Consider playing some small sided handball games - throw, catch and score by throwing a ball into the net or through a gate. Consider playing the old Level 1 game "Robin Hood" sometimes called 'Robbing The Nest' but instead of using it as a Running With…
You could try a small sided practice line-ball game.
Team in possession score by dribbling the ball over or stopping the ball on the line, instead of shooting at a goal.
Effectively the line is too big to protect by dropping back so the most effective…
Hi Ricky,
As with any social setting this will happen over time as your players get to know each other but you can definitely influence and support this as a coach! It is also really important for the coach to create a consistent positive and supportive…
Adam, there are some very good practices (drills are used in the military forces) in the boot room or on YouTube. You could try small sided rondo but the players move in a square pitch rather than standing still outside of a circle.
Hello Jack. Perfectly normal for the player at that age. They are getting comfortable with being on the pitch and they are learning whilst out there on it. Training has structure with the coach helping the players learn the foundations of the game. On…
Firstly, I would say that at this age no player has a specific ‘position’ and they should all be looking at improving their shooting finishing. Sessions which have small sided games in and round the box can be useful. Can also reward more goals if they…
hi stuart with players being hesitant coming to the ball, if it was me i would do small sided games in very tight areas so players are engaging at a fast pace and involving all, so 3 v 3 4v4 and so on points for everytime they win the ball back. progressing…
From personal experience, give it time. When my lads team first started at U8's we were getting beaten heavily week in, week out at the start of the season. The thing was, the kids really didn't care, they just wanted to play football, so we concentrated…
Hi Archie. Brilliant that you are taking an active role in coaching the foundation age group ( my mentor used to say they are 6 before they are 16 so we get them first! ). In my experience of these ages I put the emphasis on play rather than drills/exercises…
over time this is a natural action mentally and simple pen and paper (log book ,memo notes ,what could I have done better , plan do review process . we can all reflect but we need to be comfortable with being reactive to our reflections . keep session…
