Hi there,I am going to be running a soccer (football)?

Sportplan TeamAdministrator, United Kingdom

Hello Victoria, when coaching young players I think simplicity is key. You should work on very basic skills in a simple way - try passing in pairs or taking it in turns to have shots on goal from close range. I've attached a fun drill which I'm sure your players will enjoy as it's been designed for young children and works on defensive principles for closing down and getting the ball.

Farmers and Foxes

DESCRIPTION

The foxes (players) put bibs into the back of their shorts. The farmer (coach) runs around the area attempting to pull the bibs out. When a players bib is pulled out, he becomes a farmer too. Play until 1 fox is left. The players must remain within the confines of the area throughout the activity. Any player running outside the area, automatically becomes a farmer.

Farmers and Foxes

DESCRIPTION

The foxes (players) put bibs into the back of their shorts. The farmer (coach) runs around the area attempting to pull the bibs out. When a players bib is pulled out, he becomes a farmer too. Play until 1 fox is left. The players must remain within the confines of the area throughout the activity. Any player running outside the area, automatically becomes a farmer.

Football CoachCoach

In my experience no drills and technical practice is necessary with that age group, it's all about simple, fun, dribbling games with one ball per child. The sessions should engage in the chidren's imagination at their level. In other words, coaches need to adapt to the children, not the children adapting to the game of football (at that age).

Bob ColquiCoach, United States of America

I find that headig drills are very fun for youn children that have never played the game. Hold the ball in your hand and encurage the children to use their head to knock it off of your hand. This helps them to be more comfortabel around the ball. For more advanced versions gently toss the ball up in the air and encuorage them to hit it into the goal. hope this is help full.

Football CoachCoach

hallo from Spain. Great opportunity for you to start teaching football from the very beginning. At these ages a player-child has his only point of view, he is he and the ball, and you have to start practicing basic technical drills to keep in deep contact with the ball, but the player must not realize about it, so I suggest chasing games and not many tactical proposals (nothing, better). If you send me your mail I can send you some exercises. Greetings. Roberto Ramos. [email removed to avoid spam]

Football CoachCoach

Hello Victoria, the way I start young kids off at this age is by playing Fun Fours where the pitch size is reduced and it is 4 v's 4 aside giving more time for every player with the ball, give every player a chance in every position ie Keeper, Left-mid, Right-mid, Stiker by rotating them every 5 mins, never let a player tell you where they play, you decide by watching them during training, and it's good for every player to feel what it's like to play in every position.I do this up to the age of 14 year olds.Passing to and fro to eack other or off a wall using both feet is recommended too, this encourages them to use their weaker foot and in some of my Youth Squad now whom I have coached for 12 years are equally skillfull with both feet and remember me giving them this as homework to go home and practice till the next training setion, good luck, Davie. Inverness. Scotland.