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7v7•U10•Coach Development

What should change in training now they stay 7v7 for another year?

Asked by tea_then_work
2229 views 5 replies
I do not want U11 training to become U10 training with older children. The format is the same, but the players are ready for more detail. What are the biggest things you would progress: speed of decisions, relationships, defending, physical challenge, something else?

VERIFIED COACH ANSWER

VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA C Coach

Grassroots session design • 5v5 & 7v7 formats

Why don't we show coach names?
I’d progress the speed and quality of the decisions before adding loads more tactical information. Same 7v7 format gives you a chance to go deeper. Can players scan earlier? Can they recognise the spare player quicker? Can they defend a 2v1 better? Can they use the goalkeeper without being told? Can they solve sideline restarts themselves? I’d also keep lots of small games. U11 does not need to become ninety minutes of shape work just because the players are older. The individual actions still matter. What changes is how much ownership you give them and how demanding the pictures become. Fewer coach answers, more difficult football problems. If the players are quicker, braver and more independent by the end of the year, the extra season of 7v7 has done its job.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 5 replies

P

PlayerDevPete

Parent

From a parent side, I would hope the extra year means more independence. Same pitch, but fewer moments where children look to the touchline for the answer.
H

HarryOnline

Club Volunteer / Official

That is probably the clearest progression marker for me too. By the end of U11 the adults should be solving less of the game for them.
S

SamOnline

Community Member

I would increase the quality of opposition in practices as well. The same exercise becomes a very different problem when the defender arrives quicker and takes away the obvious option.
S

Smudge84

Coach

Less information from coach. Better information from the game.
N

NotebookCoach

Community Member

Same format gives you the chance to demand more without adding more rules. I would progress scanning, speed of support and how quickly they react when possession changes.