Soccer Coaches: Perfect Training for Youth Soccer Players ( 5 to 10 years )

Book excerpt: In this book we describe over 80 exercises for little footballers ( 5 to 10 years ). Rules of conduct and principles towards the little footballers are discussed first. Coaches have a great responsibility towards the children. Never before have so many boys and girls of preschool age played football. That`s why training for this age group must be fun for the first moment. Contents and methods from the youth sector may not be adopted for the children, otherwise the number of football-playing children will shrink. The first impressions of football training are crucial for the children. In case of incompetent behaviour of the trainer, parents or caretakers get little athletes a first negative impression, have bad experiences and in the worst case they develop an aversion to any football club. Here we recognize the great importance of child-friendly behavior from coaches and caretakers. Furthermore, the trainers need subject-specific knowledge and a high level of knowledge of human nature. The footballing aspect must not be in the foreground for very young children. The training refers to running, jumping throwing, ball games and games of various kinds. The fun factor and the community are in the foreground. The children need to feel that they are needed by the community. Every cild receives an equal amount of praise and recognition from trainers, parents and caretakers. The performance of the children is not yet so important. Competitive games must have a great fun factor, mainly played and trained in small groups. Children don`t just need footballs, pylons and slalom poles. For a versatile development they need different balls, easy climbing course, playgrounds, swings and slides, gymns with balls and gym mats, foam balls for different games and much more. This versatile sporting activity and the playing in groups is essential for the motorical development, training of social behaviour and empathy, prevention of postural weakness and to promote a sporting and human personality. The exercises and games must not to be difficult for the small children. Otherwise the children tire to quickly. The range of exercises is wide-ranging, must do without long explanation and always arouse the imagination and curiosity of the children.