This phase in players development belongs under Discovery phase, under FA curriculum. Details here.

U4-U5 Philosophy and Coaching Tips

1. Make it fun & be funny. Whether your players continue to play soccer will depend on whether it is fun. Keep up the joy and allow them to achieve what they need: score goals and master that silly rounded thing.
2. Lots of touches! It is especially important that every player at practice has a ball and is using it for most of the time (as opposed to watching, listening to instructions, or standing in line).
3. Do not let anyone get hurt – physically or mentally. Punching and abusing do not belong in football.
4. Teach the basic idea of football and its rules.

• Not using hands, holding, pushing or hitting other players (it is good to “fight” for the ball, but not to use hands to hit or push).
• The concept of a “field” that has lines (or is outlined by cones) that you should stay inside.
• The concept of “score there and don’t let them score here” aka which is your goal?
• DO NOT EXPLAIN any defending or attacking. Simply, do you have the ball? Can you score? No? Go get the ball and score.
• DO NOT EXPLAIN any positioning and do not separate for defenders and attackers. “If you don’t have the ball, how can you score?” is your defending principal. “You have the ball, go and score” is your attacking principal. Positions require reason, 4 and 5-year-olds require action!

5. Stop the game if they run out of the field and restart from the sideline (kick-in), no corners.
6. Kicking the ball with any part of foot is ok. Toe kicks are natural first attempts (no problem with that), best one for them to learn for future is straight lace kick.
7. Emphasize on dribbling and kicking the ball. Being “selfish” is normal, do not discourage that. For young players it’s natural to run with the ball and they don’t really understand the passing concept. Explain “passing” as “Can you score? No? Can he/she score? Pass them the ball to do so”
8. Occasionally being on the ground due to contact is normal, do not stop the game after every contact. Explain what is and is not allowed.
9. Facilitate the learning and fun time through minigames and games. 4 games/exercises in a session are plenty. Think of your sessions as a child. What do you want to do? Shoot and score!

Here you can find some sample activities for U4-U5:

Running with the ball

Shooting

Defending

All with graphics and description, all equipment needed is provided in your KIT bag.

Unique content can be found on our Youtube channel.

• Coaching corner
• Training problems
• Injury prevention program
• Ideas for coaching topics
• Videos for players

Balmain and District Football Club’s official YouTube channel. Watch highlights, how-tos, interviews, training tips and more.

Follow us on our social media for more club content:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balmaindfc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balmaindfc/

This phase in players development belongs under Discovery phase, under FA curriculum. Details here.

Focus of football coaching should be on:

Individual game skills

• Attacking skills
  • Passing the ball
    • Any part of foot is allowed, toe, laces, inside, heel
    • Do not teach 1^st touch passes at this stage, receive + pass
  • Receiving the ball
    • Trapping the ball, receiving ball on the ground, in the air, control of the ball in any position
  • Dribbling
    • Running with the ball, changes of directions, changes of speed, followed up by striking the ball or passing the ball.
  • Shooting
    • Always practice and perform shooting to a goal (goal out of poles, boots …) with a goalkeeper in a goal

• Defending skills
  • Capturing the ball
    • Practice “stealing” the ball from an attacker and protecting you goal.
    • Kids do not understand abstract terms such as “pressure”

For providing the best environment for learning we should have:

• Ball for each player
• Have a session plan (idea of 3-4 things what to do)
• Allow for a game
• Teach through a game
• In each training session all individual game skills should appear, some can be more dominant or frequent

Here you can find sample activities for U4-U7.

• Running with the ball
• Shooting
• Defending

Unique content can be found on our Youtube channel.

• Coaching corner
• Training problems
• Injury prevention program
• Ideas for coaching topics
• Videos for players

Balmain and District Football Club’s official YouTube channel. Watch highlights, how-tos, interviews, training tips and more.

