SOCCER FOR THE CITY

Minneapolis United Soccer Club

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• U5 – 7
• U8 – 10
• U11 – 12
• U13 – 14
• U15 – 19

Player Development Guidelines
and Age Group Competencies
for Coaches and Trainers

The following guidelines and age group competencies have been established by Minneapolis United to help our coaches and trainers focus on the teaching that we think will best provide individual development of our young soccer players. The guidelines are based on reviewing existing practices of many other successful youth soccer associations and the established guidelines of the United States Soccer Association.

MU encourages all coaches and trainers to continuously work at improving their own knowledge of the game. There are numerous ways that we can learn as coaches. One example is the US Soccer Federation coaching schools. These courses teach the latest techniques and concepts in soccer training that are currently used nationally and internationally. Another way to enhance your knowledge is through books and tapes. Perhaps the best way to learn new ideas is through association with other coaches and trainers. This interfacing of different ideas and perspectives is beneficial and is applicable at the courses and camps mentioned above or through our own Minneapolis United coaching sessions held throughout the year.

This document is part of a larger master plan that includes coaching clinics, team mentoring and winter training. Hopefully, coaches will be better equipped to understand the range of age-appropriate development and skill sets. This document is NOT intended to establish “pass or fail standards”. Some children will achieve several of the competencies while others may have trouble with most/all of them. Players mature and develop at different times and rates, even within the same age group.

Important Note: At the earlier ages (thru U12), winning is not the primary emphasis of this program. At those ages individual development of the players is much more important. We believe that taking the short track to winning at the early ages may win games, but cheats the players in their long term development. By stressing individual development at the early ages we will produce superior technical players who can later be taught tactics — MU teams will be the better for it.

Micro U5 – 7: The Introduction

Practice length:

30 minutes with a 30-minute small sided game.

Practice Scope/Emphasis:

Technical 100% and Tactical 0%

Practices should consist almost entirely of fun activities designed to introduce the players to basic soccer technique while playing games. The game is the best teacher for young players. Do not demand that the more confident players share the ball. The coach should avoid the impulse to “coach” his/her players from “play to play” in order to help them win the match. He/She should not be telling players to “pass rather than dribble“hold their positions” or to “never” do something (like pass or dribble in front of the goal).

Technical

Dribbling:

• While standing, player is able to roll ball front and back, alternate feet, touch on top of ball and touch ball between feet.
• While dribbling, player is able to touch ball every step, stop ball, and change directions.
• While dribbling in restricted areas, avoid collisions with others, keep head up and keep ball in front of body.
• While dribbling, player is able to go in straight line using both feet, make small circles using inside of foot, and keep ball close when running.

Passing:

• Player is able to stop ball passed to them, make 5 yards pass/kick and avoid using their toe to pass. Introduce Throw-ins as a passing technique.

Tactical

Encourage the dribbler at the younger ages. The coach can often be more helpful to young players’ development by organizing less, saying less and allowing them to do more.

Psychological:

Physical:

U8 – 10: The Fun Stage

Practice length:

60-75 minutes

Practice Scope/Emphasis:

Fitness 10% : all fitness is with the ball. Focus on agility and changing direction | Technical 80% | Tactical 10%

The emphasis at the U8-10 level should be on teaching (1) technique and (2) enjoyment of the game. Pick-up games are very important at this age so that the children can experiment with creativity. It is important for children to develop their individual relationships with the ball. Do not over-demand that the more confident players share the ball. The coach should avoid the impulse to “coach” his/her players from “play to play” in order to help them win the match. He/She should not be telling their young players to “pass rather than dribble,” to “hold their positions” or to “never” do something (like pass or dribble in front of the goal). A coach at this level should think of him/herself more as a facilitator, monitor, guide and participant.

Technical

Dribbling:

• Use of all surfaces, basic turns, basic moves to beat an opponent.
• Speed dribbling in open space.
• Juggling: MU will introduce a “Juggling Club”
• Ball tapping (with pulls and turns)
• Introduction of basic Coerver moves

Receiving:

• Body behind the ball, cushion the ball=> ground, bouncing and air balls. Include receiving a throw-in.

Shooting:

• Proper striking technique (Open body, position of plant foot, toe down, ankle locked, strike ball with laces, follow thru) hit moving ball.

Passing:

• Proper technique for Laces, Inside for accuracy, and Outside for power and distance. Include Throw-ins as a passing technique.

Heading:

• Introduction- Build confidence, eyes open, mouth closed, hit ball with forehead.

Goalkeeper fundamentals:

• Include basic catching and simple distribution (toss and punt).

Tactical

• 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 + jockeying on defense
• Play a variety of positions => Develop the complete player.
• Encourage players to be creative and go to goal.

Psychological

• Keep it FUN and ENJOYABLE to foster a desire to play.

