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U12 Development Program
Coaching Curriculum
Continued focus on individual skills and the introduction of small group tactics.
Technical (Skills on the ball)
Development of individual skills under pressure of time, space and an opponent. Increase technical speed
Dribbling Encourage risk-taking! Change of speed and direction. Moves to beat an opponent or keep possession (shielding – spin turns)
Passing Proper technique for inside, outside and instep. Short and long passes. Introduction of driven and chipped balls.
Receiving Body behind the ball, cushion the ball. Players should be comfortable using all surfaces of the foot when receiving ball on the ground or in the air. Introduction of importance of ‘first touch’
Shooting Proper striking technique – partner serve from all angles, turns, cut backs, volleys.
Heading Partner serve. Jumping to head, turning the ball, partner juggling.
Tackling Introduction of proper technique.
Tactical (Decisions with the ball)
Continued development of individual tactics. Introduction of small group tactics in conjunction with the ‘principles’ of the game.
Individual – 1v1
- Attacking – Introduce concept of when it would be best take on 1v1 or keep possession. (Coaches should encourage player to take risks in most situations, but not at the expense of giving the ball away unnecessarily)
- Defending – Immediate pressure on the ball, especially immediately after loss of possession.
Small Group – 2’s and 3’s
- Attacking – Introduction of 2nd attacker (support) and it’s importance in the team’s ability to keep possession. Introduction of basic combination play, wall pass, take-over and overlap.
- Defending – Introduction of 2nd defender (support) and it’s relation to 1st defender.
Physical
All fitness work should be with the ball. Introduce flexibility training, static stretching. If fitness is not done within the framework of the game then make it competitive. Fitness work should mainly be a byproduct of fun, challenging and demanding skill work during training sessions.
Psychological
- Encourage risk taking. Mistakes are a byproduct of trying new things.
- Focus on individual enjoyment of the game. Development of intrinsic motivation.
- Continue to foster a competitive training environment. All activities should have an objective and a method of keeping score.
- Let players learn through self-discovery.
- Encourage decision making, imagination creativity, increase demands, discipline.
- Encourage players to watch soccer games on TV.
Other thoughts
- Players at this age are experiential. They learn by doing, not by being told. Coaches should refrain from making long lectures and let the players play.
- All practices should end in 4v4, or 6v6 game. These provide for maximum touches on the ball and create multiple coaching points when focussing on small group tactics.
- Coaches must balance the individual technical development of all players and the development of small group tactics even if that means sacrificing team results.
- Each player should play a variety of positions, including rotating several players in goal, and all that play goalkeeper should also play on the field.
Document complied by Kevin Blokker. It is a synthesis of publications by the following; US Soccer, Success in Soccer, Washington State Soccer and Oregon Soccer. Also, thanks to Kevin McGibbon, Jan Smisek, Paul Meehan, Mike Smith and Dave Wymer for their insights.
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