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How can I help my grassroots U12 girls' team communicate by using their voices?

Philip Bennett

I am an assistant coach of an U12s girls' team and I am trying to frame communicating on the pitch as helping each other i.e. helping by callng for the ball, saying if some one has time on the ball etc.

We've played some fun games with calling and shouting as the focus but when we go back to drills, mini matches and compettive matches you can hear a pin drop.

Even if they call for the ball it's like a whisper.

In matches, the girls leave balls to each other, get a touch on the ball that they would have left if they'd have got a call, or stand on top of each other but no one is brave enough to say, push forward a bit or drop back so that we're not in the same space.

Any tips greatefully received.

Many thanks

Phil

  • 0

    Hi Phil

    Not an uncommon issue. I think this comes down to confidence and levels of understanding. I see players at the academies I coach at do the same at times  whilst others are loud and leaders.

    I see that really at u13 and u14, I start to see the noise levels go up as players understand roles on pitch and the tactical side of the game more.

    My guess is your players are still trying to process lots of information on the pitch, and in some cases, aren't sure if they were to say something, what that something should be.

    At 11 years of age, I would focus mire on the brilliant basics in the technical corner. You could then pick a scenario from an elute game you've watched on TV, something like switching the play. Find the clips of these on YouTube or similar and get your players to watch it. Give them some things to try and spot like the calls, the nonverbal communication, the movement after the switch.

    You can give incentives in training when working on this by adding extra points for the call or the shout or the non-verbal communication. Make it ridiculous, like 100 points if you see or hear it, and pit the scores on a whiteboard. You can then do this with other scenarios.

    Most of all, be patient, with lots of exposure to football, it will come in time.

    Good luck 

    Rich

  • 0

    Hi Phil 

    Try this passing drill put some cones in a shape and give them instructions to talk with their colleague with witch part of their body want to kick the ball, no talking no reciving.

    Switch the players to gain confident between them.

    Hope this will help, all the best

    Catalin