I coached U-8
boys to an undefeated season and difference was that we didn't bunch.
Not bunching allowed us to pass. Passing allowed us to control
possession. Possession yielded shot opportunities. Shots lead to goals:
39 goals for, 7 goals against.
Here's the
drill:
Scrimmage using a Dutch 4X4 training method field - 40X30 yds.
Two goals 6-8 feet wide at EACH end set nearer to the side than to each
other. Indirectly teaches spatial thinking (very hard to do).
Attackers could look up (new concept for 7 year olds) and make a choice
as to which goal to attack, i.e. which goal was most open. Forces
defenders to cover an open goal AND a goal that was likely to be
attacked. Whenever defenders magnetized to the ball and subsequently got
burned when play quickly switched to the more open goal and a goal was
easily scored, I would stop and give a 15 second lecture, citing the
situation that just occurred, about why its wrong for every defender to
race to the ball. The situation was repeated many times before they
finally started catching on.
When the players start bunching remember to
blow the whistle and ask why; before too long they will scatter as soon
as they hear the whistle blow.
See also:
coaching the swarm - a
basic guide to formations and positional training
introducing the concept
of space to young players
soccer coaching
and the very young child
They're
all bunched up!
