SPSA Coaching Curriculum

To ensure an equitable opportunity for all to receive instruction in soccer fundamentals

At this age, children should be taught skills in a fun environment. Activities should be centered around simple games which encourage individuals to become comfortable controlling a ball. The child should spent most of the practice touching the ball. This is a time when a child gains coordination and confidence but must be done in a manner which a young child can enjoy.

Downplay "team building." At this age most children do not understand the concept of team, their favorite games being individual competitions.

*indicates a more advanced skill suitable for higher level players

Basic ball gymnastics: Toe taps and boxes

The use of both inside and outside of foot to move a ball

The use of both feet to move a ball

Kicking with laces

The ability to stop a ball using the sole of the foot

Basic changes of direction: cuts, *pull-back,* chops

Basic moves to beat a defender: *outside of the foot feint, *stepover

Beginning juggling

Begin every practice with a very short warmup of ball gymnastics and a few stretches. A couple of minutes is plenty but it sets the tone that practice is beginning. Keep this light and fun and short. Having children count along or spell things instead of counting are good ways to engage them.

Keep the instructional time to a minimum: Children at this age have very short attention spans. Children will become bored very quickly by lengthy lecture. Demonstrate a technique once or twice and then encourage children to practice, correcting as they practice. Then have a game ready which reinforces the skill.

End every practice with a scrimmage.

Be positive. Focus on the children’s successes. Give hints, rather than reprimands when necessary.

The children are here to have fun; the focus should be on fun.

Don’t encourage children to spread out when they scrimmage. This is for later. Their desire to be involved actually is an excellent time for them to learn to master a ball under pressure.

Teach moves in a progressive manner, simple first to more complicated.

Suggested progression of skill mastery:

Inside of foot before outside.

Kicking with shoe laces after learning to use outside of foot.

Stopping a ball with sole of the foot before learning a pull-back.

Learning a cut after mastering inside and outside of foot.

Learning a chop after mastering a cut.

Learning a feint after mastering the outside of foot.

Learning a stepover after mastering a feint.

Juggling can be a fun activity to do at the end of practice (the end rather than the beginning, chaos can erupt with balls flying everywhere). Do not expect child to master many touches at this age, giving them the idea can inspire them to want to practice on their own.

"Red light/green light"

Reinforces ball control. Like the old child’s game but with a ball. The coach can direct the children in any direction and at changing speeds. Stop the ball at the call "red light,"start the ball at "green light."

"City Game"

Reinforces dribbling, changing directions and control in crowd. The coach takes the children on a journey traveling to imaginary places. The coach can add variety to the game by changing the speed they travel, adding obstacles along the way, or making the game a race.

"Keepaway"

Reinforces ball control. In pairs, one with a ball one with out. The coach sets a time limit (no more than 5 minutes) to keep the ball away from other child. The children then switch roles. Keep this game light and friendly. Children at this age are very possessive of their

ball.

"Keeping the Yard Clean"

Reinforces kicking mechanics/ moving to space. The practice group is divided into two teams, each child with a ball. A neutral area is designated where no child can enter. At the coaches signal, the children kick their ball into the other teams area, and continue to kick out any other balls that enter their own area. At the end of a time period (when too many balls are scattered or the kids may become bored), time is called and the team with the fewest ball in their area wins.

"Tag"

Reinforces ball control/ moving in space. Like the old children’s game only with a ball at their feet.

UNDER 8

At this age children still need emphasis on the development of individual skill. Towards the end of the season, however, the children should be introduced to team play in small-sided games. They should not be taught positions. The focus is on finding space and gradually moving out of the crowd that u6 players create. The decision making, however should be the child’s. It is necessary for the child to solve his/her own problems on the field.

Reinforce constantly the basic skills introduced in U6. Now is also the time to begin the concept of defending 1V1.

Children at this still have brief attention spans but are very eager to please the coach. They do not need strong reprimands, reminders are still much more successful.

Ball gymnastics: Toe touches, boxes, rolling a ball with the sole of the feet.

Using the inside and outside of both feet to move the ball

Dribbling with a ball close

Dribbling with head up

Passing

Kicking with laces, inside and outside of both feet

The ability to stop the ball with the soles of each foot

Cuts with each foot, using inside and outside of each foot/ chops with inside and outside of each foot

Feints: basic feint to each direction; *step over, *croyff

Defensive delay

juggling, increasing number of touches

Warm up every practice with a brief period of ball gymnastics and stretching; the time period may be extended to around 5-10 minutes for this age group.

