The Coaches' Room
3v3•U7•Out of Possession

Do you coach tackling properly at U7?

Asked by ColdTouchline82
1006 views 7 replies
3v3 has created loads more 1v1 duels which is great, but it has also exposed that some of ours basically just swing a foot at the ball. Would you spend time actually teaching how to approach and tackle, or keep it mostly game-based at this age?

VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

Verified Coach avatar

@CoachRyanC

UEFA C Coach

Grassroots session design

Why are Verified Coach details private?
Yes, I would coach it — just in small doses and inside games. If players are swinging a leg wildly, give them one or two useful ideas: slow down as they get close, stay on their feet where they can, and try to get their body close enough to actually win the ball. Then put them straight back into 1v1 or 2v2 situations where they can try it. I would not run a long technical tackling drill with children waiting in lines. 3v3 gives you loads of natural defending moments, so use those. Freeze one picture very occasionally if there is a safety issue or something everybody needs to see, then play again. At U7, a simple defending habit they can actually use is worth more than five detailed coaching points.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 7 replies

E

EmJ84

Coach

Short detail then play. Thats my answer to nearly everything at U7.
T

Taff

Coach

I would also coach the attacker to protect it. Sometimes every defending problem gets treated like the defender needs a technical fix.
A

AishaN

Coach

Good point. In 3v3 the same child is defender one second and attacker the next, so separating the two too much probably misses the point.
N

NatAgain

Assistant Coach

I like 'can you stay on your feet?' because it keeps them in the duel. The big swinging tackle often takes them out of the game even if they touch the ball.
M

MartinF

Assistant Coach

There is a safety side too. Some children genuinely need showing that flying in with a straight leg is not how we win it.
L

LateKickoff2

Parent who also coaches

We do loads through 1v1. The tackling bit appears naturally, then you can give one detail and go again.
S

SchoolGate7

Coach

I would coach it. 'Slow down when you get close' has helped ours more than anything complicated.

HAVE A QUESTION TOO?

Ask about your own situation.