U7/U8 Coaching Resources
General U7/U8 Information
Roster: 6 players max
Practices: 45-60 minutes
Game Form: 4 v 4 (min 3)
Game Length: 2 - 20 minute halves
Goalkeeper: No, but can keep a player on defense as long as they move up when past the back quarter of the field when their team is on offense.
Ball Size: 3
Field Size: 25-35 yards long x 20-30 yards wide
Player Equipment: Team jersey, shorts, shin guards, soccer cleats, and socks.
Playing Time Requirement: All players must receive 50% playing time in a game.
Referee(s): Referee(s) will be assigned by home soccer club.
U7/U8 Learning Objectives
Developmental Characteristics
Attention span is a bit longer than U6, but still not at the “team at all costs” intensity.
Inclined more toward group activities.
Still in motion - twitching, jerking, scratching and blinking are all second nature physical movements.
Still very sensitive…
Dislike personal failures in front of peers.
Ridicule from the coach in front of the group is very destructive.
Boys and girls are still quite similar in physical and psychological development.
Beginning to develop some physical confidence.
Still into running, jumping, climbing and rolling.
More into imitation of the “big guys”.
Still lack sense of pace — Go Flat Out! Will chase the ball until they drop.
Practice Objectives
Coaching Emphasis: Fun!
Technique:
Dribbling and running with the ball are still the main focus.
Dribbling with head up/ball control.
Receiving ground balls.
Shooting with the laces.
Short passing.
Shielding.
Throw ins, 2 hands over head, don’t lift feet.
Goal kicks – when a goal kick is awarded, the defending team’s players must retreat into their own defensive half and may not move past the half-line until the goal kick is taken. The kicking team may take the goal kick before the defending team has retreated completely into their defensive half.
Corner kicks
Psychology: Working in pairs. Sportsmanship.
Fitness: Agility, eye/foot and eye/hand coordination; introduce the idea of cool-down, movement education.
Tactics: Players need continual reinforcement to stay engaged in practice or the game. Coaches can also focus on those players who show a willingness to break from the swarm and encourage teammates to recognize this behavior. Coaches should encourage players to run with the ball and dribble past defenders. Players in the U8 age group must not be punished for dribbling the ball too much. Everyone attacks together and defends together and coaches can introduce what players must do when not in possession of the ball e.g. get back behind the ball, defend goal side. Team shape can be addressed but under no circumstances should players be put in positions or made to stay in a certain area. In the U8 age group players can be set up in a diamond shape to start the game and at other natural breaks (kick off, goal kicks etc.)