Did we miss any terms below? Ask us in the comments! Parts of the field (8u and below): Goal Line - The edges of the field on either side (on which the goals rest) Goal Area - The rectangle right outside the goal. Goal kicks are started from here Touch Line - The edges of the [...]
I always like to have at least 10 minutes available at the end of practice available for a fun game, often of the players choosing. My only rule is that it must involve touches on the ball and be physically active 6u Alien Tag Clean Your Room Pirate Treasure Target Practice - Players line up on [...]
Juggling in soccer is the act of using all parts of your body to keep bouncing the ball in the air. Learning to juggle at the 8u age can seem tedious for players, but it's a wonderful skill to incorporate into your practice and pregame warmup. It gets the players comfortable using multiple surfaces of their [...]
As part of your standard “warmup” that you use at every practice and before every game I like to create a ball control progression that combines footwork development with dribbling and turning skills. Think of it as a mini-combine where you’re packing as many elements of ball control as possible into a 10 minute window. Here [...]
Restarts (goal kicks, corner kicks, throw-ins, kick offs) offer up the opportunity to create "set plays". These are essentially scripted plays that all players know what to expect and how to execute. The types, variation, and complexity of set plays increases over time as players get older. For 8u, your set play for a throw-in could [...]
Scrimmages are literally the most important thing you can do to help solidify your players’ understanding of your formation/system before the start of the season. There are just no easy substitutes. I recommend a minimum of two before the start of the season. The biggest gains your team will make will be during the first few [...]
I like to have players come 15 minutes early to the first practice where I host a players-only meeting with the coaches. My overarching goal is to start to establish my team’s culture. As a part of that I want them to get to know me and each other. Here’s a typical agenda: Names - Go [...]
Culture starts at the top but ultimately needs to be bought into by your players and parents. A successful culture is one that allows for faster player development while still promoting the enjoyment of the sport. Coaches all have different personalities but there are some aspects of culture that I believe should permeate every team: Discipline [...]
A soccer formation (also called a “system”) is simply how you structure the different positions on the field. Formations are always notated the same way starting with the number of fullbacks, then midfielders, then forwards. Goalkeepers are always ignored because there is always one and it’s the only mandatory position on the field. So if you [...]
Every coach has a style of pep talk they prefer. Go with what works for you. Having tried many different varieties including analytical, intense, funny, etc. I can tell you it is very situational. At best I can offer some do's and don'ts. Don't: Introduce new concepts - That's a very stressful time to try to [...]