It will not prepare the players for travel team “ tryouts ” or competitive soccer
In fact , small-sided games prepare the players to play soccer far better than the full-sided 11v11 .
Small-sided games :
» Allow the players to make more decisions
» Allow for individual fitness training
» Allow coaches to teach the game in a variety of situations
» Allow more playing time for all the players
» Allow the players to attack and defend and not hide
» Allow the players to score more goals and that is fun
» Allow the players to think more often because they are involved
» Allow technique and tactical training
» Allow an introduction to the concept of “ shape ”
» Allow an understanding of the concept of “ transition ”
Small-sided games are an administrative nightmare
Small-sided games mean more coaches , more fields , more officials , more goals — more of everything . This is simply not true . If you use the modifications that are suggested by U . S . Soccer , none of the above is a problem . By “ splitting ” your team into two groups and playing on two adjacent fields , all the problems are gone .
We eliminate kids in two ways : first , intentionally eliminating them from teams by “ cutting ” them ; second , we unintentionally eliminate them because they have no fun , grow bored and leave the game . Either way , the kids feel unwanted , and their selfesteem suffers .
By playing “ regular ” soccer under the age of 13 , most kids have no fun . The bigger , stronger and faster kids have a great time . The smaller , slower and less mature kid never touches the ball and gets bored . If kids are bored and are not having fun , they will not come back . They are eliminated from soccer . And that usually means the kids who most need the soccer / athletic experience are the very ones who leave the sport . Then those kids find the FIFA video games where , ironically , they can play 11v11 soccer .
Those of us in positions of leadership in the soccer universe should make sure young players are not eliminated from playing the great game . We should field as many teams as necessary , and we should play small-sided games . n
July Bulletin | 7