U11 – 12: The Foundation Stage

Practice length:

75-90 minutes

Emphasis:

Fitness 20% | Technical 60% | Tactical 20%

Emphasis is still on technique and fun, but more complex tactics can be introduced. Use 3v3 to teach movement and support but also up to 8v8 to help players begin to understand more complex situations. Incorporate increasing pressure so that players adjust to performing technique and tactics under limits of space and time. Hero worship, identification with successful teams/ players and a hunger for imaginative skills typify the mentality of this age. This is the “golden age of learning” and the most important age for skill development. Demonstration is very important and the players learn best by “doing.” It is important to establish discipline from the beginning.

Technique:

It is critical to establish a strong skill base under the pressure of time, space, and an opponent at this time. Increase technical speed.

• Dribbling: Encourage risk taking! Moves to beat an opponent and keep possession.
  • Juggling: MU will have a juggling Club
  • Ball tapping (increase moves, i.e., Cruyff, rolling with sole of foot)
• Coerver moves and other fakes (increase repertoire)
• Shielding: Spin turns, change of speed, change of direction.
• Receiving: Ground and Air balls. All surfaces, from a partner and on the move using feet, thighs, chest, head
• Shooting: Proper striking technique, partner serve from all angles, turns, cut backs; volleys.
• Passing: Proper technique — Laces, inside, outside — short and long; crossing.
• Heading: An introduction thru self serve; partner serve — jumping to head, turning the ball; Partner juggling.
• Tackling: Proper technique, in balance, no fear.
• Goalkeeping (should have sound understanding of fundamentals, some specialized training with keeper trainer, or at keeper camp might be appropriate)

Tactical

“Dawn of tactical awareness” by playing a variety of positions. Develop an awareness / complete player.

• 1v1, 2v1, 3v1, 3v2, 3v3, 4v2, 5v3, 4v4 small sided games are pivotal at this age for creativity and teaching movement and support of play.
• 2 and 3 touch games can be introduced or # of consecutive passes to score a point
• Team defense introduced (pressure, cover, balance; goal side/ball side)
• Re-starts should be introduced via wall set up and simple strategy or plays

For the individual stress 1 v 1 situations in attack and defense. Play 1 v 1 frequently.

• Attacking: Keep possession; Encourage risk taking; Take players on 1v1 in proper areas of the field. Support. Basic combination play (Wall pass, takeover). Promote attacking soccer
• Defending: Proper pressure (in front and behind); Channel player; immediate chase; Cover; Marking.

**Note: Players play a variety of positions and emphasis is placed on player development instead of getting results as a team. Introduce primary and secondary attackers and defenders.

Physical:

All fitness work done with and without the ball, in partners, and in fun engaging activities:

• Flexibility & Agility
• Speed
• Strength & Endurance
• Balance

Psychological:

Keep it FUN and ENJOYABLE to foster a desire to play

• Encourage decision making
• Imagination/ Creativity
• Increase demands
• Discipline
• Encourage players/teams to watch professional and national team games on TV.

U13 – 14: The Formal Stage

Practice length:

75-90 minutes

Emphasis:

Fitness 20% | Technical 40% | Tactical 40%

If players at this age level have had the proper emphasis on technique in their earlier years, they will now be quite technically skilled. They will establish comfort with the ball at their feet and under pressure, receive with good control, proficient in 1v1 situations, good at juggling, and they’ll know several good moves that help them create time, space, and beat opponents. If not, you’ll need to spend more time on technique than recommended below. Tactically, they should be quite good at 3v3 to 6v6 and keep-away games. The pace of development quickens at this time due to the acceleration of physical and metal maturation. The demands of skill training and training loads should increase thus provoking improvement in mental toughness, concentration and diligence. Awareness of tactics within the game becomes an important fact of the learning process. Players should be able to perform all training under pressure of the opponent with increased speed.

Technique:

• Dribbling: Encourage to take player on 1v1 — Feints/moves; Keep possession — shielding/spin turns. More Coerver moves and other fakes
• Receiving: Quality first touch — take balls out of the air/turning: All surfaces, on the run.
• Shooting: On the run; On the turn; From all angles/ crosses, volleys. Emphasize Finishing vs. just shooting the ball.
• Passing: Short, long, bent, crosses, driven, chipped. All surfaces, ALL on the run.
• Heading: To goal (Shoot/glance), to pass, to clear (attack and defense).
• Tackling: Proper techniques.
• Goalkeeper: (more advanced technique, tactics, should attend camps)

Tactics:

Increase Tactical Speed (decision making under pressure) 1,2, and 3 touch games combined with play is expected and consistently emphasized.

