The following information covers the rules of the game for each age bracket. What is allowed/not allowed in a game, game times and if you will have a referee or not.
There will also be some coach tips on practice ideas/games to use to help develop players.
The Rules
Uniforms
- Matchups are listed as Home vs. Away
- Home team wears white
- Away team wears blue
- Everyone needs shin guards, soccer socks must cover the shin guards
- No jewelry and tape can NOT cover earrings they must be taken out for the game
- Black shorts and socks preferred but any will work
U4/5
1. Play 3v3, no goalies
2. 4- 10 minute quarters
3. Coaches help referee/coach during the game and stay on the field if needed but out of the way of play
4. Throw ins when the ball goes out on a side
5. Goal kicks-opposing team should retreat to midfield for kick to occur
6. 1-2 minutes between quarters no more than 5 for ½ time
7. Parents cheer, players play
8. Have fun!
U6
1. Play 3v3, no goalies
2. 4- 10 minute quarters
3. Coaches help referee/coach during the game from sideline if possible enter field if needed. But try to stay off so they are learning that aspect
4. Throw ins if the ball goes out on a side
5. Goal kick if the ball goes out on an end. The opposing team must go to the ½ line for goal kick to occur
6. 1-2 minutes between quarters no more than 5 for ½ time
7. Parents cheer, players play
8. Have fun!
Goal of the game at this age is to start having some ball control while moving up and down the field.
U7/8
1. Play 4v4 or 5v5, pending on roster numbers for each game no goalies
2. 4- 12 minute quarters
3. IF we are able we will provide a young referee to ref. If we do not have one for your game a coach or experienced parent would need to referee. See next slide for referee rules.
4. Throw ins if the ball goes out on a side
5. Goal kick if the ball goes out on an end. The opposing team must go to the ½ line for goal kick to occur
6. 1-2 minutes between quarters no more than 5 for ½ time
7. Parents cheer, players play
Mostly have FUN!!
U7/8 Referee
1. Will caution players about aggressive behavior - ex: too much pushing, shoving or poor sport talk.
2. Will call corner kick, goal kick and throw ins. Goal kicks - opposing team retreats to own half until the ball is in play.
3. If a player does the throw in wrong, they will show them how to do it and give them another try.
4. The ref will not stop play everytime someone falls down. IF they appear to be injured then play will stop.
5. DO NOT YELL AT THE REFEREES! They are learning as well and nervous so be patient and kind there is not a world cup award at the end this is for the kids to have fun and learn.
Practice Ideas
These can be used for any micro team (U4-U8)
Red Light Green Light
Goal of this activity: Ball control while dribbling and running
Set up: Cones marking start area and stop line. As they get older make it longer
Starting at U4/5 they will mostly walk while dribbling, as they progress in skill and age speed them up. They need to “stop” when you say red light and start again when you say “green light”.
Sharks and Minnows
In this game you mark off an area for them to stay in. Larger area for older and more players, smaller for less and younger players. You have one player be the “Shark”. Everyone but the shark has a ball and is dribbling within the marked area. The shark is trying to get the ball away from the minnows. If the shark gets the ball they become a minnow and then minnow turns into the shark.
Alter this how you need for age and skill level.
Crab Walk
A fun way to practice ball dribbling especially for smaller kids. They get in the crab position and move around the field dribbling their ball and avoiding each other. Be ready for lots of laughing!
Dribbling Drills with Cones
This is for our older players U6 and up unless you feel your U4/5 can do this. Set up cones in a line spaced out for them to dribble the ball in and out of the cones. AS they progress, you switch to inside and outside of their foot and speed up the pace as they do it.
Alter as you need for skill and age.
Passing Drill
Form two lines and have them run down the field passing the ball back and forth. Seems simple, this helps make them focus on passing accurately while running and looking up. At the same time they need to receive the ball as well while continuing to run. All things we need to do in a game! As they get better you can add players, shapes etc.
Passing and Stopping
Split them up (if you don’t have even numbers you step in or ask a parent)
Line them up apart from their partner spacing depending on age and skill. Have them pass, receive and pass back. Make sure when they receive the ball, heel down, toe up. As they get better spread them further apart.
Chickens and Foxes
Chickens/Foxes - use ribbons or pennies as "tails" for half your team. They dribble around with the ball and do not want the wolves who are also dribbling to pull their "tails" out of the back of their shorts. Switch. Variation is everyone for themselves with each player collecting as many tails as possible. Once your tail is gone, you continue to dribble and hunt for tails until there is one left.
Dribbling Gates
Lay out a bunch of cones a few yards apart in a large area and have them all simultaneously dribble through as many cone "gates' as possible in a set amount of time (1 minute, etc.) to see how many they can get through Coaching points - dribbling with all parts of your foot (inside, outside, sole), NO TOES - keep your head up and b/c they are dribbling in traffic they sort of need to keep their heads up anyway. Keep track of how many gates; repeat to see if you can beat your score.
Passing Gates
Same as above except you're working with a partner to dribble around the area and pass to your partner on the other side of each pair of cones. You want the receiver to call for it (ball, ball, ball or pass, pass, pass) and you want both to communicate. Once they complete a pass, they move to another pair of cones and see how many they can get through in one minutes. Count and repeat to see how they did.
Freeze Tag
Same as traditional game except your kids are dribbling soccer balls. The freezer can too or not depending upon your freezer's dribbling ability. Once frozen, that player holds their ball in the air over their head until a teammate passes a ball through their leg, thereby unfreezing him/her. This is also a really good warm up to start your practice without even using the balls. Good way to get your heart pumping and your body warmed up and ready to play.
Stuck in the Mud
One player is the mud monster. He/she dribbles around trying to kick his ball into the ball of another player or simply into another player (below the knees). If successful, the player hit by the mud monster holds their ball up in the air and says "stuck in the mud". Another teammate tries to pass the ball through his legs to free the player.
Ask for help!
We are here to help. These are just a few ideas to get you started. We encourage you to take the Grassroots soccer training at US Soccer. The club will reimburse you if you show us your completed certificate.
You can look on YouTube for more ideas, books other coaches. There are hundreds of different drills etc. you can run during a practice. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Some of you may want to practice together and share ideas which is great!
If they are having fun and learning you are doing a good job!