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Under 8 ..2 teams

Graham Smout

We have started 2 U8 teams at our club. This is the first season for all the players. We have 15 players in total. The Club Secretary has split the kids into 2 teams. We have 7 players who play football and are of good ability. The other 8 have never played in a team before and are of limited ability. The first 3 games the "A" team have won easily and the "B" team have lost., conceding over 20 goals. Now the kids at school are taking the P out of these kids saying how bad they are and that they cant play football. Its really getting to them. At training I have split the team up and do not allow the better players to play matches against my team. They played a match 3 weeks ago and lost 21-0. Now we train on our own and practice skills every week, concentrating on the basics. They all enjoy training but don't feel they are improving and don't look forward to the Saturday games against much better opposition.

I'm at a loss on how to motivate them. They all get disheartened as each goal goes in. We have only managed about 3 shots in all 3 games and are still to score a goal. Also 2 of the players suffer from ADHD and we have a very short attention span. T%his week 2 players have said they don't want to play as they know they will get beat again.

Any advice would be appreciated

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    I've just come across this post Graham, and I have a similar issue with my U7 team. Thankfully mine don't seem too disheartened (yet). Matchdays I really focus on praise and positivity, and it might not be the best, but sweets at the end of every quarter does cheer them up and help keep them going! 

    We have 4 teams at our club, and my team are very much the development team. We are regularly losing in double figures despite now being in the lowest league. I have at least 3 players who probably have ADHD, and a couple who are shy and cautious. Behaviourally it can be a challenge in training as the livelier ones inadvertently distract others, but on match days it is also a challenge to help keep them focused. The cautious ones can be fearful of the ball when it comes at them quickly, or are almost too polite and seem afraid to put their foot into a tackle etc. So match days we often have 3 who are struggling to focus on the match, and 2 who seem fearful of the ball. We have talked about "loaning" players from another team just to help on occasions to get the ball out of our own half and create some space to try and avoid heavy losses. The idea to help build their confidence. However, I am reluctant to do this, as I want my team to develop their own confidence and skill. Next season I do think we will have to try and mix the teams up a bit more as there is a huge gulf in ability at this age from our "A" team to the development team - it's important for them to be facing appropriate level opposition, but also seems totally unfair for them to lose so heavily each week. 

    Another thought we have had is trying to arrange friendlies with other development teams - we have had 2 matches where the teams we faced were of a similar level and it's far more enjoyable when it's a close game. I've kept contact details of the teams we've faced when the game has seemed closer and may look at organising friendlies instead of training. 

    If anyone has any suggestions or drills that are quick fire/simple and can help with tackling/confidence, and moving the ball quickly up the pitch would be really helpful.