Progress in Four Areas

What to Expect

In these four years players go from playing organized games of 4v4 without goalkeepers to playing 7 v7 games with goalkeepers. At SOTH we play in-house legaues to maximize time on the field playing or practicing and not traveling.

Based on the US Youth Soccer Development Model and SOTH's experience over the years here is what you can expect across four areas through these years:

Technical

U7 & U8: Build a relationship and understanding of how the ball interacts with the inside, outside, and top of foot. Start working on a push pass.

U9 & U10: Expand into different ranges and styles of passing and shooting. Ball control expands to include ball in the air. Dribbling with inside and outside of foot, learning moves, and accelerating with the ball. Throw ins become part of the game.

Tactical

U7 & U8: Kids are most individual at this age and all small sided games, 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, are good introductions to the concept of teamwork.

U9 & U10: Concepts of defense, midfield, attack, and the two sides of the field; left and right, are introduced as the games expand to 7v7.

Physical

U7 & U8: Kids are learning how their body works and benefit from all different types of movement including jumping, sprinting, catching, and kicking the ball.

U9 & U10: Kids enjoy being active and gaining endurance through activities like relay races, with or without the ball. Start introducing warms ups (silly runs are often a favorite) and brief cool downs.

Mental

U7 & U8: Start the journey of sportsmanship and understanding of being part of a team. Like to try new techniques and ball related games. Coaches and parents should be very positive to encourage experimentation.

U9 & U10: Increase in the importance of winning comes with it need to manage emotions, learn sportsmanship, and how to work as a team. Main focus is on fun and coaches and parents should remain very positive.