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Starting to Develop
Starting to Develop
In 3rd-5th grade we start to see players developing physically and mentally. Kids are able to kick the ball harder, dribble with more control, and begin to understand field positions. At this level we can also see disparities in player abilities, confidence, and size. These are all things to keep in mind when coaching at this level. Some of your players may be ready for more advanced soccer, while others are still developing. Do your best to balance creating a challenging environment while also helping players develop and build confidence. See our Apps & Resources page for useful tools to add new drills and activities to your coaching toolbox.
Tips
Tips
Avoid practice drills with kids standing in line. They lose focus and lose time with their foot on the ball.
Ask all the kids to face you when giving instructions.
Try to play every player at a different position.
Coaches are NOT allowed on the field at this age.
Refs- We have refs at this age. They are still KIDS learning to ref. You can help by teaching your players to respect the ref! Do not argue with the ref. If you KNOW the ref is making a mistake in applying or understanding the rules, speak with them during the half or at the end of the game and teach them how to correct the error OR inform the VP of Rec soccer of the issue.
Rules
Rules
No hands
Throw-ins, must have both feet on the ground.
Typically 9v9 ( 8 field players + a goalkeeper)
Offsides- is more consistent at this age group, try your best to help players learn this concept. See the video tutorial for an explanation of the Offsides rule.
Positions
Positions
The typical format for this age group is 9v9 (8 field players + 1 Goalkeeper). This can vary in Rec soccer to be 8v8 or 10v10 depending on the number of players available. In a 9v9 format there are several formations to use. One of the most basic and easy to understand is the 1-3-3-2. As shown in the image the 1-3-3-2 demonstrates 4 layers of field positions starting with the Goalkeeper and moving up the field.
1- Indicates the Goalkeeper
3- Indicates 3 Defensive players (or backs), Left Back, Center Back, & Right Back.
3- Indicates the Midfield players- Left Mid, Center Mid, & Right Mid.
2- Indicates the Striker or Forward- Left Forward & Right Forward.
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