CURRICULUM U11-U12

Soccer or any sport is best developed during childhood. It’s very difficult for players to compensate at a later stage if these psycho-motor stimuli are lacking. . Therefore providing the individual with a solid technique at this age gets priority over their team performance. The special characteristics at this age are their balance between physical and mental development. Some personal traits are confidence, interest, a willingness to learn, very observant, improved concentration power and enjoyment and readiness to perform competitively. All this forms an outstanding basis to learn specific elements in soccer. Fun and enthusiasm is important this age so that kids get a passion for the game. Freedom to express themselves to be risk takers and solo artist in the middle/attacking third of the field will enhance them to breakdown organized defenses at a later stage in their soccer career. Block practices need to be incorporated in the technical area while coaching tactics in small-sided games are random due to the complexity of the game. Games need to be played in various types and sizes grids so players learn a broader sense of the game.

Technical Training:         40% - 50%

Skills development/proficiency in the following areas through technical repetition:

Ball Mastery:

 Fast footwork, various cuts, spins, moves to beat an opponent etc.

Dribbling:

Change of pace, solo beating multiple defenders.  Turns and cuts, teach them to be deceptive and risk takers in appropriate areas of the field.

Receiving:
First touch (to be able to continue to move and advance on the field), ground,  in the turn, all surfaces, and on the run.

Trapping:

Out of air, outside, inside, laces, and behind standing foot.

Shooting:
 
Basic mechanics (toe down, heel up, lock the ankle, other knee slightly bent, follow through land on shooting foot etc).

Passing:

Basic body mechanics (plant foot straight to target, other knee bent, toe up etc).

Heading:

Basic technique preferred safe method is laying down on stomach, crab or on knees (forehead eyes open, jaws tight, don’t let ball hit you, attack it).

Tackling:

Front block tackle, pivot tackle, slide tackle and side tackle.

Tactical Development: Less than 50%

Simplified Small Group Tactics:

Topics  1v1 facing opponent
             1v1 beating opponent lateral
             1v1 beating opponent diagonal
             1v1 beating opponent back to pressure

Focus on offense and defense:

2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3

Possession:

            Teach them how to play the 1st and the 2nd option
            Shape, angle and support, 4v1, 3v1, 4v2, 3v3+1, 4v4

Possession is with a purpose, players need to think, isolation, playing to a 1v1 or open player.  They need to know how to create a numerical advantage.  For an example, 2v1’s on the wing. 

Important head moments at this age:
 
 When you have the ball.
 When you do not have the ball.

Multiple Positions:

At this age, its very important for the development of the child and team that the players learn to play at least 3 different positions.  If you isolate a child to one position, the player will never reach his or her full potential.

Defending:

 Teach proper pressure and cover.
 Introduce individual rolls in man marking.
 Understanding danger.

Attacking:

 Keeping possession.
 Risk taking in appropriate areas of the field.
 Support.
 Basic combination play, wall pass, take over, overlap.
 Promote attacking soccer.

Physical Development:

Physical development in the following areas through training and games.  Complicated motor skill development.

 Rhythm    Flexibility
 Speed      Coordination
 Balance    Change of Speed 
 Jumping    Special awareness
 Fast twitch
 
Psychological Development:

Coaches:

• Make practices fun, challenging and competitive. 
  
• Change practices, keep it exciting, repeat in different form.
  
• Play into their fantasy world of soccer.
  
• Use the Socratic(asking the player questions) making them think.
  
• Take into account the players low concentration, keep the explanation very short.
  
• Utilize the time optimally, set fields up in advance and keep practice flowing.
  
• Be enthusiastic, fun, encouraging, composed, and yet demanding and a disciplinarian, yelling is not tolerated.
  
• Be a roll model/teacher.

Players characteristics:

• Are keen to learn, feel a need to be active, and are eager players and achievers.
  
• Have an excellent sense of coordination, quick, agile movements, come relatively easy to them.
  
• Want to achieve something and have demands made on them.
  
• Are better equipped mentally as their powers of concentration improve.
  
• Love competing.  They want to beat others and be better than the rest.  Through their successes, children seek the respect and recognition of their friends, thus developing self-confidence.
  
• Enjoy playing competitive games against others.
  
• Can already take in demanding tactical principals and tasks associated with their position.
  
• Gradually distance themselves from adults and form closer relationships with their peers.
  
• Strive to gain recognition from their peers.  Individuals status and hence their self-confidence, is determined principally by their physical/sporting performance. 
  
• Development a marked thirst for knowledge.