Under 6 Coaching Tools

Characteristics of a U6 Player

Short attention span
Can attend to only one problem at a time
May understand simple rules that are explained briefly and demonstrated
May or may not understand or remember: what lines mean on the field; what team they are on; what goal they are going for. We need to be patient and laugh with them as they get 'lost' on the field.
Easily bruised psychologically
Shout praise often. Give "hints", don't criticize.
Need generous praise, and to play without pressure. No extrinsic rewards (trophies, medals, etc.) should be given for winning.
Prefer "parallel play" (Will play on a team, but will not really engage with their teammates. Thus, a 3 against 3 game is, in reality, a 1 against 5 game because they all want the ball at the same time.

Very individually oriented (me, mine, my).
Constantly in motion, but, with no sense of pace.‑They will chase something until they drop. They are easily fatigued but recover rapidly.
Development for boys and girls are quite similar.
Physical coordination limited. Eye ‑ hand and eye ‑ foot coordination is not developed. Need to explore qualities of a rolling ball.
Love to run, jump, roll, hop, etc. Prefer large, soft balls.
Prefer large, soft balls.
Catching or throwing skills not developed.
Can balance on their good foot .

Involving the Parents

It is imperative that coaches get the parents involved. The U‑6 & U 7 player still views their parents as the most significant people in their lives. A pre‑season meeting should be held with the parents so that objectives and team policies can be addressed.
Some topics that you may want to address at this meeting are:

Nominate a team mother to help with team duties, which are assist phone calling, scheduling refreshments for games at half time and end of game, miscellaneous details (this could be a party at the end of the season etc.
Choosing a team administrator‑someone to handle all of the details.
Complete all paperwork required by your league or club.
Discuss the laws of the game.
Carpool needs.
Training and game schedules. How you feel about starting and ending on time, what your attendance expectations are, what you think is a good excuse to miss training.
What each player should bring to training: inflated ball, filled water bottle, soccer attire, shin guards, soccer shoes.

You're philosophy about coaching U‑6 & U‑7 players. Let them know that everyone plays; that the game does not look like the older player's games; that you are there to ensure that their player is safe and has a good time, as well as learn about soccer.
What your expectations are for them during game time. How do you want them to cheer? Do they know that they should not coach from the sidelines?
Above all, try to enjoy yourself. If you do they probably will too.
Being a Referee! This is a major help for both the team and league.

Things you can expect

As coaches of these younger players there are things that we know that we can expect during training and games. If we know what to expect, we will be more effective in dealing with the hundreds of situations that come up. This will help us relax, and, in turn, allow us to enjoy the unpredictable nature of working with these children even more.
Some of the things you can expect:

Most players cry immediately when something is hurt. Some cry even when something is not hurt.
No matter how loud we shout, or how much we "practice" it, they cannot or will not pass the ball.
Somebody will come off the field in need of a toilet.
Somebody will stay on the field in need of a toilet.
The only player to hold a position is the goalkeeper (if you play with one). Don't even consider teaching positional play.

Twenty seconds after the start of a game, every player will be within 5 yards of the ball.
Several players will slap at the ball with their hands, or pick it up. Several parents will yell at them not to do that.
A model rocket that is launched from a nearby field will get 99% of the player's attention. By all means, stop whatever you are doing and go watch for a couple of minutes!
During a season, you will end up tying at least 40 ‑ 50 shoelaces.
They will do something that is absolutely hysterical. Make sure that you laugh!

Typical Training Session U‑6 & U‑7

Here are some items that should be included in a U‑6 & U‑7 training session:

WARM‑UP (5 min): A brief warm‑up is appropriate in order to get the players thinking about soccer and to prepare them physically for the time ahead. This should involve individual body activities that may or may not involve the ball. They can chase their ball as it is thrown by the coach, bringing it back with different parts of their body. Or, they can chase someone with their ball at their feet. Static stretching is also appropriate at this time, again, hopefully done with the ball. "Soccernastics" activities are very appropriate, like: rolling the ball with the bottom of their feet, with their elbows, backwards, with the back of their neck while holding on to it; throwing it up and catching it etc.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES (15 min): Follow the warm‑up with some kind of individual activity, not a real 1 v 1 game, but some kind of activity where players act as individuals in a game environment. An example would be a kind of tag game, or "Red Light ‑ Green Light", or a game where players are trying to knock their ball through gates. Keep players in motion at all times. Avoid having them wait on lines. Play games of "inclusion" instead of games where the "looser sits".

PLAY THE GAME (15 min): move on to the real game, but make sure it is a 2 v 2, 3 v 3, or 4 v 4 games. Switch the game every 5 minutes or so. Be creative. Play with 4 goals, or 2 balls. Play with or without boundaries. Use cones if you don't have real goals. Keep players involved. Have more than one game going on at a time if necessary. It is important that every player has a chance to shoot on goal as often as possible.

