From: mwr@controls.ccd.harris.com (Mike Reeves)
Subject: Re: Heading: Dain Bramage?? (in youth soccer)
 
Originator: mwr@rs2
Organization: Harris Controls
Distribution: rec.sport.soccer
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 17:04:38 GMT


|>
<stuff deleted> 
|> I am mentioning this because I would like to hear from other folks involved
|> in youth soccer programs in the US and around the world about how leagues
|> are run and what mods to the rules are used.
|> 
|> One that I have seen a problem with is the use of indirect kicks in U8. Now, we
|> don't allow direct kicks with the younger players for 2 reasons:
|> 1) prevent injuries to inexperienced keepers (best kicker vs goalie of the
|>    moment; we sub goalies so that all players get at least one chance to 
|>    play in a season).
|> 2) Lessen pressure on kids playing goal.  Even in a non-competitive league,
|>    kids feel pressure in goal. Directs would make that worse.
|> 
|> However, when a foul is called <10 yards from a defending goal, we still
|> get kids booming the ball at the goal (trying for a lucky bounce off a
|> defender or keeper), and thereafter other kids on the defending team 
|> (uncoached at it) forming a wall. I have had several of my kids take shots
|> off the face in these situations, and I think it is at least as unsafe
|> as directs.  What to do?
|> 
|> I don't think telling the kids and keeper to stand clear works, because a 
|> pass will beat them.  Having the keeper alone face the shot puts the 
|> pressure back on, and with the U8 skill level, it is likely he/she will
|> get a piece of the ball, resulting in a goal. The rule clearly states that
|> the ball has to touch _any_ additional player before going in, so coaching
|> your player to pass off (which I do) is an artificial limitation (done at
|> higher levels because the chance of an accidental deflect is less; at this
|> level of play, a deflect-in looms as a major possibility, much more so than 
|> scoring off a corner, for example).
|> 
|> What we ended up doing was ruling that no indirect kick can be taken closer 
|> than 10 yards to the goal.  Remember, we are playing on fields with no marked
|> Penalty area, reduced size (30y x 40y), so players usually only back off
|> indirects and goal kicks by about 5-6 yards. This change at least helps
|> protect the keeper. So on a close in foul, we place the ball back 10 yards
|> from the goal for the indirect.
|> 
|> Any suggestions about a better way?
|>
|> Matt
|> Registrar & coach of the Seahawks (U10 Boys) 

Matt, our youth leagues do pretty much as you have described, with just a
minor difference or two.  The distance defenders have to be away from a 
free kick for Under-6 is five yards, six yards for Under-8, etc.  We do have
a marked penalty area, since that is needed to let the goalkeeper know where
he/she is allowed to use their hands.  The goal and penalty area are reduced
size, and any kicks in the area by the attackers are placed on the line
nearest the spot of the foul (just like a goal area line for the older
players).
-- 
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/* Mike Reeves              * I'll see you in Orlando for World Cup 1994 *  */
/* Rockledge, Florida  USA                                                  */
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