Norwell Youth Soccer
Curriculum
On behalf of Norwell Soccer it has been my privilege in creating this comprehensive Curriculum plan for our youth soccer teams. The Curriculum includes age appropriate expectations, developmental goals, and season plans. The Curriculum is animportant part of the success of our youth and the growth of soccer in the United States. To specify, this is a combination of my soccer background along with the blueprint based off United States Youth Soccer Curriculum.
On April 21st, 2011 at Nike International Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon; U.S. Soccer + SPARQ Player Development revealed there Coaching Curriculum for all ages of development in youth soccer. Throughout their presentation U.S. Soccer's technical staff discusses the unveiling of the new coaching Curriculum and why it’s as important to us at Norwell and around the country. The Curriculum is designed to improve player development with a focus on creating more organized age-appropriate training sessions, and developing coaching practices in an environment that is fun for the players. “We have created this curriculum to serve as a blueprint for the thousands of coaches across the country working with these young players at such an important time in their development,” said U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna. Please visit watch the presentation for yourself and/or read several user friendly documents.
U.S. Soccer’s Curriculum is currently in-line with our high school team. The principles we teach are similar to the guidelines set by U.S. Soccer. The transition we need to make is in our youth teams.It’s our job as coaches to find the best method of instruction and get that information to our kids as effectively and efficiently as possible. My goal isn’t to re-write soccer, it’s to expose our coaches to what’s already out there. As coaches our number one concern besides fun is player development and growth. "Development over winning." Claudio Reyna, U.S. Soccer Technical Director. ______
*U.S. Soccer categorized development, expectations, and growth, into 4 major areas: tactical, technical, physical, and psychosocial. Technical and Psychosocial are the 2 major categories we need to focus on throughout our time with our youth players.
Tactical-includes specific strategies of attacking, defending, and etc. This may be as simple as introducing “spacing” to5-8 years olds. More advanced groups-keeping possession of the ball, transition from offense-defense and vice-versa.
Technical-proper technique and the “how to” of the following: shooting, passing, receiving, dribbling, ball control, turning, and etc.
Physical-dynamic motor movements of a player including: speed, agility, and endurance.
Psychosocial- positive characteristics of being apart of a team including: respect, cooperation, positive support, and etc.
*Principles of Age Development-based on age and development level.
Initial stage and age U-5 to U-8
1. Very young players from 5 to 8 years of age love to play.
2. Therefore, all practicesshould be based on fun games.
3. Players must spend the maximum time possible in contact with the ball and experiment by themselves.
4. Don’t always instruct your players, allow them the chance to teach you something they’ve learned.
5. Guide players in building relationships with other players.
6. Give different responsibilities to the players in order to develop a sense of team.
7. Basic motor skills like walking, running or jumping have to be combinedwith ball handling and ball control.
Basic stage and age U-9 to U-12
1. At this stage there is a strong ability to drastically learn.
2. Therefore, this is the right age to work on specific soccer techniques and skills.
3. Developing good technique is essential at this age.
4. 1v1 and 2v1 attacking and defending situations are important to develop individual
skills as well as the passing techniques to develop the necessary team game.
5. Use small-sided games to develop basic attacking and defensive principles.
6. Other important aspects of tactical training are possession, combination play,
transition and finishing in the final third, as well as zonal defending. Players will
rotate in two or three different positions to ensure overall understanding of the game.
7. Speed, coordination, balance and agility are the main physical aspects to improve
at this stage.
Intermediate and age U13 to U14
1.At this stage, training sessions are orientated more toward tactics and the player
will practice in bigger spaces.
2. Players must practice all different types of techniques at this stage, creativity is huge.
3. Strength and endurance should be part of the fitness training.
4. Warm-ups and cool downs are essential.
5. Players must develop discipline at this stage by following the instructions of the coach
both during and outside training sessions.
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*Season Plan-begin with the end in mind.
