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U6 Guidelines

 

Framework for Player Development


U6-Development of Individual Skills

 
Soccer Definitions:
-Technique/Technical: A player’s ability with the ball, a certain skill set (dribbling, passing, shooting, receiving).  
-Tactics/Tactical: Decision Making (both individual decision making and group decision making).
-Dribbling: The art of keeping the ball close to you as you run or walk.
-Receiving: Settling, stopping, or directing the ball as it comes to you.
 
COACH: Must be enthusiastic. Must be able to give encouragement. Must be understanding and fair. Must be able to give equal playing time and rotate positions. Cannot be concerned with wins and losses. Must secure safe environment. Should play with players.
 
TECHNIQUE: Every player should have a ball. No elimination games. Establish fundamental motor skills like running, jumping and rolling. Focus heavily on kicking the ball, stopping the ball, dribbling the ball and stealing the ball. No heading what-so-ever. Encourage individual success.
 
TACTICS: No tactics taught. The player only understands themselves and the ball and cannot think in an abstract or tactical manner. Get players to move in the correct direction to score or defend. In the game, everybody moves up and down the field as a unit. Do not leave defenders standing at the top of the penalty box.
 
PHYSICAL: Poor eye, hand and eye, and foot coordination at this age. Movements such as running, hopping, skipping and maintaining balance are not fully developed at this age. Must be given frequent but short rest periods. They will give the activity 100% effort until fatigued. Not much physical difference between boys and girls. Do not have players run laps.
 
MENTAL: Poor judgment in regards to safety. The focus is on themselves as an individual. The games must be fun. Need positive reinforcement and praise. They will also tend to exaggerate their accomplishments-let them.  Need plenty of room to move.  They have a short attention span, can only perform one task at a time and only if it is given with basic instructions.
 
SOCIAL: From a social (psychosocial) standpoint the children need to feel secure in practice and in games. The coach needs to be sensitive in selecting activities that allow social interaction with the other players in their group. They are easily bruised psychologically.
 
 
 
 
Soccer Curriculum
 
12 Practices per season
            -9 dribbling practices
            -2 dribbling/receiving practices
            -1 dribbling/passing/shooting practice
 
Areas of Focus (Technical)
  1. Dribbling
  2. Passing/Shooting
  3. Receiving
 
Areas of Focus (Tactical)
  1. Limited decision making (All individual).

 

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