U8 Players -- Small-Sided Soccer Game
Characteristics of the U8 Player:
- Attention span is a 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.
- They want everybody to like them.
- Developing physical confidence.
- 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.
Things You Can Expect
Six, seven and eight-year-old players are a bit more compliant than their U-6 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 then 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.
- School conflicts will come up... please, let them go (they must face their teachers five days a week).
- They will wear their uniform to bed.
U8 Soccer Coaching Objectives (7 Year Olds):
Tell me and I will forget
Show me and I will remember
Involve me and I will understand
1. Developing a general understanding of the basic rules of the game
- Goal-Kick
- Corner-Kick
- Kick-Off
- Throw-In
- Ball In and Out of Play - throw-in, "goal," corner kick, etc.
2. Teach the correct method of the throw-in; but donšt over do it, encourage players to shoot
the ball with both right/left feet; how to dribble the ball; how to stop the ball. Show players
that passing is another option to dribbling.
3. Encourage the players to cooperate - examples through passing; helping in defense by
running back towards goal.
4. Do not expect the keeper/sweeper (supportive player) to grasp the concept of moving out on
attack and defense right away.
5. Do encourage the keeper/sweeper (supportive player) to come off the goal line when play is
at the other end of the field to support the attack. The back player can also serve to reduce
the amount of space between the goal and an opponent attempting to shoot. This provides a
smaller view of the goal for the shooter. The sweeper/keeper player also serves as support
on defense, which provides coverage for the teammates in front of goal.
6. Do emphasize and encourage the idea of a team triangle when attacking and defending.
Remember the 3 evils: Lines, Laps & Lectures!
Overriding Consideration:
The game is for all players - everyone should be encouraged to participate, particularly the "non-assertive" player(s). Always encourage in practices & games the use of skill, creativity & decision-making. Donšt expect youngsters to play a "passing game", donšt get caught up in tactics & formations or positions. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Systems of play at young ages will only lead to "Agriculture Soccer" since they dictate those players be "planted" rather than "playing".
Also never stifle the creative, gifted dribbler. Eventually all players will learn to pass as they get older. This is the time for players of all abilities to experiment & learn from trial and error. Encourage talking in practices & on the field, let them know this is their game and that they own it. If you believe that the difference between kicking and passing is thinking, and the difference between drills and activities is thinking, then you should understand the premise that "Soccer Is A Playeršs Game" and your sessions should give players as many opportunities to both play, think & communicate as possible!