Soccer Coach Weekly Issue 111

The journey that youth coaches take players on – from four- or five-a-side, through seven-a-side and nine-a-side, landing at 11-a-side – is designed to support and scaffold players’ learning.

The idea is that skills, technical and tactical knowledge and, importantly, confidence are built up over the course of that journey. 

Ideally, players will learn the game at the right pace, relative to their age and ability.

It is crazy to think that, not so long ago, young players went straight into 11-a-side. They had to deal with massive pitches, massive goals and massive expectations. 

While many brilliant players were produced this way, you can’t help but wonder about the impact it had on their development.

From a coaching perspective, we may understand the benefits of moving through the formats – but supporting a team to do so can be both challenging and daunting.

In this issue, Carl Wild provides a guide for supporting players through what is perhaps the trickiest transition of all – going from seven-a-side to nine-a-side.

With the offside law being introduced, and an expectation of greater tactical understanding being put on players, it can be a big jump.

Carl’s guide looks at what to focus on, both before and during the transition, to make it the best experience possible for your players. He also provides two practices to help you do so.

Elsewhere in the issue, Moritz Kossmann is back, this time looking at passing. I hope it is as useful as the previous parts have been!