passing: pass with toe, insides of feet, and laces, how to pass to a teammate using a throw in Shooting: with toe, inside of foot, and laces Tackling: toe poke Fitness: introduce idea of warming up, improve their agility, leaping, tumbling, and eye/foot & eye/hand coordination Psychology: emphasize sportsmanship, working in pairs, emotional management, and teamwork Tactics/Decision Making: Being exposed to all positions, names of positions, 1v1 attacking, 1v1 defending, 2v1 attacking, shape (triangles) Rules: kick offs, goal kicks, hand ball, fouls (pushing, holding, striking, tripping), corner kick, throw ins
Warm Up Activities: 10 to 15 minutes at beginning of practice Use our suggested activity, or your own, at the beginning of each practice. Ideally, every player will have a ball during this time, and every player will be moving and engaged. Players can use this time to express themselves, have fun, and get plenty of touches on the ball. Technical Skill Activity: 10 to 15 minutes in the middle of practice Below we have outlined one activity per week for you to use. Each activity emphasizes a different skill. Your weekly skill activity will also be posted on our website, and sent to you each week via e-mail. Players can use this time to learn new skills, new concepts, new rules, and new soccer terminology. We will emphasize small-sided directional games such as 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, and 3v3. Week 1: Warm Up - Free Dribble! Area: 20 x 20 yards.! Organization: All players have a soccer ball and are dribbling around the area freely. Progression: Review turning techniques; inside & outside hook and the pull back. Add pressure from a coach or player to make players use the turns. Dribbling - use inside, outside and sole to manipulate the ball. Turning - have players accelerate after the turn. Activity 1 - Knockout! Area: 10 x 10 yards. Organization: Designate two players as knockout players, who's job is to knock players soccer balls out of the grid. Players who are knocked out must retrieve their ball, complete a task (10 toe taps, 10 jumping jacks, etc) and then reenter the game. Play for 1 minute, then rotate the two knockout players. Dribbling under pressure - can we dribble out of pressure? Turning - turn away from pressure and protect the ball? Shielding - place your body in-between the defender and the ball Activity 2 - Boss of the Balls - 1 v 1 to 2 v 1 Turning Game Organization: Place players into two teams, one at each end of the gird as shown. Coach plays the ball into the grid and the first two players in line play 1 v 1. Teams attack and defend one set of goals. Progression: Play 2 v 1. Dribbling under pressure - can we dribble out of pressure? Turning - use turns to change direction and away from pressure. Shielding the ball - place your body in-between the defender and ball. 2 v 1 - Decision - pass or dribble? Where is the defender? 2 v 1 - Support - don't crowd the player w/ball & give an option.
Week 2: Warm Up - Smash and Grab Area: 20 x 20 yards with a 10 x 10 area in the center. Organization: Split players into 4 teams. One by one do the following: 1. Retrieve ball in any way. 2. Retrieve the ball with the Pull Back Turn. 3. Play continues until all balls are back in the center. 4. Next players goes when teammate touches ball. Dribbling Technique. Inside & Outside Hook Turns and Pull Back Technique. Activity 1 - Freeze Tag Area: 20 x 20 yards. Organization: Designate two players as Mr. Freeze. Objective is for Mr. Freeze to kick the players ball out of the grid. When this happens players must stand still with their legs open. Teammates can unfreeze these players by passing the ball through their legs. Continue for a specific time limit or until all players are frozen. Dribbling - keep the ball close when under pressure. Pull Back, Inside & Outside Hook - can you turn away from pressure? Shielding - place your body in-between the defender and ball. Activity 2 - Boss of the Balls - 1 v 1 to 2 v 1 Turning Game Area: 20 x 20 yards with four goals. Organization: Place players into two teams, one at each end of the gird as shown. Coach plays the ball into the grid and the first two players in line play 1 v 1. Teams attack and defend one set of goals. Progression: Play 2 v 1. Dribbling under pressure - can we dribble out of pressure? Turning - use turns to change direction and away from pressure. Shielding the ball - place your body in-between the defender and ball. 2 v 1 - Decision - pass or dribble? Where is the defender? 2 v 1 - Support - don't crowd the player w/ball & provide an option. Scrimmage
Week 3: Warm Up - Doctor, Doctor Area: 20 x 20 with two 5 yard hospitals in each corner. Organization: Split players into two teams, each team must designate a doctor who starts in the hospital. Each player has a ball (except the doc) and is trying to hit the other teams feet or ball with their ball. If a player is tagged they sit on their ball and pretend to be injured. The doctor can come out of the hospital to tag and rescue them. The game is over when one team, including the doctor, has been hit with the ball. Striking the ball with the laces. Dribbling Technique - get close to the player before passing. Activity 1-1 v 1 Crab Soccer to Goal Area: 10 x 20 per group with a goal at the end. Organization: Split players into groups of three. Place one player in goal, one player as a crab in the center of the grid and one player attacking. Attacking player is trying to score as many goals as possible in 45 seconds, rotate positions. 1 point for a goal and 5 points for a step fake and a goal. Dribbling - keep the ball close as you approach defender (crab). Move - can you use the step fake & scissor to beat defender (crab)? Running w/ball - explode out of the moves. Activity 2 - Boss of the Balls - 1 v 1 to 2 v 1 to End Zones Area: 20 x 20 yards with two end zones. Organization: Place players into two teams, one at each side of the coach. Coach plays the ball into the grid and the first two players in line play 1 v 1. Players score by dribbling into their end zone. Progression: Play 2 v 1. Dribbling, Running with the Ball & Moves. Passing & Receiving Technique. Finishing Technique. 2 v 1 - Decision - pass or dribble? Where is the defender? 2 v 1 - Support - can you provide a passing option?. Scrimmage
