Want to prepare your player for the next level? Or do you simply want to help your child become a better soccer player? If so, this blog will help by breaking down the key skills your child needs to master at each age. Let’s jump in.
Ages 7-9: Building a Foundation for Soccer Skill Development
This is a crucial period for developing fundamental skills. Focus on:
Ball Mastery: Encourage your child to practice juggling, dribbling with both feet, and controlling the ball with different parts of their foot (inside, outside, top).
Basic Dribbling: Teach them to dribble with both feet and change direction as well as shield the ball from their opposition. Invest in low cost cones and have your soccer player dribble around those cones or other obstacles.
Passing Accuracy: Practice short and long passes, focusing on accuracy, distance, and control.
Basic Shooting: Introduce shooting techniques, emphasizing proper technique and aiming for the target. Be sure to practice shooting from varying angles.
Basic Defensive Techniques: Teach them the importance of positioning, where their feet should be positioned to push a player away from the goal, marking opponents, and making simple tackles.
Ages 10-12: Refining Soccer Skills and Tactical Awareness
During this stage, players should refine their skills, begin to understand the game and basic soccer strategy, as well as begin to anticipate the ball and plays.
Advanced Dribbling and Footwork: Introduce more advanced dribbling techniques like changes of pace, feints, and tricks to successfully navigate 1v1’s. Consider selecting two or three tricks that your player can practice repeatedly so they become highly effective at using them on the field. In the off season, futsal is recommended to help advance footwork as well.
Creative Passing: Focus on playing through balls (splitting midfielders and defenders), weighted passes, pivoting (switching field from one side to the other), and crosses.
Powerful Shooting: Improve shooting power and accuracy from different distances and angles. Don’t forget to encourage your player to practice shooting with both their right and left foot.
The better they can use both feet, the more dangerous they are on the field.
Defensive Positioning and Tackling: Teach them to read the game, visually scan the field regularly, anticipate passes, and make timely tackles.
Tactical Awareness: Introduce basic formations, positioning, and team tactics.
Related Article: Developing Elite Youth Soccer Players: 3 Key Traits Beyond Skill
Ages 13-16: Soccer Position Specialization and Physical Development
As players reach their teenage years, they should gain a deeper understanding of specific positions and should also focus more on physical development, including agility, flexibility, and speed. Consider encouraging them to learn how to play two or more positions on the field, as position flexibility makes them more valuable to a team.
Specialized Soccer Skill Development: Encourage players to focus on the skills most relevant to their position. For example, defenders should focus on tackling and marking a player, while midfielders and forwards should focus more deeply on dribbling and shooting.
Physical Fitness: Emphasize the importance of improving speed, agility, strength, and endurance through regular training. If your player is on the smaller side, this is especially important so they can shield the ball and stay on their feet.
Tactical Understanding: Developing a deep understanding of advanced tactics and strategies to help them become more effective.
Soccer IQ: Enables a player to not only understand, but anticipate the flow of the game, make intelligent decisions, and ultimately become a more impactful player.
Mental Toughness: Building resilience, confidence, and the ability to perform under pressure. This skill is often overlooked, but is vital to performance. Don’t wait until your player struggles mentally, provide them with the skills to overcome mistakes and judgement from others.
Leadership Skills: Learning to motivate teammates, communicate effectively, and take charge on the field.
Keep This in Mind While Helping Your Child Become a Better Soccer Player
To unlock your child's full potential in youth soccer, prioritize a supportive environment that fosters a love for the game. Encourage regular practice, both structured and independent, and help them set achievable goals. Celebrate their progress and emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes. For targeted soccer development and personalized guidance, consider working with a qualified soccer coach or trainer. By implementing these strategies, and focusing on the skills they need at every age, you can help your child become a better soccer player.
Enjoy the journey, and remember to celebrate the small victories.
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About Soccer Unleashed, LLC
Soccer Unleashed is on a mission to ignite the passion and performance of every youth soccer player. Our listing of soccer opportunities empowers parents to unlock their athlete's potential by providing full access to top-notch training programs, clubs, leagues, camps, pick-up games, and other critical opportunities. By opening doors to these resources, we help players emerge from the shadows, uncover hidden talents, transform benchwarmers into team leaders, and offer players, clubs, and organizations the opportunity to connect. Regardless of their current level, driven players will have the chance to excel on the field, creating a future where every soccer dream can become a reality.
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