Initial stage and age U-5 to U-8
Drills to include:
Technical- dribbling, shooting, running with the ball, ball control-trapping, turning with the ball/without, passing and receiving, 1v1 attacking, 2v1 attacking
U-5-6
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Handling the ball with at least one foot and working on the other
2. Occupying the original position during the game oncean action is finished (spacing concept comes into play here)
3. Running, jumping and stopping with and without the ball
Best Practice:Individual games are essential for the player at this age to
experiment with the ball. 3v3 or 4v4 games.Fun, fun, fun, and more fun.
Scrimmage: Take up good positions during the game, very little tactical training at this stage. Spacing is the best goal to shoot for.
Technical: Improve basic individual technique
Physical: Develop coordination and basic motor skillswith and without the ball
Psychosocial: Feel comfortable and confident with the ball
U-7-8
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Handling the ball with both feet
2. Occupying the original position during the game oncean action is finished
3. Basic Individual and collective games are essential for the playerat this age to experiment with the ball.
4. Stopping and running with the ball at speed
5. Moving forward when attacking and retreating when defending
6. Basic quick movements with and without the ball
Best Practice: Recommend 4v4 games, 7v7 games. Coordinated movements with and without the ball. Collective games are essential for the player to start interacting with teammates.
Scrimmage: Balance in relation to the ball and teammates duringthe game (Spacing continued…)
Technical: Individual and collective basic soccer techniques
Physical: Develop speed, coordination and basic motor skillswith and without the ball
Psychosocial: Interact with teammates duringthe training session
Basic stage and age U-9 to U-12
Drills to include:
Technical- passing and receiving, shooting and running with the ball, turning, dribbling, 1v1 attacking, receiving to turn, shooting, ball control, turning, 1v1 defending, running with the ball, shielding the ball, shooting
Tactical- possession, playing the ball from defensive end, transition- offense to defense, finishing in the final third, defending principles
U-9
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Basic skills in 1v1 situations.
2. Balance in relation to the ball (forward, backwards and side to side)
3. Basic coordinated movements with and without the ball
Best Practice:The player will keep maximum contact with the ball inindividual practices and less touches in collective practices.8v8 and 9v9 games.
⋅Formations: 3-2-3 in 9-a-side.
Scrimmage: Efficiently occupy the spaces on the field.
Tactical: Creating space to receive the balland keep possession.
Technical: Improve individual and collective basicsoccer techniques
Physical: Develop speed, coordination and balancewith and without the ball
Psychosocial: Positive interaction with teammatesduring the game
U-10
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Being efficient in 1v1 situations
2. Application of basic attacking principles
3. Coordinated movements at speed
Best Practice:The player will keep maximum contact with the ball inindividual practices and less touches in collective practices.8v8 and 9v9 games.
⋅Formations: 3-2-3 in 9-a-side.
Scrimmage: Efficiently occupy space in relation to the balland to teammates
Tactical: Creating space and applying basic principles
Technical: Accuracy in individual soccer techniques
Physical: Develop speed, agility, coordination and balance
Psychosocial: Interact positively and feel confidentwithin the group
U-11
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Application of technique in game situations
2. Application of attacking and defending principles in slightlyopposed collective practices
3. Agility and speed movements with and without the ball
Best Practice: Prepare collective practices with the ball to develop
the technical and tactical intelligence of the player.9v9 games.
Formations: 3-2-3 in 9-a-side and 4-3-3 in 11-a-side.
Scrimmage: Match focus is on possession and transition.
Tactical: Improve attacking principles and basic defending
Technical: Accuracy and speed in individualand collective techniques
Physical: Improve speed, agility, coordination and balance
Psychosocial: Cooperate with teammates in collective tasks
U-12
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Application of technique at speed in game situations
2. Application of attacking and defending principles in games
3. Agility, coordination and speed movements in simple practices
Best Practice: Prepare collective practices with the ball to develop
the technical and tactical intelligence of the player.9v9 games.
Formations: 3-2-3 in 9-a-side and 4-3-3 in 11-a-side.
