Player Development
U/6 player development
- The activities are designed to fit the developmental level of the children
- The ratio is mostly 1 ball: 1 player, encouraging more touches on the ball, confidence and the ability to socially interact
- Ballnastics incorporates coordination, flexibility, balance, and vision
- Training sessions should be no more than 45-60 minutes as the players have a short attention span
- 3 players versus 3 players, no score is recorded, no goalkeeper, no referee
- Equal
playing time
U/8 player development
- Emphasis on fundamental technical skills building the foundation for the future
- Players begin to understand group activities
- Introduce a partner into training activities
- Some concept of space and direction
- The game is the teacher
- 4 players versus 4 players
- No goalkeeper
- Equal playing time
- Referee is introduced
U/10 player development
- Simple to complex
- Small group activities and team games
- Players begin to understand the game through match situations
- Training session should have a common theme throughout practice
- Emphasis still needs to be on technical skills
- 6 players versus 6 players
- Goalkeeper is introduced
**U/11-U/19 player development
(See crossroads sidebar)
- Fun but competitive
- Training session twice per week
- Compete within central Iowa
- 8 games per season
- 8 players versus 8 players (U/11-U/12)
- 11 players versus 11 players
(U/13 and above)
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