Follow us on our social media for more club content:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balmaindfc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balmaindfc/

This age group belongs to Skill Acquisition phase of FA curriculum. Details here

Skills appearing in the game and training sessions

Individual game skills: –

Attacking skills

• Behaviour without the ball
• Passing the ball
• Receiving the ball
• Dribbling
• Beating an opponent
• Shooting

Defending skills

• Marking player with the ball
• Marking player without the ball
• Marking space
• Capturing the ball

Game combinations: –

Attacking combinations

• Passing
• Position swap
• Action pass and go

Defending combinations

• Securing other teammates
• Passing over responsibility for attackers
• Multiplying defenders, doubling up
• Cohesion in zonal defending

Technical goals of sports training 8 – 11 years

• Build on the technical skills taught in the past, deepen and improve skills
  • Increasing time and space pressure = give less time and less space
  • Incorporating more players into simple combinations
• Develop coordination skills
  • Usage of equipment (ladders, cones, hurdles in your sessions)
• Develop long-term endurance (aerobic system) especially through game play
  • Follow recommended game times as per FA official game day times
• Developing aspects of SPEED
  • primarily speed of reactions and frequency
  • golden age of motor skill is now, use it.
• Improve the strength and explosive strength of legs
  • Injury prevention programs and compensational activities to balance any potential disharmonic physical development (overuse of 1 leg, arm … )
• Practice all Individual game skills and improve them to a level where we see chains of reactions instead of single skill
  • Such as: before receiving the ball, scan, receive into space. Pass the ball and move to be “an option” to receive it again in a better position, etc.
• Practice to perform correctly learned tasks faster and in more difficult conditions
  • Time and space pressure
  • Minimum 2 sessions in a week are recommended.

Tactical goals of sports training 8-11 years old

• Practicing offensive game combinations based on passing
  • Pass and go, usage of 3^rd player
• Purposeful training of the organization of team play in attack and defence,
  • Emphasizing the independent tasks arising from the player’s functions in the team
    • Players should experience multiple positions to achieve greater understanding of the game ( You don’t like to be a defender, but if you do not know what defenders doing to stop you as a striker, how can you become better striker and goal scorer?)
  • Teaching dedication, independence, responsibility
  • Learn to perceive the position of the opponent with the ball
    • Your eyes should not be only on the ball, try to think ahead
  • Teaching how approach the opponent with the aim of taking the ball of him
    • When to charge, when to be cautious …
  • Teaching the basic principles of transition
    • When gained the ball vs. losing the ball – how to react
  • Learn variations of games- small forms of 1:1, 2:2, 3:3, 4:4.5:5, and more
    • Unbalanced play is the most occurring form (3 attackers vs 4 defenders etc.)
  • Teach the rotations of positions to increase the playing radius of players (eg attacker for midfielder, midfielder for defender and vice versa)
    • Suitable more for older ages U10, U11
    • In U8, U9 rotations can be more unsystematic
  • Maximum involvement of all players in the game
    • Not only players closest to the ball
  • Transfer training skills to the match
    • If you didn’t train certain skills, do not expect it to appear in a game
  • Learn basic communication between players
    • Me, watch your back, player behind you, etc…

Below you can find sample activities for U8-U11.

• 1v1
• Running with the ball, dribbling and shooting
• Technico-Tactical exercises and games
• Warm up activities

All with graphics and description, all equipment needed is provided in your KIT bag

Unique content can be found on our Youtube channel.

• Coaching corner
• Training problems
• Injury prevention program
• Ideas for coaching topics
• Videos for players

Balmain and District Football Club’s official YouTube channel. Watch highlights, how-tos, interviews, training tips and more.

Follow us on our social media for more club content:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balmaindfc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balmaindfc/

In these age groups we can talk about 2 main phases, Skill Acquisition phase (U12-U13) and Game training phase (U14-U16) of FA curriculum. Details here

Skills appearing in the game and training session and their categorisation.

This categorisation can help with session design and deeper understanding of the game.

Individual game skills: –

Attacking skills

• Behaviour without the ball
• Passing the ball
• Receiving the ball
• Dribbling
• Beating an opponent
• Shooting

Defending skills

• Marking player with the ball
• Marking player without the ball
• Marking space
• Capturing the ball

Game combinations: –

Attacking combinations

• Passing
• Position swap
• Action pass and go

Defending combinations

• Securing other teammates
• Passing over responsibility for attackers
• Multiplying defenders, doubling up
• Cohesion in zonal defending

Game systems:-

Attacking systems

• Combination play
• Contra attack
• Build up

Defensive systems

• Zonal defence
• Personal defence
• Combined defence

Tactical goals of sports training 12-16 years

• Master at least one offensive and defensive system of the game
  • Team should be seen as having a style of play, all “styles” are derived from this basic categorisation
• Attacking systems : –  Combination play; Contra attack; Build up
• Defensive systems : –  Zonal defence; Personal defence; Combined defence
• Teaching the principles of “the accordion” (when the ball is gained vs. the ball is lost) in much greater speed, accuracy and communication
  • We have the ball, make the field big for effective passing
  • We lost the ball, make the field small for immediate recovery

• Teach the basics of pressing and overcome it
  • Pressingis a process in which the defending team intends to pressure the opponent which possesses the ball. The idea behind this is to give the opponent less time to create plays and ultimately force the opposing team into turnovers
    • How to do it and how to get out of it?

