The Ten year old player   DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS

Ten Year Old player profile

INDEPENDENCE LEVEL

            The majority will have a limited background in soccer.
            They need to learn from others.
            You are their role model.
            You must teach.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
 Girls adolescent growth spurt begins.
 Sport skills can be performed more efficiently.
 Over-activity at this age calls for provisions of extra rest periods.

 (Translated to soccer means = frequent substitutions!)

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
 They will begin to cooperate.
 Tend to move in exclusive groups or clubs.
 Less spontaneous in relationship with adults.
 Antagonism towards opposite sex beginning.
 Will seek activities to provide a comparison to assess their own  ability.

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
Interested in learning.
Playing soccer is stimulating for them.
They welcome opportunities to act on their own.
They like structure and are willing to apply rules.
They will make mistakes; you must handle them appropriately.      

Capable and willing to accept increased personal responsibilities.
Demonstrate a real interest in how things are made and in the  cause and affect of relationships.
Hobbies and other interests may dominate time to the point where  interest is lost for vigorous play.

UNDERSTANDING

 It can be expected that they will understand the object of the   game is to win.
 It can be expected that they will understand the concept of  scoring, keeping score, winning and losing.
 It can be expected that they will understand when the ball is in  and out of play & how to restart play after the ball has gone out  of play.

In general, the children will now attempt to win the game not only by attempting to score more goals than the opposition but also by attempting to deny the opposition the opportunity to score.  Adults at this stage must be very careful in keeping the results of the game in perspective!

GENERAL IMPLICATIONS
Short attention span -- be simple and brief.
Gang spirit can be used to promote team game.
Important to promote good relations with opposite sex (co-ed   soccer).
Beneficial results for social and physical benefits to utilize self   testing.
React fairly well to competition in which each competes against  themselves.
Able to perform the basic skills of movement with a fair degree of   accuracy.
Improved strength, skill, coordination, concentration increase fun  in playing soccer!

SOCCER IMPLICATIONS
 Play soccer. Focus on teaching the 1 vs. 1 game.
 Be consistent in your practice session routine.
 Playing soccer keeps the group moving and is preferable to activities that force  them to wait their turn.
 Need excellent demonstrations (show) and brief explanations   (tell!)
 Ball handling skills can be developed to a considerable efficiency.
 Points of refinement’ to help self improvement becomes   necessary.
 Good time to review old skills learned and proper time to introduce  new skills!

 Assign homework on things that have been introduced.
They believe in rules and asking questions about them!
They believe rules are sacred but will not understand why.

Since they enjoy being asked questions this provides us an opportunity to increase their understanding in the purpose of rules.

Since they enjoy being asked questions this provides us an opportunity to increase their understanding in how rules influence the game.

ATTACKING TEAM (Team with the ball)
Most will run towards to appropriate goal to attack.
They will begin to position themselves to receive the ball in space  and to be able to shoot.
However, they will naturally ‘bunch’ around the ball and many  times run in the direction the ball is traveling, but to a lesser  degree.
Therefore, it is of extremely limited value to place children in  playing positions at this age.

FIRST ATTACKER (Player with the ball)
They will attack the appropriate goal.
However, they will still release the ball too early --Or -- they will  not release the ball at all.
They will begin to ‘look up’ when in possession.
Many will begin to choose options.
There will be evidence of the beginning of judgment of when to   run or dribble with the ball.
 ....An example: Too far from goal - may pass to a teammate   closer to goal.
However, most will still want to get possession of the ball to  score.

DEFENDING TEAM  (team without the ball)

 Most players will run towards the appropriate goal to defend.
 However, some children may still simply watch the ball or just   chase after it .

FIRST DEFENDER player closest to the ball)

 They will defend the appropriate goal.
 However, they will need an occasional reminder!
 Some will actually attempt to block shots on goal.
 However, many continue to kick at the ball with all their might.
 They will kick the ball away from an opponent.
 However, most have a difficult time dispossessing the attacker.
 Some begin to recover behind the ball when possession is lost.
 However, most will chase after the ball because adults are telling  them to ‘get the ball!’

