Isn't it amazing what 5 and 6 year olds can do?

I have been involved  / elected (as you do) with the coaching my youngest son's 6 years soccer team and as a result, two other small sided teams. Neither of the boys can escape, I think that is why my daughter does circus: Dad can't hassle her, even though I try to get her to think of how she can use the elements of composition when putting together her tissu routine - she did have her turn for three years). What has been interesting is the idea of small sided games and the narrow view of 'skill'. The aim in the manual is to get a similar level of 'skill' and develop 'skill' for the players so that when they move through the ages, there is consistency. Thus it seems many clubs band the teams together and then have elements of passing and trapping and kicking at different stations. At the end, all of the kids play. Even noted soccer afficionado and commentator, Craig Foster, notes the importance of this development but again it is such a narrow view of skill, it's the specific movement skills of football. Unfortunately, the
players still have to understand how to play on the weekend, even if it is a smaller field and less players. There can still only be one player with the ball, so as always, we need to ask; When do we teach the other three what to do?


Again, when looking at the time needed to develop these movement skill, the math just does not 'add up' (forgive the pun). I have about 16 weeks with a one hour session (minus drink breaks, wrestling, adventures watching birds and dogs, tears and other wonderful things that 6 year olds do at soccer training after spending all day trying to be good at school). Can you develop even minimal proficiency in one of those movement skills in 16 hours. or if you divide it into two skills, 8 hours or four in four hours and so forth. When do they learn how to play and use it in play?

The result is often seen on the weekend: 6 players line up to kick the ball in the goal as a warm up and then at the kick off, they kick it and chase it in a line. As a result, the ball then goes past them and they try and turn around and chase. Generally, they are never in the appropriate spots to execute the movement skills. It's a tough gig for all concerned, especially if it keeps going in after they kick off. While the aim is to have fun, it's always more fun when you are learning!

Here are some things I do with the 6's if you want to try with your beginners (of any age levels). It's amazing what they can pick up.

We have 'ducks' and 'half ducks' and 'pigeons' and 'half pigeons' for kicking and trapping. It's a nice analogy for the players (plus its cute when they 'quack' when playing. We 'half duck' to turn in' and half pigeon' to turn out, we half duck to tackle, and kick or dribble

We do lots of games running in all directions and not running into one another (with and without the ball). They all can tell me that to avoid running into someone, you change pace and / or direction.

We play lots of games. We played a game last week where each team had two goals to score in (one in each corner, encourage play on both sides of the field - we play it with 3rd year uni students and its a simpler version of 'Corridors'). A quarter of the players understood and could execute, half could tell me but could not quite do it and the rest either took it off their own team or chased a bird (or got into Dad's car to make Saturday come quicker). Still, you take what you get.

When we play on the week end, these are our 'Action Rules' for for the game.

We begin with 'Shirt number to our goal, badge to the goal we are scoring in'. However, our better players are beginning to be ready for 'play the ball the way you are facing'. Some furrowed brows for some as they have to pass.

We try to kick to open players, no matter how good or bad a kick you are.

We make different shapes each time we wait for a restart. The players favourite shape is a triangle, one at the top and three at the back but they make diamonds and squares as well as letters and numbers

We send one to the ball at all times and the rest of the shape stays off and waits for the kick.

Finally, we have lots of different levels of play in the team from the genetically good to the 4 year olds who walk on in the middle of a game to have a conversation about the party they went to (with me) or suddenly disappear to get a drink. Most are not consistent with motor skill, nor do they execute at all times but we don't care. The thing is that they can play.

Oh and one more rule. If you feel like something from the canteen, you have to tell the coach before you go off the field!

It's amazing what 5 and 6 year olds can do.

Have you had any similar experiences when coaching little ones?

Greg