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Increased Physicality In U9 Football

MATTHEW Myszkowski

Hi,

I am a coach of an above average U9 boys team. We win & lose equal amounts of games in what would be Division 2 of our 6 division league. 

We are technically very competent as a team with good ball mastery skills, some very skilful players who are creative & exciting to watch (which we encourage) but physically we are still quite small. Football seems to have become a lot more physical in our matches this season & I am not sure our boys are ready for this. I understand this will balance itself out over the coming years as they develop but we do somewhat get “bullied’ against bigger, more physical teams. Again, we create a positive environment for the boys to learn from these moments but I would like us to start being more proactive in addressing these issues.

Some of our boys are now getting somewhat distracted by the players if they are bigger, and they either lose control of the ball or shy away from contact. I guess I know this is just natural as they build confidence, but is there anything else I can or should be doing? Are there any suitable exercises I can do to help?

Any similar issues being experienced by anyone else?

Parents
  • +1

    hi matt

    difference in physical attributes will always be there whatever age.

    My team has in general always been smaller than our opposition, the things we work on to combat this with the ball is shielding better, supporting quicker and movement on and of the ball.

    Without the ball we work on delaying as individuals but more importantly as a team so recovering shape quicker by giving a few yards then recognising when to intercept

Reply
  • +1

    hi matt

    difference in physical attributes will always be there whatever age.

    My team has in general always been smaller than our opposition, the things we work on to combat this with the ball is shielding better, supporting quicker and movement on and of the ball.

    Without the ball we work on delaying as individuals but more importantly as a team so recovering shape quicker by giving a few yards then recognising when to intercept

Children