U10 game modifications
The U10 game is the first one that incorporates a referee, player passes and a game card. It is also the first age group that keep tracks of results. When I first started working with the Impact, I observed lots of U10 games and as a result, I came up with a couple of modifications to emphasize skill and possession.
There is NO PUNTING in U10.
When the GK gets the ball under control, the last thing we want to have him/her do is to kick the ball away. When the GK does punt the ball, the other team gets possession about 80% of the time. In addition, players have a hard time judging the speed and direction of the ball, so when the ball is in the air, they either cower from the ball, try to play it with their head or let it bounce over their head. None of these results makes it easy for the attacking team to retain possession.
Instead of punting, the GK can throw the ball, roll the ball to a teammate or put it on the ground and pass it to a teammate. the GK's most important job is to give the ball to a player on his/her own team and not to the other team.
The 6 field players play a 2-3-1 or a 3-2-1 formation.
2-3-1
advantages- you are balanced between attack and defense. your 3 midfielders can give you width and your forward can play up high to stretch out the defense.
disadvantages- the 2 defenders are split easily (recommend playing them front/back instead of left/right. outside midfielders have to do a lot of running. Defenders cannot easily get into attack.
3-2-1
advantages- improves depth defensively that makes it hard for attacking team to attack through the middle. outside defenders can get into attack by going wide.
disadvantages- not enough players involved in attack unless defenders actively participate. Outside defenders have to do a lot of running.
Rotate your GK's
You should have at least 3-4 GK's on your team. Try not to play a GK for the entire half as that reduces the playing time on the field that a player can get. Don't put someone into goal who is afraid of the position, but encourage all other players to play the position at least once during the season.
The game is 50 minutes long (25 minute half).
You will have a referee for your game. The referee is generally inexperienced and you need to remember that even if the referee is experienced, he or she is NOT PERFECT. Do not argue about throw-ins or corner kicks. If the referee isn't clear about a call, you can ask for a clarification, but if you have an issue with a referee contact me or the referee assessor (Joey). We should be around, but we can't be everywhere.
Players play AT LEAST 50% of the time.
Move the players into different positions throughout the game. Don't pigeon-hole a player into one position, but give them a chance to see what the game is like from different positions.
Throw-ins are taken, but they are corrected (usually).
The referee is looking for the player to take a legal throw in. If the throw-in is not taken legally, the referee should stop the action and repeat. If the 2nd throw in is not legal, then it is not corrected and play continues. Because the referees are inexperienced, they might not see an illegal throw in or fail to correct it. Don't make a big deal of it, just let play continue.
Your referees are probably inexperienced
Our referees tend to be in their first or second season of blowing the whistle and the situation may be overwhelming for them. Part of your job description is to model appropriate behavior. Remember that however you treat the referee is how your players and parents will act. If you show the referee respect, then they will follow your lead.
Your team parent handles the snack schedule, not you.
Please have them bring a reasonable, healthy snack and don't over do it. Possibly oranges at halftime, but water is fine. A single snack and a drink after the game is perfect.
The home team wears red, visitors blue.
Even if you are sure, please have your parents bring BOTH jerseys, just in case.
Nobody wins a 9-0 game.
This statement informs our philosophy. If your team is clearly better than the other team, scoring more goals isn't going to make your players better. Challenge them, give them other goals within the game to try to achieve. Move them into different positions. Ask them to try something that you worked on in practice even if they are afraid to try it in the game.
You are not the show.
Don't draw attention to yourself. Let the players play. Trying to help them by telling them what to do goes against our player development philosophy. Coach the players on the sideline who aren't playing. Give the players a weekly goal and see how they are progressing during the game. To use a school analogy, the game is the test and you are the teacher. Analyze the game to see how well the players are learning what you did in practice. If they aren't learning, how are you going to change your practices to be more effective?
Finally, Do you want help?
There is NO PUNTING in U10.
When the GK gets the ball under control, the last thing we want to have him/her do is to kick the ball away. When the GK does punt the ball, the other team gets possession about 80% of the time. In addition, players have a hard time judging the speed and direction of the ball, so when the ball is in the air, they either cower from the ball, try to play it with their head or let it bounce over their head. None of these results makes it easy for the attacking team to retain possession.
Instead of punting, the GK can throw the ball, roll the ball to a teammate or put it on the ground and pass it to a teammate. the GK's most important job is to give the ball to a player on his/her own team and not to the other team.
The 6 field players play a 2-3-1 or a 3-2-1 formation.
2-3-1
advantages- you are balanced between attack and defense. your 3 midfielders can give you width and your forward can play up high to stretch out the defense.
disadvantages- the 2 defenders are split easily (recommend playing them front/back instead of left/right. outside midfielders have to do a lot of running. Defenders cannot easily get into attack.
3-2-1
advantages- improves depth defensively that makes it hard for attacking team to attack through the middle. outside defenders can get into attack by going wide.
disadvantages- not enough players involved in attack unless defenders actively participate. Outside defenders have to do a lot of running.
Rotate your GK's
You should have at least 3-4 GK's on your team. Try not to play a GK for the entire half as that reduces the playing time on the field that a player can get. Don't put someone into goal who is afraid of the position, but encourage all other players to play the position at least once during the season.
The game is 50 minutes long (25 minute half).
You will have a referee for your game. The referee is generally inexperienced and you need to remember that even if the referee is experienced, he or she is NOT PERFECT. Do not argue about throw-ins or corner kicks. If the referee isn't clear about a call, you can ask for a clarification, but if you have an issue with a referee contact me or the referee assessor (Joey). We should be around, but we can't be everywhere.
Players play AT LEAST 50% of the time.
Move the players into different positions throughout the game. Don't pigeon-hole a player into one position, but give them a chance to see what the game is like from different positions.
Throw-ins are taken, but they are corrected (usually).
The referee is looking for the player to take a legal throw in. If the throw-in is not taken legally, the referee should stop the action and repeat. If the 2nd throw in is not legal, then it is not corrected and play continues. Because the referees are inexperienced, they might not see an illegal throw in or fail to correct it. Don't make a big deal of it, just let play continue.
Your referees are probably inexperienced
Our referees tend to be in their first or second season of blowing the whistle and the situation may be overwhelming for them. Part of your job description is to model appropriate behavior. Remember that however you treat the referee is how your players and parents will act. If you show the referee respect, then they will follow your lead.
Your team parent handles the snack schedule, not you.
Please have them bring a reasonable, healthy snack and don't over do it. Possibly oranges at halftime, but water is fine. A single snack and a drink after the game is perfect.
The home team wears red, visitors blue.
Even if you are sure, please have your parents bring BOTH jerseys, just in case.
Nobody wins a 9-0 game.
This statement informs our philosophy. If your team is clearly better than the other team, scoring more goals isn't going to make your players better. Challenge them, give them other goals within the game to try to achieve. Move them into different positions. Ask them to try something that you worked on in practice even if they are afraid to try it in the game.
You are not the show.
Don't draw attention to yourself. Let the players play. Trying to help them by telling them what to do goes against our player development philosophy. Coach the players on the sideline who aren't playing. Give the players a weekly goal and see how they are progressing during the game. To use a school analogy, the game is the test and you are the teacher. Analyze the game to see how well the players are learning what you did in practice. If they aren't learning, how are you going to change your practices to be more effective?
Finally, Do you want help?
- Come out to my Monday 6:30 practice on field 7. You can bring your team or just your child. I will be running practice for any U10 team or player who shows up. You will get some good ideas on what to do and what skills to focus on.
- email me jmurnan@csaimpact.com I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have. Remember that you pay my salary. Use me as a resource.
Comments
Post a Comment