Scrimmage: Improve possession and transition as well ascollective defending during the match
Tactical: Develop attacking/defending principlesand combination play
Technical: Focus on quality of passing and receiving technique as well as ball control in game situations
Physical: Compete to increase speed, agility, coordination andbalance in competitive games
Psychosocial: Increase collective self-confidence
Intermediate and age U13 to U14
Drills to include:
Tactical- possession, attacking principles, playing out from the back, transition, combination play, finishing in the final third, defending as a team, zonal defending
Technical-passing, receiving, shooting, shooting, running with the ball, ball control, turning 1v1 defending , aerial control, heading, receiving to turn and shoot
U-13
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Passing the ball at speed in reduced spaces
2. Combination play and communication with teammates
3. Combine endurance and speed during game
Best Practice:Use the contrast of small spaces for possession practices
and bigger spaces for transition practices. 11v11 games.
Formations: 4-3-3 combine endurance and speed during the game
Scrimmage: Coordinate possession, transition and finishing
Tactical: Improve attacking coordinated movementsand zonal defending
Technical: Focus on quality of passing and receiving techniqueand ball control in small spaces
Physical: Basic development of speed, endurance and strength
Psychosocial: Commitment to the team and focus in training
U-14
By the end of the season the player must be capable of:
1. Playing short and long accurate passes in collective practices.
2. Combination play and communication with teammates
3. Combine endurance and speed during the game
Best Practice:Use the contrast of small spaces for possession practices and
bigger spaces for transition practices. 11v11 games.
Formations: 4-3-3
Scrimmage: Coordinate playing out from the back, possession,transition, combination play and finishing during the game
Tactical: Application of attaching principles to createcombination play
Technical: Focus on quality of passing and receiving technique,ball control and finishing in small and big spaces
Physical: General development of endurance, speedand strength
Psychosocial: Competition in individual and team situations
______
*Practice Session Structure- possible formats to laying-out a practice session.
Initial stage and age U-5 to U-8
Warm-up(10 to 15 min) Ball familiarity practices to develop basic skills
Physical(15 min)Exercises oriented mainly to develop speed, agilityand basic motor skills (with or without a ball)
Technical simple(10 to 15 min)Unopposed practices based on simplicity of the movements,
repetition and high-tempo
Technical complex(10 to 15 min)Unopposed or basic opposed practices with a small tactical
component based on perception and/or decision-making
Scrimmage(20-25 min) Simple small-sided games to develop the team concept
Basic U-9 to U-12
Warm-up(10 min)Fun & dynamic games, passing & possession practices,stretching & dynamic movement
Physical(15 min)Exercises based on agility, speed, coordination& balance (with a ball)
Technical(20 min)Unopposed practices to develop quality and opposed practicesto develop competitiveness. Opposed practices are morerealistic and force players to make decisions as they would inthe game
Tactical(15 min)Practice games based on basic understanding of the game(attacking principles), possession, combination play, playingout from the back & finishing
Scrimmage(25 min)Games based on position specific, quick movement of the balland distribution of space
Intermediate and age U13 to U14
Warm-up(10 min)Passing, possession & transition practices, stretching & dynamic movement
Technical(20 min)Unopposed practices to develop speed of play and opposedpractices to develop competitiveness. Opposed practices aremore realistic and game oriented. Unopposed practices musthave time restriction
Physical(15 min)Exercises based on agility, various types of speed (reaction,acceleration & acyclic speed), aerobic capacity & explosivestrength (with a ball)
Tactical(20 min)Use the contrast of small spaces to develop speed of play andbig spaces to develop the understanding of how to work inunits
Scrimmage(25 min)Free game based on speed of play, movement off the ball &quick defensive-offensive transition
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It’s our jobs as coaches to maximize every minute we have with our players. Be sure to use the resources you have been given and the blueprint that has been laid out for you to develop your youth team to the best of your ability. Soccer is a fun game that needs to be enjoyed to the max by all the players, coaches, and supporters.
I would like to support you and your team in anyway possible. I’m willing to volunteer my time, my team, and my knowledge to you and your team. Feel free to invite me to your practice or invite yourself to attend our high school practices to see a glimpse of what the U.S./Norwell Curriculum looks like in a higher age group.
Please feel free to contact me through e-mail, text message, or phone call with any questions you may have. If you need any specific drills, practice ideas, or if you would like me to run a practice for you, please let me know.
Thanks,
Coach Jeff Smith
(260) 241-2376