WARM‑DOWN & HOMEWORK (5 min): Finish the session with a warm down. Give them some more stretches to do with the ball. You may want to review what you started the session with. Also, give them some homework so that they practice on their own. Think of some ball trick that you would like to see them try to do, like, bounce it off their thigh and then catch it. It is important to finish on time. This is especially essential if the players are really into it. Stop at this point and you will get an enthusiastic return.

U6 Practice Ideas

Game 1: "Keep Your Yard Clean"
Here is a game that involves kicking and is a good example of parallel play in that it involves all players on the team at one time, but, they are all acting as individuals during the game. This allows for individual differences in skill. The game is simple, fun, and easy to adapt to account for team size and experience.

THE GAME: Create a 'neutral area' between the two teams where no player is allowed. This area can be as small as one yard and as big as 10 yards wide. The width is determined by how far the players can kick the ball.

Each player starts with a ball at his / her feet. On command, each team tries to keep their side of the game free of balls by kicking their ball over to the other teams side.

After an appropriate amount of time (when the balls become too scattered, or, the players are loosing focus), call the game and count which side has the most balls on their side.

Distribute the balls evenly for another try if the players are still interested.

After players have found some success with this basic game, try these variations:

Throw the ball back.
Punt the ball back.
Dribble the ball around a cone that has been set up in the middle of their "yard", then, kick the ball back.
Players can only use their left foot.

Game 2 : "Red Light .. Green Light"
Here is a game that should be familiar to most U‑6s. Again, the game is fun, simple to set up, and has direct application to the game. The skill that it is targeting is dribbling.

THE GAME: Each player has a ball, except the one player that is designated as the "light".

Lines from start to finish should be approximately 20‑ 30 yards.

Players start from the line opposite the "light". The "light" then turns away from the group shouting out "GREEN LIGHT". At this signal, the players start to dribble towards the "light".

When the "light" turns back around, calling out "RED LIGHT", players must freeze their bodies and their ball.

If the "light" catches players or a ball still moving, that player must take 5 steps back.

The first player to cross the line where the "light" is standing is the winner and becomes the new "light".

You can start the game without using balls for younger players, then have them roll the ball with their hands, then use their feet.

U6 Rules and Regulations

The following modified rules apply to the U6 division

Teams: 3 v 3 on the field at any given time; five players on a team. Substitutions at quarters and halftime. Equal playing time for all players. Each player must play at least three quarters before any player can play a full game. Ball: size 3. Separate teams for boys and girls.
Equipment: soccer shoes (soft cleats, not metal) or tennis shoes. Shin guards mandatory at all practices and games. No jewelry (including earrings or other body piercing), watches, barrettes, etc.
Referee: trained referee (youth, U8/U6 level or above). If a trained referee is unavailable, coaches should meet and decide which of them will referee the game, or how they should divide refereeing the game. Referees and coaches should emphasize safety, fairness, learning and fun. The referee should explain any infringements to the players and allow poor throw-ins to be retaken by the player originally throwing in the ball, until the player gets it right.
Duration of games: four quarters of approximately five minutes each, each half divided into quarters at approximately the half way point. Call quarters on a natural break in play if possible. Two and one-half minute quarter breaks, and a five minute break between halves.
Rules: same as regular soccer (with distances scaled down appropriately), except that there are no indirect free kicks, no off sides calls, no penalty kicks and no goalkeepers. Since the regular rules of soccer are generally in effect, the following rules, among others, apply:
- Games start with a kick off in the center of the field, with the defending team outside the center circle. A coin toss determines which team starts the game. The winner of the toss selects which side of the field to defend. The loser kicks off in the first half and the winning team kicks off to start the second half. Teams switch ends of the field after the half-time stoppage of play.
- Defending players must be outside the "penalty area" when the attacking team takes a goal kick, and must stay outside the penalty area until the ball completely crosses the line designating the penalty area. The ball must go out of the penalty area before it is in play. If it does not go out of the penalty area the goal kick is retaken, with no penalty to the kicking team.
- Opponents must be at least five yards away when a free kick is taken.
- Ball is out of play only when the entire ball has passed completely beyond the boundary line; i.e., a ball that has any portion on the line is in play and the game continues. This applies to side lines, end lines, and goals.
No player may take up permanent or semi-permanent position within the "goal area" (this is the box in front of the goal which designates where goal kicks are taken from), unless there is active play in that area. Referees should instruct violators to move and in the case of repeated violations should talk to the coach. NOTE: The old rule, in effect before fall 2000, that players could not go into the goal area, has been abolished. The purpose of the current rule is to prevent players acting as de facto goalkeepers. Coaches are free to encourage players to stay back on defense.
Coaches should remain within 10 yards of the midfield line. Parents and coaches should not coach or instruct the players while the game is underway, but coaches may do so at the half and quarter breaks. Reasonable words of encouragement are fine at all times.
For safety reasons, no jewelry is allowed other than medical or religious medallions (taped down). Youngsters cannot wear earrings nor can they simply "band aid" the earring.
Spring : Trophies will be handed out to every player at the end of the season Fall : Medals will be handed out to every player at the end of the season