• Learn different types of attacking the player with the ball in different areas of the pitch to gain the ball
  • Pushing attacker out of the field (towards the line)
  • Manipulate attacker into are with more defenders
  • Slowing down player vs tackling
  • Multiplying defence
  • More players pressing …

• Develop responsibility, independence, dedication, a sense of cooperation, creativity, initiative and courage

• Support talented individuals
• Reduce playing space, number of players – allows for better realization of the game

• Based on the basic layout 4-4-2 and its modifications, 4-3-3 as currently recommended by FA.
  • You should create your team shape based on players skills and capabilities
  • Playing shape is just a starting formation, teach players how to act and behave in different situations, how to help and secure nearest areas and cover their nearest teammate.
• Learn doubling up your opponent
  • Where situation allow, increase the pressure from 1v1 to 1v2
• Require loud communication when organizing the game (not just the goalkeeper)
• Use the possibilities of the rules in the game
  • such as offside trap in defensive game, as well as overcoming it in offensive game
• During the game focus on the aim of instantly switching attention and movement from the defensive phase to the offensive and vice versa
  • Transition
• Don’t be afraid to use diagonal ball transfer
  • Aimed long ball is an option of play, especially when teams are playing high pressing
• Master constructive ball collection in the defensive phase
  • Recover the ball and use in meaningful way
• Usage of team pressing to obtain the ball or make it difficult to start an attack in the opponent’s defensive zone
  • Successful execution will save players meters sprinted into their defensive position
• Analysis of successful and unsuccessful actions of the team
  • Players reflection

Technical goals of sports training 12 – 16 years

• Maintain and further develop the level of technical and coordination skills
• Achieve the first peak in the development of general endurance
• Maximally develop all types of speed
  • Reaction, locomotion (actual run), acceleration, of changing directions (Agility)
• Intensively develop body strength needed for contact football
• Usage of the exercises derived from fitness, gymnastics (with overcoming the resistance of one’s body, combatives (pushing, pulling …), supplementary resistance)
• Practice stretching (explaining the importance of exercise and teaching technique)
  • Warm up and dynamic stretching should be part of daily routine
• Master all individual game skills in all playing conditionsand positions

Below you can find sample activities for U12-U16.

• 1v1
• Defending
• Running with the ball, dribbling and shooting
• Technico-Tactical exercises and games
• Warm up activities

Unique content can be found on our Youtube channel.

• Coaching corner
• Training problems
• Injury prevention program
• Ideas for coaching topics
• Videos for players

Balmain and District Football Club’s official YouTube channel. Watch highlights, how-tos, interviews, training tips and more.

Follow us on our social media for more club content:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balmaindfc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balmaindfc/

In these age groups we can talk about 2 main phases: Game training phase (U17) and Performance phase (U17 +) of FA curriculum. Details here

All skills and aspects of the game

Individual game skills: –

Attacking skills

• Behaviour without the ball
• Passing the ball
• Receiving the ball
• Dribbling
• Beating an opponent
• Shooting

Defending skills

• Marking player with the ball
• Marking player without the ball
• Marking space
• Capturing the ball

Game combinations: –

Attacking combinations

• Passing
• Position swap
• Action pass and go

Defending combinations

• Securing other teammates
• Passing over responsibility for attackers
• Multiplying defenders, doubling up
• Cohesion in zonal defending

Game systems:-

Attacking systems

• Combination play
• Contra attack
• Build up

Defensive systems

• Zonal defence
• Personal defence
• Combined defence

Senior teams should have developed adequate technical skill set to be performing more complicated tasks related to tactic and strategy.

In training we are mostly focusing on Game combinations and systems, with increased or decreased number of players while in possession of the ball or in a process of recovering the ball.

Below you can find sample activities for Seniors.

• 1v1
• Defending
• Running with the ball, dribbling and shooting
• Technico-Tactical exercises and games
• Warm up activities

Unique content can be found on our Youtube channel.

• Coaching corner
• Training problems
• Injury prevention program
• Ideas for coaching topics
• Videos for players

Balmain and District Football Club’s official YouTube channel. Watch highlights, how-tos, interviews, training tips and more.

Follow us on our social media for more club content:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balmaindfc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balmaindfc/