Add a period of warm-up dribbling. .In a defined area, have each with his/her own ball dribble in traffic, the coach occasionally calling out a "challenge." For example the coach may ask the children to stop quickly, execute a turn or dribble with head up.

Announce the practice theme after warm up, i. e. "today we are going to practice ways to fake out other players." Demonstrate fundamental skill briefly and have activities that reinforce the fundamental skill.

Encourage players during activities and drills to be in a "ready position,"i. e. With "bouncy" knees on the balls of the feet ready to act. Discourage playing "flat-footed," Tell them "no heels on the ground in soccer!"

Still focus on games to reinforce skills. The more fun the activity is, the harder the children will work at it. Do not bore the children with drills requiring they stand in lines.

Do not have children run laps. If it seems they need a little blowing off of steam, have them play tag instead.

Begin asking children what they see going on in games and drills. Ask a children during a break in an activity if they see smart decisions being made (keep it positive, don’t encourage them to criticize others). Ask them if they made good decisions or if they would do something differently next time. Don’t always expect great insight; you are simply fostering their beginning to think about smart play.

Always remember: the game belongs to the children. Do not obsess about winning games. Cheer good play and good effort. There are plenty of things to praise even in lop-sided losses. This is still about fun and the children will forget about a loss as soon as they hit the concession stand. They may never forget painful criticism.

Scrimmage every practice, small 4V4 games. This allows for many touches on the ball and for a child to be involved in much decision making. Encourage children to pass to open teammates and for teammates to go to open space to receive a pass.

Encourage basic passing fundamental. To pass with inside of foot accurately to target: the planted foot is placed next to the ball with the player’s weight balanced just above the ball (not behind or in front). The kicking foot strikes the ball with the instep, knee slightly bent. The foot follows through by finishing aimed at its target.

Every player should have a try at playing goal-keeper. Do not use too much time at this age on keeper skills. Just encourage that the keeper follow the play, scoop up rolling shots close to the body and use good side-to-side foot work when going to the far side of the net. Encourage punts with the shoe laces, not the toe.

"Monkey in the middle"

Reinforces passing accuracy, movement to open space. In groups of four: three on the outside of one who is the "monkey." Players pass to one another while the "monkey" tries to steal the ball. If the "monkey" steals the ball, the player who kicked the ball goes in the middle. Coach should note that the outside players are more successful if they maintain a triangle shape around the "monkey." Also the coach should suggest that the triangle may be best maintained by moving around if the shape is lost.

"Shark"

Reinforces ball control, changing directions. All players in a circle, all but one with a ball. The one without is the "shark." At the coaches signal, the "shark" tries to steal a ball and kick it out of the circle. When a ball is stolen, its former owner becomes another "shark." This continues until only one is left with a ball, the winner.

"Keep away"

Reinforces ball control, changes of direction and feints. This game can be modified in many ways. The pairs can be in circle areas and the play is non-directional or they can be in rectangular areas and the play becomes directional. Non-directional play encourages protecting the ball with changes of direction and body position. Directional play, especially if the game is modified to have a player reach a destination to "win," encourages moves to beat a defender for the offensive player and defensive delay for the defending player.

Small sided games:

These reinforce any skill the coach wants to reward. In a small area, set up an area. Again, the area game can be made directional or non-directional. The players are on teams 3V3 or 4V4. If there is an odd-numbered group, the extra player can be included as a neutral player or "everyone’s teammates" whom each team can as a teammate. Points can be scored in many way. "Goals" can be set up as cones in several areas and points can be awarded by dribbling through "goal", stopping the ball with the sole of the foot on "goal line" or passing through goal area. The coach can also award points if he/she sees a player perform a targeted skill. Variations are only limited to the coaches imagination.

At this age, players should become very comfortable with the ball. They should be able to dribble with their heads up, comfortably using many surfaces of the foot to manipulate the ball.

With these skills acquired, they are ready to understand basic tactics of play. They are ready to understand the roll of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd defenders and attackers. This is the time to encourage speed of play and good decision making.

Children begin to understand winning and losing very well. They know well who the better players are and they have a keen sense of what, to them, is fair and unfair. It is still the role of the coach to keep winning and losing in perspective. While encouraging their competitive nature, the coach must not lose sight that there players on the team of varying abilities and all are important to the team. Players often will see themselves as fitting a certain position on the field but now is not the time to create full-time defenders, attackers or keepers.

