In seven seasons as a club coach I have never worked in mini-soccer. I have taken the odd game here and there. I have partaken in small sided summer tournaments. Never have I spent a prolonged period with an age group who play anything other than 11 a side.
Yet on a daily basis I coach primary school children. I do not know how many hours of coaching experience it would tally but I suspect the number would be over 3,000, possibly even 4,000.
The youngest age group I have coached at a club is under 13.
The more qualified I have become, the further from mini soccer I have been moved. The culture dictates that the most experienced and qualified coaches are with the older age groups. Often they desire to move up, seeing greater prestige with older ages, edging closer to first team football.
In grassroots football it is less usual to have a first team. Generally coaches will move up the age groups as their child moves up, the parent coaches is the norm. Yet, I am not a parent coach and there are grassroots clubs who are not dependent on the parent coach. There is nothing that ties these coaches to a specific group. Apart from tradition.
Is this tradition what is best for the players?
While there is a clear benefit in that the coach who stays with his players the whole way through will certainly know their players there are numerous draw backs. The largest being that the coaches have to learn how to coach again every year.
What is needed at under seven will differ from under eight. At under fourteen from under fifteen. With each change from 5v5 to 7v7, 9v9 to 11v11, the coaches need to change their approach.
It is my belief that it would be most beneficial for those grassroots clubs who can to develop age range specialists. It is and has been one of the biggest detriments to English football.
In 2010 The FA laid out their plans in The Future Game. This makes specific references to age specific issues. The following is taken directly form The Future Game.
5-11
Fundamental movements. – Players under the age of 11 have a window of opportunity to develop agility, balance and co-ordination. Creating a solid for more specialised skills at older stages.
Learning Environment – Coaches should prioritise learning in their sessions, creating a stimulating, interesting and challenging environment for players to enjoy the game.
Creativity – Young players should be encouraged to be creative and expressive in their play. Coaches should create an environment where players are confident to experiment with their skills and techniques during game and game related practices.
Learning Through Games – Developing game understanding and decision making should be encouraged in this age group. Players should be given opportunities to solve problems within small sided games. During practices and games players should be encouraged to play in lots of different positions to develop their game understanding.
Technical Develop – Players in this age group should be given opportunities to develop their individual technique and master the ball. Where possible technical development should be incorporated into game related practices, but where extra support is required coaches should design challenging and exciting unopposed practices, incorporating distraction and interference.
12-16
Growth And Development – The issue of growth and development is heightened during this age group. Players can experience rapid changes in their body.
Transition From Small Sided Football – Coaches should try to help players make the transition from small sided football to 11v11. Coaches should help develop a player’s understanding of the principles of play through practices that replicate the demands of the changing game.
External Influence – As young players seek emotional autonomy from their parents, friends and peers become more significant. In some cases this may mean distractions from their football development.
Practice And Challenge – Coaches should give players more responsibility for decision making and problem solving practices, providing appropriate support where necessary.
17-21
Athletic Systems – The energy systems and athletic qualities of young players in this age group are unlikely to be fully developed. Constant monitoring and programming of these factors is essential.
Support And Patience – With some players in this age group experiencing first team and reserve team football the coach must have knowledge and understanding to support players through this transition. Coaches of this age group must understand the challenges a young player faces when trying to break into the adult game.
Technical Excellence – Practice in this age group will focus on improving performance in games. The development of technique and teaching of positional roles should not be ignored. It is important that a well rounded and varied coaching programme is encouraged.
Transition To Adult Football – Some players will progress to adult football. With results in this environment of paramount importance there will be an increased demand on young players. To meet these demands practice should reflect the demands of adult football.
It is clear that the FA believe there to be significant differences between the age groups. Other associations break the differences down further.
The Dutch FA (KNVB)
U6 – Learning to control the ball
U7 – U9 – Goal orientated actions with the ball
U10 – U11 – Learning to play, being goal orientated together
U12 – U13 – Learning to play from a basic task
U14 – U15 – Fine tuning basic tasks as a team
U16 – U17 – Playing as a team
U18 – U19 – Learning to be competitive
Although the Dutch have under performed during qualifying for Euro 2016 it is their model that has been grasped and adapted by many of the top European teams.
Belgium are currently ranked as the number team in world football. They have their own adapted version of the Dutch model.
Technical And Tactical Objectives
5 to 7 – Exploration – To get used to the ball
7 to 17 – Basic skills and tactics – Functioning in a team – Team tactics
17 upwards – Completion – Integration into adult football
Mental Objectives
5 to 7 – Exploration
8 to 21 – Teaching of basic mental skills – Motivation – Self control and discipline – Concentration – Self confidence – Inter personal and team relations – Lifestyle
10 – 21 – Use of mental skills in training sessions
13 – 21 – Use of mental skills in competition
Physical Objectives
5 – 21 – General co-ordination with a focus shifting towards specific co-ordination as they reach 21.
5 – 21 – General power with a focus shifting towards specific power as they reach 21.
5 – 21 – Speed.
11 – 21 – Flexibility.
13 – 21 – Endurance.
The demands change from bracket to bracket and year to year. A good coach will adapt and understand what is necessary. Even an experienced coach will have to adjust and experiment.
What is wrong with working in one age bracket? Though the players will change and the needs for each group will vary slightly the understanding of an age and specialising in it will help a club develop players all the way through. There are coaches who may be better suited to a particular age than others. Be it their manner, their knowledge or their experience. Getting the right people in the right places is key to any organisation. A grassroots club is no different.
If the club has a cogent development strategy and philosophy then moving age groups and moving coach will create a group of players who identify with the club rather than merely with each other. The coaches will have a greater knowledge of all players at the club and be able to successfully work together when forming a development strategy. The strategy can then flow upwards.
Within such a system the coaches at the youngest ages are vital. They lay the foundations. Creating a foundation of technique, ball mastery and fun. Fun being the most critical. If those young players fall in love with the game, are hooked and hooked on playing the right way the club can have a healthy environment for years to come. The perception that the older age groups are the most prestigious is flipped on it’s head.
The longer the model runs for the more powerful it should become as the knowledge of the coach increases. Of course there will be coaches who leave and coaches who arrive but the system should allow them to be integrated relatively easily, plus there will be coaches at the club with previous experience of working with the group who can provide advice on individuals.
There are many who would dismiss such an idea as impractical and within certain environments it would be. Yet there are those in which the system can work. As a nation we are looking for ways to improve the development of players. Developing specialised coaches is one such way.
http://www.thefa.com/st-georges-park/discover/coaching/the-future-game
https://app.box.com/s/ic2p7uw0z35jjdltq85w8euu2pca2x9i