Coaching Youth Soccer
Street Soccer Created World Class Players
! In the 50s and 60s kids played street soccer every
day
! They always played a game
! Organization depended on number of players and the
sides were even
! The game was easy to understand
! There was no adult involved
! They played for hours and hours
! They enjoyed it!
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The Dutch Vision
! Play soccer to learn soccer
! Learn by doing
! No enjoyment, no learning
! Always have the essential elements of soccer
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The Essential Elements
! Ball ! Score
! Team-mates ! Attack or build-up
! Opponents ! Defend
! Space
! Direction
! Rules
All Elements Must be Present
for Effective Learning
4
Avoid Dry Swimming
! Techniques are too often taught out of context in
boring drills
! Kids are standing around waiting to take their turn
! A coach has one hour a week to make a difference
! Soccer insight and technical skills are most effectively
developed in game-related situations
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The Dutch 4v4
! A small sided game maximizes involvement in real
soccer situations
! 4 a-side is the most effective small unit
" Play wide
" Play deep
" Play backwards
! Kids naturally learn match situations by constant
repetition and frequent ball contact
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Consequences
! More enjoyment
! More intensity
! Better cooperation
! Better vision
! Many more learning moments
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Does it Work?
! Holland is a world leader in soccer with a population
of only 8 million people
! Dutch soccer is a joy to watch
! All youth coaches in Holland employ these techniques
! Holland has invested time and expertise to develop a
program which maximizes the effectiveness of limited
practice time
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The Basic Form 4v4
! 4v4 with 2 goals, 2 yds wide
! No goalkeepers
! Widen goals if scoring proves difficult
! After goal or goalkick: tap-in or dribble from goal-line
! Throw-ins: tap-in from side-line
! All free kicks are indirect
! No offside
! Penalties from center line, no goalkeeper
48 yds
Rules are designed to quickly
get the ball in play and
32 yds minimize stoppages
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A Word on Space
! Maximum field size should be 48x32 yds*
! Space relates to how much time a player has to
control the ball
! Reduce space to challenge players as they develop in
skill
! Relative dimensions of length and width can
encourage different aspects of the game
*As a rule of thumb use no more than
12x8 yds per player on a side
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Guiding Soccer Basics - Ball Movement
Run into space,
CALL for the ball
Control, look, PASS
Stay cool, keep possession, make the easy pass,
run into space. Dont be a spectator and
DONT just boot it
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Guiding Soccer Basics - Stay Compact
YES NO
Advance and fall back as a compact unit
Be aware of other players
Think about your next pass BEFORE you get the ball
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Guiding Soccer Basics - Dribbling
! Dribble when:
" A good pass is not available
" Uncontested space is open in front of you
" Taking-on a defender will lead to a better scoring
opportunity than a pass to a team-mate
! The greatest dribblers have one basic technique
which they have practiced to perfection. Avoid trying
to be Best, Rivelino, Mathews and Maradonna all
rolled into one
! The basic cut across the body with the inside (or
outside) of either foot is simple and extremely
effective
Discourage: head down, dribble until you lose it
Encourage: control, head-up, look and pass
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Guiding Soccer Basics - Shooting
! Strike ball with laces, toe pointed DOWN for accuracy
and power
! Go for accuracy first with just enough power
! Hardest shot to save is a LOW ball to the corner or
far-post
! The position of the standing foot relative to the ball
determines the loft of the shot
" Foot level with ball, body over ball - LOW shot
" Foot before ball, body behind ball - HIGH shot
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Guiding Soccer Basics - Defending
! Contain: Dont rush into a tackle but contain
" Prevent an opponent with the ball from making a
forward pass by moving 1-2 yards in front of her
" Maintain an open stance so that you can turn
quickly
" Occasionally fake a tackle to unsettle your
opponent
! Hustle back: Numerical superiority in the defensive
third of the field is crucial
! Mark tightly: Reduce passing options. Go with an
opponent making a run behind your defense
50% of goals in professional soccer occur after forwards regain possession
in the attacking third of the field
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Guiding Soccer Basics - Marking (the Guiding Triangle)
! Defender A takes a position inside the triangle formed
by the opponent with the ball B, the opponent being
marked C and the center of the goal
! A can see both B and C at all times
! A maintains an open stance
! A can quickly pressure C or intercept if B passes
! A can turn and defend against a through-ball
A
C
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Practical Considerations
! For an 11v11 team a half-field can accommodate two
4v4 games (roster of 16)
! For 6v6 teams a half-field can accommodate one 4v4
game (roster of 8)
! Remaining players can practice juggling, fast-feet
exercises and goalkeeping. Rotate players through
the game quickly (6 minutes)
! Play with more players for remainder of practice in the
same space
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The Captain Its a Players Game
