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Started By
Message
Need advice for coaching an U4 team
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:35 pm
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:35 pm
Hey guys...I have an almost 4 year old that will be playing soccer for the first time this year. I volunteered to be an assistant coach, but have heard that head coaches are desperately needed. I know the game enough from a spectator view of adult soccer, but am hoping I could get some advice on anyone that has coached young kids like this before. I really want to do it 
6
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:40 pm to USLttarP
quote:
Need advice for coaching an U4 team
Tell them to run around and kick the ball.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:44 pm to TheOcean
Wind sprints. Followed by burpees.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:52 pm to cwil177
quote:
Wind sprints. Followed by burpees.
till they vomit.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:55 pm to Dandy Lion
i helped my dad coach my younger brother's team when they were around that age, just tell to pass the ball to eachother and have some structure. However you can't do much with kids that young, so just let them run and possibly put boogers on the other team.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:00 pm to USLttarP
The most important thing you can teach is space at that age. No rugby scrums.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:16 pm to glassman
Space is definitely the most important thing but I am not sure if 4 year olds can pass the ball if they are too far away from each other. All the useful advice i can give only applies to kids 8 and up 
before that age, even the most basic skills are too much for most of them.
Just make sure to teach defense without fouling. Also, how to trap a ball with your side foot. Heading is way too advanced at that point.
before that age, even the most basic skills are too much for most of them. Just make sure to teach defense without fouling. Also, how to trap a ball with your side foot. Heading is way too advanced at that point.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:35 pm to Keys Open Doors
Thanks guys. I decided to it. As a divorced father of a young kid, this is going to be a great thing. We'll have set pieces by the 4th game!
-USLttarP Klinsmann
-USLttarP Klinsmann
This post was edited on 8/12/13 at 8:40 pm
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:36 pm to Keys Open Doors
Oh my god! Please do not listen to any advice that has been given to you by any of these clowns above. I have been coaching u8 and below for the last 12 years and the only thing that must be learned at these ages is comfort with the ball. Do not teach them to pass, do not teach them to shoot, do not teach spacing. Allow them to run in packs because 4 y/o children are selfish in nature and they all want the ball. So let them! It's OK! You run yourself mad trying to get them to space themselves. Like I said, teach them to be comfortable on the ball. Have them dribble, dribble, dribble. Have them learn to be creative on the ball. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO JUST KICK THE BALL. EVER! You must correct them if they do this. Year in and year out my kids are the most prepared for u9's due to this philosophy.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:39 pm to 6pack
I only get about 30 minutes a week with them. Any fun games to use that time with as we get started? I assume it's pretty simple...don't touch the ball with your hands and go that way?
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:45 pm to USLttarP
Tell them you want to see lots and lots of backheels.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 8:54 pm to USLttarP
quote:
I only get about 30 minutes a week with them.
1. ball control, slalom with cones
2. one vs. one, with cones to limit the horizontal space available
fifteen minutes each.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:00 pm to USLttarP
Divorced father of U4 team.
Meet hot soccer moms.
Let the kids run around.
Meet hot soccer moms.
Let the kids run around.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:26 pm to TheOcean
quote:
Tell them to run around and kick the ball.
No matter what you try to tell them to do, this is what will happen.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:41 pm to Dandy Lion
quote:
1. ball control, slalom with cones
2. one vs. one, with cones to limit the horizontal space available
Too structured for children that young.
Here are US Soccer's best practices:
LINK
The youngest age group that they include is U6, but you can get some general ideas from that
6pack's advice is good. You will basically be a babysitter. There are plenty of cutesy games that you can use to encourage them to touch the ball a lot. Though, I'm not sure if they'll actually follow the instructions at age four.
This post was edited on 8/12/13 at 9:42 pm
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:42 pm to joey barton
quote:I beg to differ. I see it done year after year.
Too structured for children that young.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:47 pm to Dandy Lion
Maybe so. They'd be excellent exercises if kids could tolerate them
Seems really young, though
Seems really young, though
This post was edited on 8/12/13 at 9:48 pm
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:47 pm to USLttarP
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/20/23 at 7:11 am
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:56 pm to joey barton
quote:
Maybe so. They'd be excellent exercises if kids could tolerate them
Seems really young, though
It´s really no big deal. I believe there are only twelve, maybe fifteen tots on a side.
That´s five, sometimes three, for each coach-monitor to handle.
Cone drill. Four, maybe five cones in a row, spaced less than a yard apart. Just dribble. No biggie. Lots of balls, one coach on either side.
One vs. one. Small area, maybe ten, twelve feet wide. One kid drives, one defends. Stop when attacker dekes, feints or jukes defender, or when defender takes away ball.
This, and the classic swarm around the ball scrimmage, is all that goes on.
Three and four year olds.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:58 pm to TheIrishFro
Do a lot of Sharks & Minos, Red light Green light w/ each player with a ball. Make it fun! Create a space with cones and have the kids dribble in that space as they try to NOT run into each other like a car wreck. Focus on each kid keeping the ball while dribbling. Do not allow them to kick & run after the ball. Correct it every time they do it...Every time! They will improve and develop their skills & that is the focus! Not winning games but developing!
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