Kids Soccer Training - Under 6, Under 7 And Under 8

By Author: Mark Jones
Total Articles: 6
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Coaching kids soccer can be demanding but even more so, rewarding. Every player has their own little personalities which makes running a kids soccer team a team a formidable challenge. The probabilities are, your role as a kids soccer manager will be worlds away from your day job so understanding how kids and soccer work together at this age will help you adjust your coaching style to (and patience!) during your kids soccer games, so when you tell them for the umpteenth time to pass and move in to space and they don't, you don't take it too personally!

Characteristics of kids soccer include:

Excitable and enthusiastic - there will be loads of energy, enthusiasm and noise! With Under 6, Under 7 and Under 8 players, in their minds, they have not come to ‘learn' soccer - they've come to play it with their mates! So expect lots of noise and running about but establish early on in your soccer training session who's the boss otherwise things will get out of control.

Attention span - what attention span? Kids will find picking mud off their boots and what's happening on another pitch far more interesting ...
... than anything you have to say. Therefore, when delivering your soccer coaching message, keep it short and simple especially for the younger ones (under 6, under 7 and under 8)

Understanding - after you have explained the kids soccer training drill or soccer technique, get the players to confirm they have understood what they will be doing in their kids soccer game. It's always best to demonstrate your soccer training drill or fun kids soccer game to them rather than just tell them. Encourage questions and involve them in the demos. Visit www.canyouplaysoccer.com for further soccer coaching advice and soccer training drills.

Receptive - Kids soccer equals smiles and tears, especially for under 6, under 7 and under 8 players. Remember, for every 1 criticism give 10 praises as players at this age don't take failure well.

Imagination - encourage your kids soccer team (Under 6, Under 7 and Under 8 players) to use their imagination to help them develop their soccer skills. Let them be inventive and experimental with new soccer skills and tricks.

Technique - For U6, U7 and U8 players, work on the FUNdamentals - that is, basic soccer technique and improving basic skills. Group soccer training drills and small sided games will help them learn how to be part of a team and when to employ the soccer skills they have learnt. Make sure you rotate playing positions so all players learn the basic principles through defending drills to attacking drills. Try and keep kids soccer drills short and fun to avoid boredom. Under 6, under 7 and under 8 players are naturally selfish so don't expect them to pass too much and do expect them to follow the ball - they want to be involved! Typically, it's not until they progress to under 9 and under 10 they firmly grasp the concept of using players around them to keep possession of the ball as a team.

www.Canyouplaysoccer.com makes running a kids soccer team easier. Their soccer training drills database allows you to find soccer training drills relevant for your team quickly and easily. You can search by category (defending, attacking, shooting etc) and age group, for example under 6, under 7, under 8 etc. And to help organise the team for the next game, try www.canyouplaysoccer.com's personal soccer organiser.