Stage Three - U12

In Stage Three, technical progress is still most important. But now, increasingly, the players have to learn to apply their skills, under pressure and quickly. Everything is still with the ball, but now soccer begins to become a little more abstract. There are more tactical lessons and more concentration on the organization of players on the field.

But even now, the critical elements are fun, dynamic movements and freedom of expression. The players are investigating all the positions, the different climates around the field and the endless tactical options of this free-flowing game.

Towards the end of this stage, 11-a-side play comes in, as do heading and goalkeeper practice. Its all about repetition and patient advancement as the kids seek to become all-round ball players.

Eleven and Twelve Year-Olds

Technical Guidelines:

• Kicking with the inside and the outside of the instep.

• Chipping.

• Effective shielding from the immediate opponent.

• Disguise in dribbling: body feints, change of speed and direction, wrongfooting defenders. Learning three or four moves to use to beat a defender.

• Beginning of consistent practice of heading regular, but not much.

• Side block tackle.

• Shoulder charging.

• Shooting bouncing balls: volleys and half-volleys.

• Now, in receiving balls, players consciously set up their second touch with their first touch.

Tactical Guidelines:

• Switching the direction of play or the point of attack.

• The overlap.

• Awareness of the different climates in the three thirds of the field: attack, midfield, defense.

• Continuing to focus on the three main moments, with particular emphasis on transition.

• Understanding the difference between passing to feet and passing to space.

• Good body position when asking for the ball: facing field or sideways, watching ball and immediate opponent, etc.

• Making good choices about trying to penetrate or protecting the ball, based on whether or not there is pressure when you receive the ball. Consistently intelligent first touches upon receiving.

• Reading the body position of a defender: hips square or hips turned, has she or he committed to winning the ball or not?, etc.

• Understanding the difference between losing the ball and giving it away.

• Correct body position of defenders challenging for the ball: turned, not square.

• Positioning ball side as well as goal side in marking.

• Second defender covering the first defender.

• Solid defensive understanding against one opponent and when confronted by two opponents.

Fitness Guidelines:

• Nothing without the ball.

• No strength or endurance training.

The Practice Environment:

• Play time and a learning environment.

• Some pressured play in confined areas; games of numbers up and numbers down; one of the best is 5 v 2.

• No specializing by positions.

• Duels at full speed: lots of 1 v 1 and 2 v 1 situations.

• 3 v 3 or 4 v 4 games at every practice.

• # 4 ball; small goals.

• Emphasis still on technical development: the acquisition of skills.

• The weeks practice is 75 to 90 minutes long.

Games:

• Equal playing time.

• 6 v 6 or 7 v 7. Eleven after eleven: eleven players on a team after eleven years of age.

• Players play all the positions".

• Friendship tournaments.

• Focus on enjoyment and the future: no stress on winning and losing.