Week 4: Warm Up - Steal Shield Area: 20 x 20 yards. Organization: Place players into pairs, one player with the ball. Start one player with the ball and play for 30 seconds. Player who has the ball at the end of the time wins. Rotate who starts with the ball and continue. Dribbling - keep the ball close under pressure. Shielding - put body in between defender and the ball. Turning - turn away from pressure to protect the ball & keep the ball. Running w/ball - explode out of turns and away from pressure. Activity 1 - Team Knockout Area: 10 x 10 yards. Organization: Split group into three teams. One team defends while the other two try to keep their soccer balls. Defending team wins a point for knocking a player s soccer ball out of the grid. If a player s ball is knocked out, they do a ball mastery activity before re-entering. Player for 1 minute then rotate defending team. Dribbling - keep the ball close when under pressure. Inside & Outside Hook - can you turn away from pressure? Shielding - place your body in-between the defender and ball. Activity 2 - Boss of the Balls - 1 v 1 to 2 v 1 Turning Game Area: 20 x 20 yards with four goals. Organization: Place players into two teams, one at each end of the gird as shown. Coach plays the ball into the grid and the first two players in line play 1 v 1. Teams attack and defend one set of goals. Progression: Play 2 v 1. Dribbling under pressure - can we dribble out of pressure? Turning - use turns to change direction and away from pressure. Shielding the ball - place your body in-between the defender and ball. 2 v 1 - Decision - pass or dribble? Where is the defender? 2 v 1 - Support - don't crowd the player w/ball & give an option. Scrimmage
Week 5: Warm Up - Doctor, Doctor Area: 20 x 20 with two 5 yard hospitals in each corner. Organization: Split players into two teams, each team must designate a doctor who starts in the hospital. Each player has a ball (except the doc) and is trying to hit the other teams feet or ball with their ball. If a player is tagged they sit on their ball and pretend to be injured. The doctor can come out of the hospital to tag and rescue them. The game is over when one team, including the doctor, has been hit with the ball. Striking the ball with the laces. Dribbling Technique - get close to the player before passing.. Activity 1-1 v 1 Crab Soccer to Goal Area: 10 x 20 per group with a goal at the end. Organization: Split players into groups of three. Place one player in goal, one player as a crab in the center of the grid and one player attacking. Attacking player is trying to score as many goals as possible in 45 seconds, rotate positions. 1 point for a goal and 5 points for a step fake and a goal! Dribbling - keep the ball close as you approach defender (crab). Move - can you use the step fake & scissor to beat defender (crab)? Running w/ball - explode out of the moves. Activity 2 - Boss of the Balls - 1 v 1 to 2 v 1 to End Zones Area: Area is 20 x 20 yards with two end zones. Organization: Place players into two teams, one at each side of the coach. Coach plays the ball into the grid and the first two players in line play 1 v 1. Players score by dribbling into their end zone. Progression: Play 2 v 1 and finish playing 2 v 2. Dribbling, Running with the Ball & Moves. Passing & Receiving Technique. Finishing Technique. 2 v 1 & 2 v 2 - Decision - pass or dribble? Where is the defender? 2 v 1 & 2 v 2 - Support - can you provide a passing option?. Scrimmage
Week 6: Warm Up - Relay Race Area: 20 x 5 yards per team. Organization: Place players into teams of no more than three players. 1. Player dribble individually to the end gate and back. 2. Same as above but do a designated turn in the gate at the end. 3. Dribble with a partner, attached by a vest. Dribbling - use the inside & outside to slalom through cones. Turns - inside and outside hook and pull back. Activity 1 - Freeze Tag Area: 20 x 20 yards. Organization: Designate two players as Mr. Freeze. Objective is for Mr. Freeze to kick the players ball out of the grid. When this happens players must stand still with their legs open. Teammates can unfreeze these players by passing the ball through their legs. Continue for a specific time limit or until all players are frozen. Dribbling - keep the ball close when under pressure. Pull Back, Inside & Outside Hook - can you turn away from pressure? Shielding - place your body in-between the defender and ball. Activity 2 - Boss of the Balls - 1 v 1 to 2 v 2 Turning Game Area: 20 x 20 yards with four goals. Organization: Place players into two teams, one at each end of the gird as shown. Coach plays the ball into the grid and the first two players in line play 1 v 1. Teams attack and defend one set of goals. Progression: Play 2 v 1 and finish playing 2 v 2. Dribbling under pressure - can we dribble out of pressure? When to turn and shield the ball? Passing technique - quality of pass? 2 v 1 & 2 v 2 - Decision - pass or dribble? Where is the defender? 2 v 1 & 2 v 2 - Support - can you provide a passing option? Scrimmage