The coach should urge players play even in positions they may not are uncomfortable.

Discomfort can come from unfamiliarity.

Discipline can be a little stricter; the children are more aware of their responsibilities to the team. Correction should still be positive in its nature as harsh yelling creates antagonism rather than obedience.

Reinforce 1V1 moves; execute at faster speed with more defensive pressure

Dribble head up, at fast speeds using all sides of the foot.

Understanding of game shape; teammates creating space by being at angles to other teammates creating triangle shapes on the field.

Give-and-go passes

Drop passes

Shielding a ball

Basic tackling

Shooting

Trapping with chest, thigh and inside of foot

Juggling, increasing number of touches

Basic keeper skills: the "w" catch; footwork, rolling distribution

Still have a defined warmup period; discipline is more easily maintained when children have a routine. Basic ball gymnastics, stretching and dribbling reinforce skills and set the tone that practice is beginning.

Games at this age can be very team oriented and competitive. Children are motivated to win; exploit this by creating situations whereby wins are gained by demonstrating desired skills and tactics.

It may be noted that shooting has not been addressed until this point. Good shooting requires a good touch on the ball. Kids will naturally want to shoot at a goal from the beginning. By addressing shooting after the children are comfortable with all sides of the foot encourages good mechanics.

Encourage goal scores by shooting in various ways: right and left footed, using both the inside and outside of the foot, aiming at the high and low corners of the goal.

Trapping skills are very important; children should be urged to run to 50/50 balls.

Encourage players to talk to each other in games; the coach should do most of the coaching during practice. Game day belongs to the kids. Let them work together keeping sideline instruction to a minimum.

"Keep Away" and "Monkey in the Middle"

Still great games reinforcing valuable skills.

"The Number Game"

Reinforces trapping, team shape, 1v1 skills, dribbling. Players are divided into two or more teams, each player given a number. There should be a "1" for each team, a "2" for each, etc. The coach places teams opposite one another in a defined area. In the middle of the field the coach tosses a ball into the air and calls one or more than one number. The players from each team who have this number run to win the ball and carry the ball to a goal to score a point. If one number is called it is a 1v1 game; if more than one number is called teammates work together to score the goal.

"The Shrinking Field"

Reinforces usage of space, quick passing touch. A small sided game. Set up a field about 20-30 yards. Every set time period (5 minutes or so), bring cone goals in five yards. Players will be forced into moving into wider positions, spreading out the field.

"The Tunnel of Death"

Reinforces 1v1 skills, tackling. One player with a ball tries to reach a finish line. Between the player and the goal, teammates as defenders try to prevent the player from reaching the goal. The player rotates in as a defender after turn and a defender rotates out to try to go through the "tunnel."

Small sided games.

Create various ways to manipulate different aspects of play. For example, to encourage shoot at sides of net, set up cone goal at corners of the field of play. A goal only counts went it passes the "goal" on the ground. Control of ball can be reinforced by scoring stopping a ball on the line between the goal.

At this age, basic skills should be mastered and the kids should be practicing game shape and team play. Heading and throw-ins can be mastered and set plays such as corner kicks can be practiced. The players are becoming more independent in their thought and are very aware of their roles as team players. They often police their own behavior as well or better than the coach can.

Heading

Throw-ins

Continued improvement in 1v1, passing

Reinforcement of game shape

volleying

Juggling, increasing touches

Keeper skills: charging an attacker, parrying, footwork

The basic practice structure does not need to change but the kids will be more opinionated about what they want to do. Let the results of the last game help guide what the next practice entails. If the players were not passing well, this needs attention. If the defensive support was lacking, reinforce this in small sided games.

Small sided games should be the basis of most of the practice. In these, mistakes cannot be hidden. Manipulate the field to reinforce areas of concern.

Encourage the players to coach each other in practice and in the game. Do not try to coach much from the sidelines in the game. If the players have been well-schooled in practices, they will play well. If they have not been, the game is not the place to fix the problem.

Games which encourage game shape are good, Monkey in the Middle(but you might want to change the name for this age), small-sided scrimmages are good. Drills that encourage winning 50/50 balls are popular such as the Number Game. At this age, kids are often happy just scrimmaging after drill work.

Soccer tennis:

reinforces volleying, touch on the ball: set up a net or anything that the players must pass over; the players play the ball back and forth either on one or two or none (depending on the skill level of the players). All balls must be played in the air. Scoring can be varied: score as in tennis, by number of successful volley, etc.