***Suggestive skills that players need to demonstrate before moving onto the next group / division***

Travel Players - Make sure players understand your formations and every player’s responsibilities (defensive and offensive).  ALL players have offensive jobs and defensive jobs.  Each player should have a strength position but also know how to play all positions around them in your formation.  Always check for your understanding by asking  guided questions.



INTRACITY (PRE-K THRU GRADE 2)

US Soccer recommends players in this age group play 4v4

Pre-K / K

1. FUN, FUN, FUN
2. Skills and games surround basic dribbling, shooting and passing (trap/pass to a partner)
3. FUN, FUN, FUN

Grade 1  & 2

1. Continue repetition from ALL above (dribble with/without cones, shooting, passing trap/pass to partner and start 1v1 defending)
2. Introduce basic positions like attackers & defenders only with a basic formation (lanes and lines)
3. Introduce throw-ins
4. Coaches should start focusing/organizing practice sessions around PLAY-PRACTICE-PLAY
5. Introduce spreading the field on attacks/possession (not bunching up) and looking for 1v1 defending

TRAVEL (GRADE 3 AND UP)

Grade 3 / 4

US Soccer recommends  this age group play  7v7

1. Continue repetition from ALL above (dribble with/without cones, shooting and passing-trap/pass to partner), now with strong and weak foot. Maybe this is done during your PRACTICE session as player developmental skill (s), 1x per week as a suggestion
2. Explain positioning, formation and player responsibility surrounding these items for this age level (7v7) – Explain offsides, and other general rules before first game and thought the season
3. ONLY PLAY-PRACTICE-PLAY should be used in all sessions 3 / 4 with your 60-minute session
4. Introduce some fitness (suggest sprint type ladder drills, 5 minutes) in the later part of your first “PLAY” section, right after a small-sided game / rondo / possession type game for 15 minutes
5. Start finding some athletic players to rotate in/out of the GK role each game and teach field players that the ball needs to move in/out and out/in on your attacks.
6. GK introduce “building from the back” vs goal kicks / punts and playing from the back to support your back defensive line
7. Run thru corner kicks, free kicks - how to attack them and defend them in a 7v7 – And 1v1 defending (technique and positioning)/cutting down angles if you get beat

1. Continue repetition from ALL above, (dribble, shooting and passing trap/pass to partner), now with strong and weak foot within a passing line drill or triangle/diamond passing shape drill. Maybe this is done during your PRACTICE session as player developmental skill (s), 1x per week as a suggestion
2. Explain positioning, formation and player responsibility surrounding these items for this age level (9v9) - playing possession soccer - understanding 1v1/team defending, (technique and positioning)/cutting down angles if you get beat
3. ONLY PLAY-PRACTICE-PLAY should be used in all sessions for 5/6 in your 60-minute session
4. Introduce some fitness (suggest sprint type ladder drills, 5 minutes) in the later part of your first “PLAY” section, right after a small-sided game / rondo / possession type game for 15 minutes .
5. Players should be able to control and/or dribble and/or shoot a ball off a bounce in a game like situation before graduating at this grade level with both feet.
6. GK Continue with building/playing from the back (see above) – discuss “wall” building
7. Run thru corner kicks, free kicks - how to attack them and defend them in a 9v9
   

Grade 7 / 8

US Soccer recommends  this age group play  11v11

1. Continue repetition from ALL above, (dribble, shooting and passing trap/pass to partner), strong and weak foot within a passing line drill or triangle/diamond passing shape drill. Maybe this is done during your PRACTICE session as player developmental skill (s) too. Start FOCUS on 2-touch soccer with both feet!
2. Explain positioning, formation and player responsibility surrounding these items for this age level (11v11) - playing possession soccer - understanding 1v1/team defending and to accomplish this that communication and player’s positioning is vital here
3. ONLY PLAY-PRACTICE-PLAY should be used in all sessions for 7/8 with your 60-minute session
4. First “PLAY” section should be 10 minutes of a small-sided game / rondo / possession type game. Then 5 minutes of fitness (suggest spring type ladder drills) and finish up 5 minutes of stretching.
5. Practice heading the ball
6. Name 1-2 GKs for your team - continue with building/playing from the back (see above) and when to build walls
7. Decision making and reading the game at all positions – Players should have position of strength but knowledge of the other position surrounding them