overview:
I spend a significant amount of time in fields throughout Long Island and am fortunate to work with a staff of 16 fellow educators who spend similar amounts of time in fields across the state.
Written by Tim Bradbury
Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
I spend a significant amount of time in fields throughout Long Island and am fortunate to work with a staff of 16 fellow educators who spend similar amounts of time in fields across the state. We often talk about the inherent joy of coaching, the challenges of teaching courses, and the coaching we see in the field.
However, with our recent grassroots mission, we have created a tipping point for our travel-age players. Such a turning point has yet to be made for the vast number of intramural players involved across the state, and the unfortunate truth of the environment in which these young players are being taught the game is quite frightening.
The most commonly seen problems are:
- There are too many players on the field. Fewer players, more touches, more decisions, more goals, and most kids don't start understanding space until they're 7 years old, so when you see 10 kids crowding around one ball; By the age of 4, it should become clear how counterproductive playing games in large groups is. 5 and 6. It is worth noting that US Soccer is currently experimenting with 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 matches according to the no-ball-out guidelines. There are plenty of evidence-based articles out there about the difference in touch count and the fun that comes with it, so as I write this, I'm wondering what would prompt the move to the big game.
- Young children stretching and running laps in the field. Their young bodies are very resilient and stretching young players is a complete waste of time. There is nothing more necessary than running laps without the ball.
- Developmentally inappropriate training. Young players love activities and need lots of fun activities to do with the ball. That way, they can become comfortable enough to look up and start looking at their options, which is where decision-making begins. They hate standing in lines, sitting out of their seats, waiting their turn, not participating, and being coached like children.
- Training companies send coaches who have no knowledge of the expertise or skills needed to coach players between the ages of 4 and 7.
- The club is colluding with a training company that has decided it is a good idea to drag two-year-olds into organized soccer.
- return to rap, line, lecture, there is no place to coach young players in any of them. I witnessed firsthand a young coach hired as a professional trainer who spent over three minutes explaining a line-based activity to a group of his four-year-olds.
Everyone must remember that the first step of the game is: important. They will love the experience and will be smiling and looking forward to their next training session. The session should be filled with cries of joy and constant activity. Only then will they be able to come back and love the game.
I've written a lot of activity-driven curriculum for these age groups. If you are interested, please email the following address: [email protected].