! Give kids their game back
! Appoint a Captain on each team to organize defenders
and forwards during practice
! Encourage the Captain to lead (encourage intensity,
give everyone a chance to change positions)
! During an actual match, the coaching input should be
ZERO other than giving encouragement
! Players must learn to think for themselves during a
game
! Avoid shouting a constant stream of instructions - it is
confusing and spoils the fun
! Never berate a player for making a mistake or show
frustration with his/her skill level
! Accept your limited influence on the result and give
encouragement and support
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Transition to Passing Game - One
! Younger players may have difficulty finding an open
team-mate
! Run a 10 minute session of 5v3 to create more
passing options
! Return to 4v4 for 10 minutes
! Run 5-3 again with reversed numerical advantage
48 yds
32 yds
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Transition to Passing Game - Two
! Younger players instinctively look down at the ball and
dribble
! Try calling a free-kick for excessive dribbling
! Run a 5-10 minute session with limited touch - if a
player touches the ball more than 3 times, possession
is lost
! Always return to the basic 4v4 with normal rules
48 yds
32 yds
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Appendix A
4v4 Variations
4v4 Four Goals Passing Game
! Encourages width and wing play
! Reduces natural tendency to bunch-up around the ball
! Create chances by changing the field of play (passing
from one side of the field to another)
! Defenders must mark tightly and track forwards to
reduce vulnerability
2
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4v4 Line Soccer Dribbling Game
! Score by dribbling the ball over the goal line
! Create more scoring chances with good position play
! Defenders must choose the right position between
their opponents and the goal line and mark tightly
Use sparingly after passing game is developed
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4v4 Large Goals (1) - Shooting Game
! No goalkeepers
! Forwards must shoot at every opportunity
! Many goals are conceded if defenders do not mark
tightly
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4v4 Large Goals (2) - Crossing/Heading Game
! Use goalkeepers
! Score only from header or volley
! Encourage play build-up down flanks
! Practice defending in the air
2
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4v4 Narrow Field - Through-Ball Game
! The narrow field game is more advanced
! Win the ball and control in tight space
! Quickly release a deep pass into space
! Forwards anticipate and time runs
48 yds
15-20 yds
2
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Appendix B
6v6 Formations
Formation One: 2-1-2
! Requires very strong midfielder: fast, good defender,
good passer with vision, high stamina
! Defenders must be strong, quick and understand
responsibility of covering the middle
! Advantages
" Very effective learning formation used by many
club teams. Good passing formation
" Forwards have supporting defender and
defenders have obvious outlet pass
! Disadvantages
" Confusion on who should cover the middle if
midfielder is caught out of defensive position
2
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Formation Two: 1-3-1
! Sweeper should be fast, strong and good defender
! Flank players must have high stamina or be subbed
frequently
! Advantages
" Strong spine down the middle. Use weaker
players on flanks
! Disadvantages
" Vulnerable on weak-post (post furthest from ball)
if flank midfielder caught out of defensive position
2
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Formation Three: 1-2-2
! Requires good understanding between midfielders
! Midfielders must have high stamina and along with
the sweeper be the strongest players on the team
! Advantages
" Uses essentially a 4v4 formation with a supporting
sweeper - consistent with practice
" Good passing formation
! Disadvantages
" Confusion on which midfielder should control
center
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Appendix C
11v11 Variations
Formation One: 4-3-3
! Most natural formation with clearly defined roles
! Used extensively in Dutch youth soccer
! Central midfielder must be an exceptional player with
great stamina
! Stopper (central defender) must also be very strong
! Advantages
" Balanced attacking formation - wingers are always
available to attack on flanks
" Three front runners can exert more pressure on
defense during attack and transition to defense
! Disadvantages
" Vulnerable to 4-4-2 formation with stronger center
midfield
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Formation Two: 4-4-2
! More complex but more effective formation
! Flank midfielders must have stamina to support attack
as wingers and drop back quickly to provide outlet
pass option and support for defense
! Advantages
" Two midfielders (playmaker and ball winner)
effectively control the center of the field
! Disadvantages
" Attacking width can be compromised if wing-mids
do not support offence
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Man-to-man v Zonal Defense
! Man-to-man
" Most common youth soccer approach
" Defenders must mark opponent and track runs
" Clearly defined responsibility, strong defenders
can mark strong attackers
" Sweeper can cover breakdowns and provide two-
on-one situation
! Zone
" More advanced approach requires very good
communication between defenders
" Defenders must be strong players as there is no
covering sweeper
" Defenders focus on a zone and assume opponent
runs will be picked up in the next zone
" Zonal defense has less tendency to be pulled out
of shape by diagonal runs
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