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Just4Kicks is all about technical development and we measure success by milestones at the individual basic skill level.
You are a new coach or volunteer parent given the task of teaching soccer to your child's soccer team. Soccer is a very simple sport, however, if you have had limited exposure or never played soccer it can be quite overwhelming.
12-15 little ones running around in a square of cones and one ball...chaos will happen if there is no coach (leader of the pack) or plan.
This Soccer guide will give you a blue print as to the developmental milestones your group should be achieving by age (3-12 y/o). Remember it is only a blue print. The outcome also depends on you and your level of engagement, excitement, knowledge, and confidence...but we will help with that too.
3-4 y/o
No Hands! - Children this age should be able to comprehend and understand why we don't use hands in Soccer.
Touch Mastery- It's all about touching the ball far and near here and there...(with the feet of course) At this age every child needs a ball and within a half hour session they should be touching the ball at least 40-50 times.
Extra- if you can get them to understand that in soccer it's ok to take the ball away from someone..than you get brownie points. I always ask them the rules in preschool. and relate it back to the soccer field. In soccer taking the ball away is part of the rules versus in preschool where it's not ok to take a toy away from someone...
FUN!!! This is most likely their first encounter with soccer...it needs to be imaginative, FUN, but still technical... a good practice is a perfect balance between the three.
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4-5 y/o
Dribbling - Children this age should be able to comprehend the overall game and be able to comfortably dribble with inside feet. They should be touching ball at least 60 times
Defending- At this age they should be able to grasp that taking the ball away from the other team is part of the rules. they should be able to understand to take the ball away they need to get in front of them (first step of defending) also called getting goal side.
Match Play- they can tell you how many teams,goals, and balls soccer is played with. Understand they don't chase or take a ball away from their team. Although, Bunch ball may be more frequent than not they are able to play real soccer and control the ball from going out of bounds fairly well.
EXTRA- passing is introduced and understood but only few really grasp and use passing as a tool during real soccer. Getting them to keep spread out and passing is advanced and not recommended as a goal at this age.
FUN!!! ...it needs to be imaginative, FUN, but still technical... a good practice is a perfect balance between the three.
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5-6 y/o
Dribbling - Children at this age should begin to master dribbling with inside feet. Shielding is introduced and understood. Instep dribbling is introduced and practiced kids should be touching the ball at least 70 times a session.
Defending- Getting goal side is understood and practiced during game as the first step of defense. Correct defensive posture and movement is introduced and practiced.
Passing- Kids at this age should understand and apply correct passing. Although may not fully grasp the power of passing during game. working on "Touch" will help them develop passing mastery.
Match Play- At this age playing the game is important to apply the techniques. They should not be taking the ball away from each other but may still chase their team and ball.
Shooting- Correct shooting technique is introduced and part of this is instep dribbling practice. If they can get comfortable with dribbling with the instep, shooting will be easier to teach. C+P+S steps in shooting is introduced. Milestone for shooting is not kicking with the toe.
EXTRA- If you can get them to communicate and use phrases like- "I am open" and "my ball" your doing a great job!
FUN!!! ...it needs to FUN, but still technical... a good practice is a perfect balance between the two.
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7-12 y/o
Dribbling - Children at this age should be touching the ball as much as possible. Inside, outside, instep, linear, and multi-directional. use fun and challenging skill drills to distract them from keeping all the attention at their feet. forcing them to look up and be aware of their surroundings is a milestone and encouraged.
Defending- Getting goal side is understood and practiced during game as the first step of defense. Correct defensive posture and movement is introduced and practiced. Small sided games are key to understanding space and breaking offensive links. talking is a requirement at this age.
Passing- Kids at this age should comprehend a wall pass and be able to execute it during game play. Communication is key and required at this age.
Match Play- At this age playing the game is key and everything should be based on playing with ball effectively maximizing practice time to better ball control. Communication will clear a lot of mistakes and misunderstandings so encourage it.
Shooting- Correct shooting technique is introduced and part of this is instep dribbling practice. C+P+S steps in shooting is introduced and practiced every week. Milestone for shooting is being able to Control...Place...Shoot....Using instep! as they get better practice place..shoot than straight to first touch shooting (the ball will hardly be still during a game so practicing shooting with a a ball that is still is not helping any..shooting should be practiced with a moving ball..)
EXTRA- Leadership becomes evident at this age...encourage it and create opportunities to develop leadership and group speaking opportunities. This will translate on field. Kids at this age like to be challenged and motivation is a little more necessary. You must be engaging and personify energy!
FUN!!! ...it needs to FUN, but still technical... a good practice is a perfect balance between the two.
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