The 10 Technical Skills Your Players Must Aim To Acquire
When coaching kids it is sometimes difficult to know if you are moving them in right direction. It could be argued that if your side wins more than they lose, then you must be doing something right. But is that true?
Over the years I have coached teams that have had winning seasons and others that have lost more than they have won. What and how I have coached have been broadly the same, so why the difference?
The short answer is that the natural ability of the players has been different. So some start with an advantage and you are able to build on their skills from an advanced level.
Another factor is the level of the opposition. So never just judge on results.
How should I measure success?
I believe that the way you should be measuring success is by the individual improvement of each player and how they gel as a team.
While winning results are nice, some of the best moments I have experienced in soccer have been when I have been working with kids who have not been the most gifted players but have loved to learn and improve their skills.
To see them go from a disorganized bunch of individuals to a confident, united unit who have belief in their abilities, and those of their teammates, is a pleasure. They may not win all the time, but they have given it their all.
Ten Core Technical Skills
To achieve this improvement you need to be working on their technical skills. Here are the ten I suggest are the most important:
1. Ball control 2. Passing 3. Receiving the ball 4. Running with the ball 5. Turning with the ball 6. Dribbling 7. Heading 8. Principles of attacking 9. Principles of defending 10. Understanding positions and formations
Assuming you are working with a fairly 'average' group of children, by the time your players have reached the age of 9 your players should be able to achieve, or be approaching, the following levels. Some will be able to do these and more, but with a typical group you should aim to make this your standard grade.
Ball Control
- Be comfortable in possession of the ball using different areas of the foot - Be able to spin and change direction with the ball quickly - Be able to move the ball between their feet and the surfaces of their foot quickly and effectively
Passing
- Be able to pass the ball over short distances accurately in unopposed practices
Receiving The Ball
- Be able to receive the ball comfortably and secure control quickly when unopposed
Running with the ball
- Be able to run with the ball confidently with the intention of covering the ground quickly
Turning with the ball
- Be able to turn with the ball unopposed and move in a different direction of travel
Dribbling
- Be able to confidently dribble with the ball using different moves and different areas of the foot
- Be able to dribble with the ball to take on and attack defenders
Heading
- Understand how to head the ball and be confident in heading the ball
Principles of attacking
- Understand the importance of creating space when in possession of the ball
- Be able to shoot at goal confidently from various distances
Principles of defending
- Be able to apply pressure the player in possession of the ball
- Be able to stop players from turning with the ball to play forward
Understanding positions and formations
- Have a basic understanding of positions on the field and responsibilities of the position
Coaching Road Map
Use this as your training road map and watch your players carefully to see how far they are along that road. Set milestones at regular intervals to check their progress and make sure you adapt your coaching sessions. Help them achieve their goals and reach their destination.
Going forward
Once your players achieve this standard it is not the time to stop, but to move on to greater achievements. Continue with these ten core skills, but set the bar higher with harder requirements. Continuous improvement should be your aim for all of your players to enable the to achieve their full potential
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Dave Hennell is an experienced and enthusiastic soccer coach and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. You can find more hints and tips from Dave and his brand new free 5 day mini course here:
http://soccertrainingforkids.com