Extra Activities 1. Body Part Dribble In designated area, coach has all players dribble a soccer ball. When coach yells out the name of a body part, players must touch that body part to the ball as quickly as possible. Coach should vary body parts and rate at which they are called out. At times, call out body parts consecutively (i.e. tummy, nose, elbow) during one stoppage or call out two body parts at once. 2. Tail Steal All players tuck a jersey into the back of their shorts to give themselves a tail. All players dribble their soccer ball while trying to pluck the tails of other players and trying to make sure their tail does not get plucked. Players play until the last tail is plucked. 3. Ball Tag Similar to other tag games except players try to tag others with their soccer ball, by kicking it at another player s feet or ball. Have them keep count of how many times they kick their soccer ball and tag another person. 4. Gates Set up many pairs of cones (with roughly 2 yards between pairs) all around the playing area. These pairs serve as gates or many mini-goals. Players each have a ball and must dribble through the gate in order to score. Have players count how many goals they score in 30 seconds. Coaches can vary this by asking players to dribble with left foot or right foot. 5. Coin Collector Every player has ball and starts on one end. Create an area that has cones and jerseys laid down. Instruct players to dribble to the area, pick up an item, or coin, and dribble back to the starting area while carrying their coin. Vary the activity by having the coach tag players on the way back. If they are tagged, they must return their coin. 6. Red Light Green Light Every player has a ball. Coach stands at the end of the playing area. The coach calls red or green and players move on command. If a player does not stop with their ball when red is called, they must return to the starting line. 7. Band Aid Tag Players will dribble a soccer ball while playing tag. If tagged, they must use one of their hands as a band aid to cover the area where they were tagged (i.e. if they are tagged in the knee, they must use their hand to cover their knee). If tagged by a coach, they are healed and can remove their band aid. 8. Cone Flip This can be done with or without soccer balls to get your team moving. Lay out several cones around playing area. Divide team into two groups. One group s goal is to flip all of the cones right side up while the other group s goal is to flip all of the cones upside. At the end of your set time, count the number of right side up and upside down cones to see who won. 9. Four Corners Have all players start in the middle of your playing area with a ball. Establish names for the 4 different corners of the field. Coach will close their eyes and count to 15 while players dribble to the corner of their choice. The coach then calls out the name of one of the corners, and everyone who is at that corner must join the coach in the middle. Play until there is one player left. 10. Mr. Fox Players will start on one end of the field with a ball while the coach stands at the other end. Together, players ask What time is it Mr. Fox? The coach will decide on and answer, and players must dibble at the coach for that many seconds (i.e. if the coach says it is 6 o clock, players dribble at coach for 6 seconds). If the coach answers It s dinner time! all of the players must turn and dribble back to the startling line while the coach attempts to tag them.
Teaching Tips EYES ON ME! o Get their attention. Acknowledge children that are paying attention. Catch them being good. Consider kneeling to get on eye level. Limit Information to 1-2 important points at a time o Teach is small bits at a time. Example: When turning the ball, your foot should hug it. Check for understanding o Have the players show you! Instead of asking them Does that make sense? say, Let me see you try! Be positive o Be specific with praise! Example: Sarah, that s great to have your head up while dribbling! Smile o Be enthusiastic! Remember that children won t care what you know until they know that you care. The 4 Rules of Respect At the beginning of the season, we encourage you establish team guidelines and player expectations. Setting the tone early will help with group management, and help keep player behavior consistent even if a new coach or parent is helping out that day. 1. Respect Yourself a. Drink plenty of water, wear appropriate gear, have fun 2. Respect Others a. No name calling, negative comments, fouling, or rude behavior 3. Respect the Coaches a. Give your attention to coaches when asked, regardless of if they are your coach, another team s coach, or a parent substitute 4. Respect the Equipment a. No hanging on the goals, no sitting on soccer balls, etc. Attention Grabbers Fun attention grabbers can be a great way to manage your team! Before using any of these techniques, be sure to emphasize that immediately following any of these, players must freeze, stop talking, and put their eyes on the coach. Team Call o Split your team into two groups. Have one group come up with a fun adjective, and another group come up with a fun noun to create your team call. When the coach yells out the agreed upon adjective, the player respond by yelling the noun. Example: (adjective sparkly, noun unicorn). Sparkly! -Coach Unicorns!!! -Players
Clap if you hear me o If you can hear me, clap 3 times Clap it out o Coach will stand in front of team and raise their hands up and out. If coach has their palms facing up, players must clap. When coach turns their palms facing down, players stop clapping. Repeat several times and different speeds. Code Word o Choose a team code word. Any time the coach yells the code word, everyone must stop, put foot on the ball, and eyes on coach.