| Governing |
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| Documents / Forms |
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| Coaching Resources |
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Coaches (active or prospective)
here are a wide variety of (downloadable)
coaching lesson plans & ideas!
- GYSA Coaches Manual / Rule Book, (Required), visit the GYSA website...
- ELSA U6-12 Youth Curriculum (Recommended)
- ELSA U10+ Goalie Curriculum (Recommended)
- Coaches interested in "formal" class training, ELSA is interested in sponsoring you, contact your Age Group Coordinator!
- Share your coaching successes with other coaches, Age Group Coordinators, or Recreational Trainers -- We are very interested in what works!
- If you have a favorite lesson plan or exercise not listed and you document it we will post it for everyones benefit!
- Be sure to check out the "Soccer Expert" drills, they have excellent drills organized by age group!
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 U6 Coaches |
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| Suggestions |
Practice: 45-60 minutes, the goal for weekday practice and Saturday games is FUN and player development! U6 Players respond to game-based instruction (not "drills"). Do not keep score in Saturday games, it doesn't matter. A successful season is when the kids say "soccer is fun", player development is a by-product of the fun. During practice involve parents if you wish, during games only the coach is allowed on the field.
Skill Priorities (see U6-12 Curriculum):
- Dribble with all sides of both feet
- Dribble out of trouble
- Dribble past someone
- Soft first touch
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| Sample Lessons |
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| Remember |
All players play at least 50% of games, you don't need a soccer ball for every practice activity, game strategy is counter productive in this age group. |
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| U8 Coaches |
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| Suggestions |
Practice: 45-60 minutes, you may find games and exercises you like in the U6 category, check them also. The goal for weekday practice and Saturday games is FUN and player development! Introduce players to the idea of passing and teach them throw-ins as the season progresses. Have FUN, there is no need to keep score for this age group, often keeping track of "passes" is more helpful/instructional. During practice involve parents if you wish, during games only the referee is allowed on the field.
Skill Priorities (see U6-12 Curriculum):
- Dribble with all sides of both feet
- Dribble out of trouble
- Dribble past someone
- Shielding
- Soft first touch
- Introduce proper shooting technique
- Introduce passing
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| Sample Lessons |
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| Remember |
All players play at least 50% of games, you don't need a soccer ball for every practice activity. Game strategy is simple score/defend instructions, give children a chance to play in every position on the field. You can "defend" your goal but do not assign a Keeper, defend without hands. |
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| U10 Coaches |
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| Suggestions |
Practice: 60-75 minutes, you may find games and exercises you like in the U8 category, check them also. The goal for weekday practice and Saturday games is FUN and player development! Please share with the other coaches in your age group any ideas you have found particularly successful. Continue to give players an opportunity to develop individual ball skills, passing skills and heading. Introduce the idea of handling lofted balls. Continue to practice throw-ins and corner kicks. It is impossible to keep the children from keeping score at this age, but do not focus on it. There are no "team standings" and the GYSA cup is the only game series where wins are recorded.
Skill Priorities (see U6-12 Curriculum):
- Continue with dribbling foci from U8
- Passing with inside and outside of both feet
- Shooting with both feet---using laces
- Receiving the ball with all parts of body (Lofting)
- Heading
- Develop your Goalkeepers!
Tactic Priorities:
- Basic Attacking Ideas
- Basic Defending Ideas
- Comprehend 1 vs 1 concepts
- Comprehend 2 vs 1 concepts
- Introduction to 2 vs 2 concepts
- Comprehend roles of 1st and 2nd defenders
- Comprehend roles of 1st and 2nd attackers
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| Sample Lessons |
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| Remember |
All players play at least 50% of games. This is the age when children begin to understand field positions, give children a chance to play in every position (including keeper). Recreational Trainers are available to help train keepers, train as many as are interested. At your first practice, every player is a keeper, by the middle of the season you will have 2-3 interested players at most (and you cannot predict who these players will be). Players who are "keepers" should also play "field" positions. |
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| U12 Coaches |
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| Suggestions |
Practice: 75-90 minutes, you may find games and exercises you like in the U10 category, check them out . The goal for weekday practice and Saturday games is FUN and player development! Please share with the other coaches in your age group any ideas you have found particularly successful.
Skill Priorities (see U6-12 Curriculum):
- U-12 Continue with all U-10 foci
- Speed Dribbling in Traffic
- Ability to chip the ball
- Accurately play long passes
- Offensive/Defensive Heading
- Power/Accuracy Shooting
- Develop your Goalkeepers!
Tactical Priorities
- Communication
- Basic Support Positions
- Receiving the Ball Away from Pressure
- Combination Play
- How and when to switch the point of attack
- Pressure vs Containing
- Proper 2 vs 2 roles
- Introduction to all roles in 3 vs 3
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| Sample Lessons |
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| Remember |
All players play at least 50% of games. |
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| U14 Coaches |
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| Suggestions |
Practice: 90 minutes, you may find games and exercises you like in the U12 category, check them also. The goal for weekday practice and Saturday games is FUN and player development! Please share with the other coaches in your age group any ideas you have found particularly successful. Develop your Goalkeepers!
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| Sample Lessons |
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| Remember |
All players play at least 50% of games. |
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| U16 Coaches |
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| Suggestions |
Practice: 90+ minutes, you may find games and exercises you like in the U14 category, check them also. The goal for weekday practice and Saturday games is FUN and player development! Please share with the other coaches in your age group any ideas you have found particularly successful. Develop your Goalkeepers!
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| Sample Lessons |
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| Remember |
All players play at least 50% of games, Recreational Trainers are available. |
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