You only need to know more soccer than the kids on your team. – Jenn Sfetku
For kindergarten and first graders in soccer, the focus is developing a love for the game and fundamental movements, rather than complex tactics or highly specialized skills. Many parent coaches do not have much experience playing soccer.
Practices run an hour long, twice a week with the first half dedicated for drills, activities, and skill building and the second half for a match against another team.
Key things to remember:
- Kids want to be moving! Try to have activities that do not require them to be waiting in line as they’ll get squirrelly.
- When addressing your team, be the one facing the sun. If the kids are looking into the sun, they’ll get distracted and not pay attention.
- Ask questions – Get them thinking about what skills they were just practicing in the drill. Or when they might use it. Asking these questions now will help connect the dots during the game to utilize skills appropriately.
Key Coaching Principles for this Age Group:
- Make it FUN! Games, silly names for drills, and positive reinforcement are essential.
- Keep it Simple: Short explanations, clear demonstrations.
- Lots of Touches: Maximize the amount of time each child spends with a ball.
- Small-Sided Games: 3v3 or 4v4 are ideal for this age, allowing for more individual ball contact and participation.
- Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate effort and small successes.
- Be Patient: Every child develops at their own pace.
- Rotate Positions: Don’t specialize positions at this age. Let everyone try everything.
Introduction Games
Playing games that involve introducing yourself is a great way for kids to learn each other’s names.
- High 5 intros – Kids dribble their own ball around the field. Coach calls out “high 5!” and each player must pair up, high 5, then introduce themselves. Repeat till all players have met each other. Coach can mix it up by calling out other greetings like “fist bump!” or “hand shake!”
- Intro passing – Team gathers in a big circle with one ball for the group. The kicker introduces themselves and passes to someone who hasn’t introduced themselves yet. Repeat till everyone has had a turn.
- Name passing – An iteration on intro passing. Once the kids know each other’s names, they can call out the kid they are passing to.
Rules of the Game
For many kids, this will be their first experience playing soccer. It’s important that the kids learn the basics of the game.
- Kickoff – Every player will be on their side of the field. With 4v4 games, 3 players on each team should be on offense, lined up across the middle of the field. 1 player plays defense. The starting team will pass the ball to their teammate.
- Throw Ins- When the ball goes out of bounds on the lateral edges, the opposing team gets to do a throw in. The player must keep both feet on the ground while throwing and the ball must be thrown over the head.
- Goal Kicks – When the ball goes out of bounds on the edge with the goals by the offensive team, the defensive team gets a goal kick. The player on defense will take the goal kick from the goal and the opposing team must be behind the mid line.
- Corner Kicks – When the ball goes out of bounds on the edge with the goals by the defensive team, the opposing team gets a corner kick. The kicker will go to the corner closest to there the ball went out and pass to a teammate.
- Dribbling (Ball Control):
- Concept: “Keeping the ball close to your feet.”
- Activities: “Toe Taps” (lightly tapping the top of the ball with toes), “Penguin Walks” (using both inside and outside of the foot to gently push the ball forward), “Red Light, Green Light” (dribbling with the ball, stopping on “red light”).
- Why it’s important: This is the most fundamental skill for young players. It allows them to move with the ball and feel comfortable with it.
- Passing (Push Pass):
- Concept: “Pushing the ball to a friend’s foot.”
- Activities: Practicing passing to a stationary target (a cone, a parent’s foot), passing back and forth with a partner, “Pass the Ball to the Coach.”
- Why it’s important: Introduces the idea of teamwork and moving the ball to open spaces. Focus on accuracy over power.
- Shooting (Kicking at a Target):
- Concept: “Kicking the ball into the goal.”
- Activities: Kicking the ball towards a wide goal, aiming for a large target (e.g., a hula hoop on the ground), “Knock Down the Cone” (kicking a ball to knock over a cone).
- Why it’s important: This is often the most exciting part for kids! Emphasize making good contact with the ball using the shoelaces or inside of the foot, rather than just the toe.
- Stopping the Ball (Receiving/Trapping):
- Concept: “Making friends with the ball, so it doesn’t run away.”
- Activities: Using the sole of the foot to gently step on top of a rolling ball, using the inside of the foot to cushion a pass.
- Why it’s important: Allows them to gain control of the ball after it’s been passed to them, setting them up for their next touch.
- Running and Agility with and Without the Ball:
- Concept: “Moving your body like a soccer player.”
- Activities: Tag games, “Red Light, Green Light” (without the ball), cone weaving (dribbling around cones), simple obstacle courses.
- Why it’s important: Soccer requires constant movement. Developing basic running, stopping, starting, and changing direction is crucial for overall athletic development and success in the game.
- Awareness/Spatial Recognition (Very Basic):
- Concept: “Where are you and where are your friends?”
- Activities: Simple “keep away” games (2 vs. 1 or 3 vs. 1), encouraging players to look up while dribbling.
- Why it’s important: At this age, it’s just about starting to get them to understand that there are other players on the field and that they can move into open spaces.