TRANSITION GAME  (Ball changing possession)

 The emphasis between attacking towards the goal in one  direction and recovering to block shots in the opposite direction   becomes more evident.
 The players will assess the change in possession more quickly.

Attacking Game… You can expect the following

Reading the Game - looking                               

 -Most will continue to watch the ball.
 -Some will begin to predict the flight of the ball.
 -Some will begin to look-up for space to run into.
 -Some will begin to look-up to find a teammate to pass to.
 -Some will begin to look-up and find themselves in shooting  position.

Run to attack - proper positioning
 -Most will continue to happily chase after the ball while attacking   and defending.
 -They will continue to run and change direction in short bursts   until tired.
 -Continue to review such skills as running at various speeds and   directions.
 -They have no problem accelerating but need practice controlling   decelerating.
 -Most will still not understand the concept of space so any  encouragement to ‘pread out’ is still pointless.

Receiving the ball – The first touch
 -Beginning to learn to control the ball on the ground.
 -In Practice -- Begin every action with ‘the Serve’.
 -Teach -- Right foot when on right side; Left foot when on left   side.
Retaining the ball – dribbling
          -Can learn a fake to deceive the opponent.
          -Can run in a straight line with the ball.
          -Can dribble with change of speed.
          -Can ‘turn’ using one favorite turn.

Release ball under-control
           -Can shoot toward goal.
           -Can pass over short distances on the ground.

Defending Game… You can expect the following

Reading the Game - looking 
  -Encourage them to look-around and 1st find the Goal.
 Then, teach them to 1st Block the Goal and then 2nd Pressure   the Ball.
 -Some will begin to predict the direction play.
 -Some will begin to look-around to block the goal and then   pressure the ball.
 -Some will begin to look-around and help cover for a teammate.
 -Some will begin to look-around and understand that they are the
Frst or Second Defender. Run to Defend - proper positioning
 -Most will continue to happily chase after the ball while   defending.
 -They will continue to run and change direction in short bursts  until tired.
 -Continue to review such skills as running at various speeds and  directions.
 -They have no problem accelerating but need practice controlling   decelerating.
 -Most will still not understand the concept of  proper pressure so  any encouragement to ‘be aggressive’ is still pointless.

Ready stance  – proper body position
 -Some will begin to learn ‘how to’ get into a boxer’s stance.
 -Most will still be up-right and out of balance
 -In Practice – Encourage getting into Boxer’s stance.
 -Teach – One foot forward poking at the ball. Other foot  maintains balance.
Reject advancement – Stop the dribbler  
 -Can block the goal but will usually make attempts at the ball
 -Can learn a fake ‘poke’ but will usually kick at the ball
 -Can delay the opponent –Stay between goal and ball…But, will   usually kick at the ball
 -Teach –Patience and Delay J
Regain ball possession – Take the ball from the opponent
 -Some will go to the ground (slide tackle) you must discourage   this action.
 -Many will still simply kick at the ball
 -Some will actually take the ball away after a bad touch, block  tackle, etc.

UNDER -10’   FIFA World Football Youth Academy

We are now going to look at the laws of the Game, while bearing in mind that children in this age-group are no longer satisfied with playing a variety of soccer (right across the yard). With the influence of television and by visiting the stadium (alone with friends) the small group now wants to experience ‘real’ soccer. On a normal playing field, the young layer does not have the right control nor does he have the right physical qualities as yet. However, with the presence of two goals, he must at least get the impression of a whole playing field, even if the dimensions do not correspond.

After the first few years at school, a young child has got used to listening over long periods of time. His psychological receptiveness is encouraged, automatically allowing for prolonged training and exercising. With more time for technical exercising. With more time for technical exercises, progress is obviously made.

By increasing the number of players to a ‘small team’, the young players become keener on imitating. Each one want to be better than his team-mate or opponent. Being part of a ‘mini-team’ encourages team spirit already by the mere fact of having to wear the same outfit.

With the introduction of two goals in the game, the feeling of attack and defense while in possession of the ball is developed in tactics. The basic forms of technique are developed further. A bigger playing-field also demands more physical strain in training.

This stage now needs the presence of two goals