www.cenlasoccer.com
5U 6U 7U 8U
Player focus
It's a joy to see so many players at young age groups playing the game we love. Crossroads wants to better player experience and development. By understanding what we are trying to achieve at these age groups, learning how the rules of the game differ from older age groups, and improving our soccer knowledge and language we can work together to make this year the best experience for your soccer stars.
Dribble, Dribble Goal Kicks Kickoffs
New Ball method no goalkeepers # of players
There are no goalies from 5u-8u (no kids should be standing in the semi-circle in front of the goals). This age level isn't about situating kids in positions so that we can secure a victory; it's about all of the kids getting touches on the ball and being involved in the play, up and down the field -- kids aren't playing soccer (getting touches on the ball) if they are sitting in front of their own goal.
dribble, dribble
The game is 4v4, not 5v5 or 6v6. Too many kids on the field makes the field congested and gives kids less of a chance to dribble the ball without it getting immediately taken away. It's always possible to play with less than 4v4 (like 2v2 or 3v3), but not more.
P l a y e r f o c u s
kickoffs
# of players
Players get more than double the amount of playing time when coaches ROLL a new ball in to play when ball goes out of bounds at 5u-6u -- there's no waiting for the player's to set up and no indecisive kids standing unsure of what to do with the ball. Please make sure to ROLL the ball, not throw or bounce.
Encourage kids to dribble ALL THE TIME. Adjusting our vocabulary to include "dribble" instead of "kick it" will go a long way in making kids dribble, dribble, dribble. Kids this young don't need to be thinking about passing. Decision making will come later in your players' development; it's important to focus on kids being comfortable with keeping/dribbling the ball, not with kicking the ball as soon as they can.
No Goalkeepers
New ball method
goal kicks
Kickoffs are not a time to try and score -- that is, kids shouldn't be trying to kick the ball directly at (to) the opposition in an attempt to score from half field. Instead, encourage them to dribble or pass to a teammate (who then dribbles). See DRIBBLE, DRIBBLE above!
Teams should retreat to the half way line when opposing team has a goal kick. This encourages players to keep the ball/dribble, as opposed to simply kicking it away so the other team can't score. US Youth Soccer has added "build-out lines" at the 9u/10u age groups for this same purpose -- creating environment that encourages kids to get more touches on the ball.
