skills by age breakdown
Young soccer players are not adults.
The game is modified to teach them based on their mental, physical and emotional ability to take in information, process that information, and apply it to the game. Each child grows at their own pace and cannot be compared to others.
Our goal of the program is to provide each age groups development phase with the skills and environment to be successful.
Please be patient and allow your child to grow and flourish in a fun, positive environment. The safer they feel in making mistakes, the quicker they learn the game of soccer.
Below is the age breakdown goals that we work on within each season
U5/U6 Year Olds
Skill Set Focus
- Using the inside and outside of the foot to dribble
- Using the sole of the foot
- Using the lace
- Stopping the ball with the sole/inside of foot
- Pull back with sole
- Forward push with lace
Game Time
- 3v3 or 4v4 small sided games
- No Goalkeepers
- Playing area 15x20
- Game Length - 4 - 8 minute games with 3 minute breaks
- Rotate teams every 8 minutes
U7/U8 Year Olds
Training Breakdown
- 15 minutes – Open Dribbling, agility based tag games, exploring all surfaces of the feet
- 15 minutes – Introduction to Basic Ball Skills, Introduction to First Touch
- 15 minutes – 1v1 Competitions: agility and change of direction games
Game Time
- 4v4 small sided games
- Playing area 20x30
- Game Length - 4 - 10 minute games with 3 minute breaks
- Rotate teams every 10 minutes
Skill Set Focus
- L Turns
- Push Pull
- Outside/Inside Bells
- Inside Twist
- Outside Twist
- U Turn
- Inside/Outside Cuts
- Boxes
- Toe Taps
- Swipes
- Outside Swipes
- Rips
- Scissors
- Step Overs
Additional Technical & Tactical Components
- Receiving with far foot
- Turning chest into new space
- Shielding the ball
- Basic Turning with the ball
U9/U10 Year Olds
Training Breakdown
- 15 minutes – Open Dribbling, agility based tag games, exploring all surfaces of the feet
- 15 minutes – Introduction to Basic Ball Skills, Introduction to First Touch
- 15 minutes – 1v1 Competitions: agility and change of direction games
Game Time
- 7v7 small sided games
- Goalkeepers
- Playing area 30x47
- 14 yd playout line - No goalie punting
- Game Length - 2 / 25minute halves with 5 minute break
Skill Set Focus
- Boxes
- Toe Taps
- Swipes
- Outside Swipes
- Rips
- Scissors
- Step Overs
- L Turns
- Push Pull
- Outside/Inside Bells
- Ronaldo Chops
- Zidane
- Maradona
- Inside Twist
- Outside Twist
- Stop and Go Moves
- U Turn
- Inside/Outside Cuts
Additional Technical Components
- Receiving with far foot
- Turning chest into new space
- Shielding the ball
- Turning in 2 touches
- Enhanced vision & Spatial Awareness
- Change of direction with all surfaces of the feet
- Basic Shape: Understanding the Triangle
- Understanding the diamond