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Training u7 girls

Philip seath

Hi everyone

I'm in the progress off getting my coaching badges, at the moment I'm helping out with coaching the u7 girls, as the official coach has two age groups, i help out with the younger girls, as my daughter plays in that team, it's the team i will officially take over when I'm a qualified coach, I sometimes struggle engaging with them, they sometimes get confused when you explain a training drill or they lose interest as it could be to hard or they don't understand, I've tried numerous training drills which some they enjoy, im trying different training drills, is there any advice someone could give with new training ideas which I can make it fun for them but also helps with there football ability, I've come up with few but not sure if they will enjoy it, if anyone could help me with some ideas that be most appreciated.

Phil

  • 0

    Hi Phil

    First up, the fact that you are putting so much into developing yourself as a coach is great news! In addition to this take time to look at the session ideas on the England Learning site and check out any videos or podcasts from Pete Sturgess. He recently retired from the FA but is still very active and an expert in this age group.

    I teach children this age and have been coaching for 35 years. The biggest traps new coaches fall into is trying to take too much control and coaching young players the adult game. You have already used the word fun. The environment is key for engagement. Kids this age don't want to be instructed, they want to explore and be creative. So the next big thing is play. In it's truest sense, play is a freely chosen activity without interference from adults. So find out what the girls want to play. Use lots of tag games - with and without the ball. Look into gamification and themes based on things the girls enjoy. I mean characters, fantasy worlds, anything that involves lots of running around, dodging, changing direction...If it looks chaotic it's good thing. Ask yourself a question. Do children form lines when they are playing? A school playground is wonderful place to develop physically and skillfully. So lots of opportunity to dribble and manipulate the ball individually is absolutely key. 

    Stay away from passing sessions but allow the girls to share the ball if they want to. Try not to organise players into positions, they don't want to at this age they just want to be around the ball. And that is perfect. They are all naturally individuals at this age so keeping the ball needs to be embraced. 

    Finally, play as many smaller games as possible. Lots of 1v1 and no more than 3v3. This gives maximum ball contact time. Engagement and fun increases because they involved constantly. If the girls are whooping, screaming, cartwheeling and laughing then you are delivering a fantastic session that your players will be fully immersed in. 

    Keep up the great work and feel free to ask for more!ThumbsupSoccer

    Steve - FA Coach Developer 

  • 0 in reply to Stephen Gibbs

    Hi Steven

    Thankyou so much for your feedback, I will definitely take that on board, I always try and come up with training drills where there not standing around waiting for there turn, as we expect they will get frustrated and bored, normally come up with a drill where they would dribble ball around and I will shout a body part where they would put that body part on the ball, keep it fun and simple for them, thankyou again for your reply and feedback.

    Kind regards 

    Phil