The American Youth Soccer Organization AYSO

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The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)

• Presents
• The AYSO U-8 Coaching Course

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U-8 Coaching Course

• Presented by
• The American Youth Soccer Organization

AYSO 2006
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U-8 Coaching Course

• The AYSO National Coaching Program is
• accredited by
• The National Council for Accreditation of
  Coaching Education.
  
• (NCACE)

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U-8 Coaching Course

• Overview
• AYSO Vision Statement Mission Statement
• The Psychology of Coaching
• Team Management
• Training Overview for U-8 Players
• Objectives Principles of the game
• Teaching Methods
• Techniques
• On the field
• Training Games
• On the field

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AYSO

• Vision Statement
• To provide world class youth soccer programs that
  enrich childrens lives
  
• Mission Statement
• To develop and deliver quality youth soccer
  programs, which promote a fun, family environment
  based on the AYSO Philosophies

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Open Registration Everyone Plays Balanced Teams
Positive Coaching Good sportsmanship
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AYSO Philosophies

• Everyone Plays
• Our programs goal is for kids to play soccerso
  we
  
• mandate that every player on every team must play
  at least
  
• half of every game.
• Balanced Teams
• Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as
  
  
• possiblebecause it is fair and more fun when
  teams of
  
• equal ability play.
• Open Registration
• Our program is open to all children between 41/2
  and 19
  
• years of age who want to register and play
  soccer. Interest
  
• and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing.

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AYSO Philosophies

• Positive Coaching
• Encouragement of player effort provides for
  greater enjoyment by the players and ultimately
  leads to better-skilled and better-motivated
  players.
• Good Sportsmanship
• We strive to create a positive environment based
  on mutual respect rather than a win at all costs
  attitude, and our program is designed to instill
  good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.

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The Psychology of Coaching
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Working with Young Athletes

• As coaches we need to recognize that each athlete
  is an
  
• individual with unique needs and that we treat
  them
  
• accordingly
• Understand that players want to enjoy attending
  practices
  
• and games.
• Organize your practices and games so that every
  athlete on your team has an opportunity to
  develop and maintain
  
• positive feelings of self-worth.
• Provide positive encouragement to all players for
  both
  
• accomplishments and mistakes.

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Working with Young Athletes (Continued)

• Play in this very young age group is meant
• to give a taste of the game, some
• experience in working together as a team,
• and, most of all, a positive introduction to
• The sports experience.

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What to Expect from U-8 Players

• New and exciting adventures begin to open up
• to the U-8 players as their coordination
• improves and their size and strength increase.
• However, new challenges are often met with a
• mixture of enthusiasm and frustration.

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What to Expect from U-8 Players

• They typically set unrealistically high standards
  for
  
• themselves, have difficulty making choices and,
  at
  
• times, are overwhelmed by unfamiliar situations.
  
  
• At the same time, changes in their cognitive
• abilities enable them to see that underlying
  rules
  
• are often useful for understanding everyday
• events, objects and the behavior of others.

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U-8 Physical/Gross Motor Development

• They work and play hard.
• They exhibit significant improvement in
• agility, balance, endurance, timing and
• hand-eye coordination

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U-8 Social/Emotional Development

• Have definite likes and dislikes.
• Friendship is important.
• Enjoy purposeful play.
• Afraid of failure.
• Beginning to compare themselves to others
• self-esteem and self concept are big
• issues

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U-8 Social/Emotional Development

• Actions can be influenced by peer
• acceptance.
• Quick to tattle when others arent
• obeying.
• Will cooperate with adults.
• Likes to feel like they belong to a group

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U-8 Cognitive/Thought Development

• Begin to grasp moral rules of the
• game.
• Problem solving skills are improving.
• Understand that parts make up a whole
• (for example, that individual players
• make up a team)

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U-8 Cognitive/Thought Development

• Need concrete reinforcement.
• Apply a rigid understanding of justice and
• fair play even a small infraction can be a
• BIG deal.
• Beginning to rank importance of things
• based on real criteria

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Things To Remember About The U-8 Player

• Despite possible turmoil and trying times (for
• players and coach), U-8 players will
• experience an abundance of good times
• marked by a lively curiosity, an eagerness
• to learn, a endearing sense of humor and
• exuberant outbursts of affection and good
• will.

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Team Management

• There are off-the-field responsibilities that
• affect the team and the players before they
• ever step on the field. These practices are
• referred to as team management and they
• are important!..

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Team Management

• Organizing the Team This should be your
• first priority!
• 1. Develop a Team Goal
• 2. Develop a Coaching Philosophy
• 3. Conduct a Parents Meeting

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Develop a Team Goal

• Try
• Players having FUN while learning about
• soccer is a good base for a team goal.
• You, the parents and players can build on
• that foundation.

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Develop a Coaching Philosophy

• Why are you Coaching
• Why should you be coaching?...

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Conducting a Parents Meeting

• Discuss AYSOs Vision and Mission Statements.
• Discuss the teams goals.
• Explain your coaching philosophy.
• Explain short-sided soccer and why we play it.
• Educate parents briefly on the Laws of the
• game specific to this age group.
• Discuss player equipment needs

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Conducting a Parents Meeting

• Set team policies.
• GET HELP You will need (at a minimum)
• Assistant Coaches
• Team Manager
• Team Parent

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Coach Equipment

• The following is a basic list of the minimum
• equipment you should have with you on activity
• day
• Player medical release forms
• A basic first-aid kit
• A water container (filled with water) and
  cups
  
• Soccer balls
• An extra pair of shinguards
• A marking pen for labeling
• A whistle
• Your players should bring a soccer ball to every
  
  
• activity and must be wearing shinguards..

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U-8 Practice

• Be prepared.
• Elements of a Practice
• Warm Up Stretch
• Introduce Technique
• Skill-Based Activity (dribbling, passing)
• Small sided game
• Cool down
• Remind players and parents about game
• Day (times and location)

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Activity Day (Game day)

• Before the Activity Starts
• Arrive early
• Get organized
• Gather Team
• Have FUN!..

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Game Day

• After Activity
• Shake hands with the other team!
• Congratulate players
• Reminder on next activity date

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You are now ready for the field segment of the
U-8 Coach Training.

• Any Questions?
• See you on the field!