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What can we do to stop our U8s being pushed off the ball, and to help them to win it back?

Nathan Coyne

I jointly run an under 8s boys team and have a question about focus in training. Our main focus of late has been coaching mastery of the ball following the belief that if the boys can get comfortable with the ball under pressure they will, eventually, be able to deal with most situations they face on the pitch.

However, at the start of this season we've been suffering because we feel like our group of boys are too easily bullied and pushed off the ball. Some of them are tall and potentially strong if they used their physicality properly but they don't seem to apply themselves in that way, especially early on in games. The opposite seems to often be the case with opposition teams whose stronger boys are able to dominate.

Is this something we should try or even can address in training? Or should we not worry about it too much because of the age of the boys and continue to focus on improving their ability on the ball under pressure above all else.

Parents
  • 0

    Nathan, knowing how to use your body effectively is as much a part of skilful play as what you do with the ball. Feeling confident in possession and under pressure is a vital part of each player's development. we must get players comfortable in contact and as we do this we help them understand how to effectively use their body.

  • 0 in reply to Peter Sturgess

    Thanks. I've seen your activities that focus on strengthening the core. Should we try and do some core work within our one hour session each week? Will that be enough to start making a difference over a period of time?

  • 0 in reply to Nathan Coyne

    Hey Nathan, interesting question. I would recommend you explore the psychological aspect too - your players may feel scared, apprehensive or intimidated by the physicality of the game. To me this is just as important as any physical development. 

    Coming specifically to the physical development, “strengthening your core” is not your answer - the core, or more specifically, your trunk plays an important role in balance, stability and dynamic movement. However, speaking as a Strength & Conditioning coach (as well as a football coach), I would strongly recommend you work on building the correct movement patterns, landing mechanics, sprinting mechanics as part of their overall physical development. Introducing activities within your sessions that look at working the major muscle groups, such as lunges, squats, rotations, bounds, hops, jumps etc... will not only improve movement literacy, they will also start to develop global strength capacity. Unilateral movements like lunges develop key muscle groups - quads, glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors - as well as ankle / knee stability. 

    In the long run, focusing on movement literacy is FAR more important to their long term athletic development than “core” workouts.

    Personally, I think the FA can do more to help guide coaches on physical / athletic development... happy to help, if you need any further guidance. 

    Simon

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  • 0 in reply to Nathan Coyne

    Hey Nathan, interesting question. I would recommend you explore the psychological aspect too - your players may feel scared, apprehensive or intimidated by the physicality of the game. To me this is just as important as any physical development. 

    Coming specifically to the physical development, “strengthening your core” is not your answer - the core, or more specifically, your trunk plays an important role in balance, stability and dynamic movement. However, speaking as a Strength & Conditioning coach (as well as a football coach), I would strongly recommend you work on building the correct movement patterns, landing mechanics, sprinting mechanics as part of their overall physical development. Introducing activities within your sessions that look at working the major muscle groups, such as lunges, squats, rotations, bounds, hops, jumps etc... will not only improve movement literacy, they will also start to develop global strength capacity. Unilateral movements like lunges develop key muscle groups - quads, glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors - as well as ankle / knee stability. 

    In the long run, focusing on movement literacy is FAR more important to their long term athletic development than “core” workouts.

    Personally, I think the FA can do more to help guide coaches on physical / athletic development... happy to help, if you need any further guidance. 

    Simon

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