• Individual: 1v1, in attacking and defense
  • Attacking: Keep possession; Encourage risk taking: taking players on in the proper areas of the field.
  • Defending: Proper pressure (in front and behind); Channel player; Immediate chase, angles of pressure.
• Small Group: 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, 4v2, 4v4.
  • Attacking: Keep possession: Support; Combination play: wall pass, take-over, overlap, double pass. Width, depth, penetration; Crossing with proper runs in the box; Simple set plays.
  • Defending: Angle and distance of cover. Balance. Delaying and pressing as a group
• Team:
  • Attacking: Keep possession. Play the ball away from pressure. Maintain balance in the chosen system. Interchange of positions during the run of play. Encourage attackers to take defenders on in the final third. Keeper as an integral part of the attack (play balls back to the keeper). Players play a variety of positions.
  • Defending: Maintain good “shape”. Zonal concepts. Know when to “delay” or “step.” Clear decision on where the “line of confrontation” will be. Maintaining good “pressure and cover” through all three thirds of the field.

Physical:

All fitness work with the ball.

• Flexibility: Static Stretching and Dynamic Flexibility
• Agility: Coordination with and without the ball.
• Speed
• Strength: non-weight bearing, core strength and stability
• Endurance
• Balance

Psychological:

• The game should remain fun and enjoyable. Players should have a passion for the game.
• Imagination/creativity
• Increase demands
• Establish training targets
• Maintain discipline
• Encourage player/teams to watch professional and national teams games on TV.

U15 – 19: The Adult Training Stage

Practice length:

90-120 minutes

Emphasis:

Fitness 25% | Technical 30% | Tactical 45%

Players in this age group often attempt to assert themselves more. Increased structure and discipline is required of the coach. Understanding each player’s psychology and good communication skills are also important. Technique should be solid but it must still be practiced regularly. Coaches can stress tactics, including 11v11. Fitness requires more attention as players have developed physically. Strengthening programs may include plyometrics. This is a critical time in the player’s development.

** Note: All training under pressure of the opponent at game speed.

Technique:

• Skills should be mastered, leading to artistry and improvisation - all under match conditions.
• Individual skill covered during the warm-up, and/or in competitive situations.
• Increase technical speed. It is important that technique is still highly emphasized at this age.
• Strike balls cleanly over distance with accuracy under pressure.
• More Coerver moves and other fakes
• Finishing
• Slide tackling
• Goalkeeper (advanced technique, advanced tactics, should attend camps)

Tactics:

Increase tactical speed (decision making)

• Individual: Decisions based on thirds of the field.
  • Attacking: Application of varied technical abilities in order to increase tactical options. Aggressive attacking mentality in final third. Emphasis placed on predicting what the game will need next. Knowing what each player’s specific roles and responsibilities are lends to greater understanding of the big picture.
  • Defending: Clear understanding of how the quality of pressure affects team defending success. Being able to take options away from the attacker.
• Small Group: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9
  • Attacking:
    • Balance of needing possession / penetration
    • Combination play: wall pass take over, overlap, double pass, third man running
    • Creativity in solving problems
    • Mobility: movement without the ball
    • Crossing: picking out a runner rather than putting it in the box
    • Box Organization-penetration, width and support for every ball played in the box
    • Attacking as a group of 3 (forwards, midfields and defenders)
    • Set plays (80% success rate: where we get : Goal, Shot on Goal, or Corner Kick)
  • Defending:
    • Compactness
    • Cover, Delay, Dictate and Recover
    • Communication (Who, what, when, where)
    • Defending as a group of 3 (forwards, midfielders, and defenders)
    • Enjoy winning possession of the ball and dictating the play
    • Set plays
• Team: Clearly defined team tactics — how the team decides to play as a group.
  • Attacking:
    • Comfort with direct and indirect styles
    • Sustained possession as a means to break down the opponent’s defense
    • Understanding how to counter attack
    • Decisions based on thirds of the field
  • Defending:
    • Comfort with “high pressure” and “delayed high pressure” styles
    • Understanding of zonal and man-to-man marking play
    • Goalkeeper as the last defender
    • Keeping good team compactness
    • Stopping the counter attack
    • Decisions based on thirds of the field and different systems of play

Physical:

• Fitness work with and without the ball
• Flexibility: Static stretching after training/matches
• Dynamic Flexibility : partner stretching
• Importance of discipline for warm-up and cool-down
• Agility: with and without the ball
• Footwork: keeping the feet active when moving / playing
• Endurance: Aerobic and anaerobic
• Strength: Upper and lower body. Core strength and stability
• Balance
• Nutrition: Proper diet, pre-game, post game, tournaments, etc.
• Prevention and care of injuries
• Importance of rest/recovery — schedule issues relative to the physical demands.

Psychological:

• Increased concentration
• Leadership / player responsibilities
• Discipline
• Respect for the game
• Goal setting
• Vary program — Satisfy player’s urge for competition
• Establish pre practice and pre game routine (as individuals and team)
• Encourage players/teams to watch professional and national team soccer on TV.

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