2017 MERRILL YOUTH SOCCER

U7 DIVISION OVERVIEW

Game Format

  1. 6v6, no goalkeepers
  1. Formation to consider: 2 defenders, 3 midfielders, 1 attacker / 1 defender, 3 midfielders, 2 attackers
  1. Four 12-minute quarters with 5-minute breaks between quarters
  1. No Referees
  1. One coach is allowed on the field

General Rules

  1. Substitutions may be made whenever the ball goes out of play (sideline or end line)
  1. If the attacking team plays the ball out over the defending team’s end line, the defending team will take a goal kick to restart play
  1. If the ball goes over the sideline, the team that did not touch the ball last will restart play with a throw in – both feet must be touching the ground, ball straight back behind the head and straight back over

Development Focus

1.  Involvement of fundamental movement skills – running, jumping, skipping, throwing, etc.

2.  Focusing on ball familiarization and dribbling skills – one ball per player

3.  Introduction of paired and cooperation activities

4.  Help players understand a task by demonstration and asking questions

5.  Sessions requiring players to be extremely active

6.  Selecting activities that do not place undue stress on the muscles, bones and energy system of the body

7.  Repeating activities regularly – constant change and insufficient reinforcement negatively affects learning

8.  Camouflaging and concealing technical information by using names, characters, and stories

9.  Encouraging trial and error, keeping instruction to a minimum

10.  Using equipment and props to increase complexity but continue to make sessions fun – hurdles, hoops, cones, etc.

11.  Including competitive games, but emphasize success other than just winning (i.e. effort)

12.  Providing considerable encouragement

13.  Including “games and matches” in every session

14.  Introduce basic rules of the game – including restarts when the ball leaves the field

15.  Avoid temptations to place players in specialist positions – every player should play every position at one point or another

Things to Work on in Practice

  1. Kicking/Shooting the Ball – Players should use the inside of their foot or laces of their shoe can also be used to shoot the ball; players should not kick with their toe!
  1. Passing the Ball – Players should use the inside or outside of their foot to pass the ball; players should not pass with their toe!
  1. Dribbling the ball – Players should use the inside or outside of their feet to dribble the ball; players should not dribble the ball with their toe!
  1. Throw-Ins – Both feet must be touching the ground, ball straight back behind the head and straight back over

Resource for Practice Drills

  1. https://www.soccerxpert.com/u6-u8-soccer-drills.aspx