From: mattb@ctron.com (Matt Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Re: America(n) Rules 8-)
Date: 8 Sep 92 14:59:37 GMT
Reply-To: mattb@olympus.ctron.com (Matt Brown)
Organization: Cabletron Systems INc.

(terry linhardt) writes:
>(Colin Morris) writes:
>> Organised games for U6 (and maybe U8) together with a formal practice
>> is too rigid a way for young children to be playing the game. Far better
>> for kids to kick a plastic ball around with a couple of friends after
>> school etc or play informal "pickup" games. Trouble is, there just
>> isn't enough of a soccer "mentality" in the U.S. for this to happen to
>> any great extent. Hence the major (or only) exposure to the game for
>> many (but not all) kids is via an adult-organised formal activity.
>> 
>I agree. I think an additional problem is that we are throwing
>young kids (U8) on the field in 11 v 11 games, as if that is
>sacred. Kids at this age, in my opinion, should be playing a lot
>of 1 v 1, 2 v 2 games. That way they get a lot more touches on the
>ball, etc. Let's face it, for a seven year old 11 v 11 is a pretty
>chaotic environment, and many of them go through an entire game
>touching the ball only once or twice. They don't learn ball skills
>in that environment.

Coupla quick comments:

One sign of hope that I see is that kids in our elementary schools in Salem,
NH are starting to play soccer at recess.  They play fun, unorganized,   
unregulated soccer, rules out the window.  This upsets my son, who sees it
as cheating, but I tell him just to have fun and don't worry about the rules.
So the good part is that they play, the bad part is that some kids are
unduly concerned with the formal adult-run game's rules.  I truly don't think
the kids would be playing like this if there wasn't a youth league, so that's
good.  But I hope the adult involvement doesn't make it less fun for them.

Our league problem has been different. We played U8 & U10 with 7v7 for several 
years, but went along with recommendations to go with 6v6 for U8 & U10. 
Either way, when the kids went to 11v11 in U12 & U14, the coaches felt that
many of them were unprepared for the changes in the game.  Everything from
different positions to different responsibilities to skills to tactics (in
that 6v6 tactics are more like hockey than soccer).  So this year we are 
trying 9v9 in U12 to see if we can transition the kids better.  Even the
travel leagues have divisions with 6v6 for the younger ages now, so I think
there is some recognition that the 11v11 game is too much, and doesn't allow
enough touches per kid for game-condition improvement to take place.

Most of the 1 on 1 and 2 on 2 occurs in practices. The books I have stress
small sided games as the best learning mechanism.  I still think this needs
to be put together into a game setting with more players, but the opposite
approach (just letting them scrimmage at practice) doesn't really give the
players enough chance to experiment and improve. My kids do drills, small
sided games, relay races (they love these) and then scrimmage. I try to 
keep it simple and keep them moving.

U8 11v11? 6v6 is a thundering herd for the first 4-6 games before passing
and any semblance of positions sinks in.  11v11 on a full field must be
unbelievable.  Given the way they run after every ball, and the size of 
a field large enough for 11v11, these kids must burn out fast.

Matt