should 8-year-olds be capable of focusing & following directions across a 45-minute practice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No they can’t behave for 45 minutes.

But you can structure a practice that changes every 5-10 minutes with each child having many touches with the ball during that time snd the practice will work.

Are you a bad coach... no.
Are you a good coach ... no.

You should have a very specific plan laid out and it should be somewhat repeatable every practice so the kids understand what is expected.

You should use a timer, you should have multiple “stations”.

You need assistants.

You can find plans online.

OP here. The practices go OK when I focus on simple individual skills and simple passing drills. But scrimmaging seems to result in chaos. Perhaps I should just forget about scrimmaging, or limit it to just the final 5 minutes.

In any case, I'll try to have better structure, and I'll see if a friend can come to assist me.

At this age you should be doing small games- 3v3, sharks vs minnows, etc. If you scrimmage with more kids, kids who are not immediately involved get bored. Every kid should have a ball on their foot as much as possible....so no line with kids waiting to do a drill.

^^^ this

Also you need every kid involved so if you need to run 2 3v3's at a time, you need help.

I actually disagree with this slightly. These are 8 year olds, not 5 year olds. They should certainly be able to scrimmage 5v5 or 6v6 for 15 minutes without problems.

[Anonymous]

When DH got his coaching licenses, he had to take training in child development by age group for each each level license. If you had done so, you would know the answer. Get the proper training for your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When DH got his coaching licenses, he had to take training in child development by age group for each each level license. If you had done so, you would know the answer. Get the proper training for your job.

Thanks for your helpful contribution Madam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some 8 year olds can, and certainly those who choose to do travel soccer can and are expected to do so. But in a rec league, not everyone takes it as seriously so may lack the focus. The other thing I would caution is that right now, specific to pandemic-times, I think kids in general may have a harder time focusing. For a lot of them, this may be their only SOCIAL outlet, so may be more likely to play around than focus. If that is the case, maybe try to have a bit of just unstructured playing around time at the beginning of practice when they can let off some steam?

Bingo.

I agree with keeping the scrimmages short, and/or using them as a "carrot" if the rest of practice goes well.

I used to be a scout leader, and I tried to prevent whining by telling them that teams/groups would be changed up frequently, and they should be prepared to work with anyone/everyone. I really wanted them to learn to work together, without cliques or factions, and mixing up groups really helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, of course they can focus and behave. See if you can bring in a coach who has some actual training and experience working with kids to help run a practice, the difference between your practice and theirs will blow your mind.

Usually rec soccer practice for 8 year olds are not run by pro coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When DH got his coaching licenses, he had to take training in child development by age group for each each level license. If you had done so, you would know the answer. Get the proper training for your job.

since when is volunteer coach a job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When DH got his coaching licenses, he had to take training in child development by age group for each each level license. If you had done so, you would know the answer. Get the proper training for your job.

since when is volunteer coach a job?

And I love that we're not even touting our own credentials, but our husband's.

[Anonymous]

have you taken the 7v7 Grass Roots coaching module with VYSA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:have you taken the 7v7 Grass Roots coaching module with VYSA?

OP here. I have not taken this module. Instead, I've watched a dozen YouTube videos with coaching suggestions aimed at this age group, and I've chatted with a couple other coaches in the league. Based on the feedback I've gotten, I think I just need to (1) stick with simple games/exercises, (2) keep up the pace such that there are no intervals when kids are idle (except for a water break), and (3) get a friend to assist me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:have you taken the 7v7 Grass Roots coaching module with VYSA?

OP here. I have not taken this module. Instead, I've watched a dozen YouTube videos with coaching suggestions aimed at this age group, and I've chatted with a couple other coaches in the league. Based on the feedback I've gotten, I think I just need to (1) stick with simple games/exercises, (2) keep up the pace such that there are no intervals when kids are idle (except for a water break), and (3) get a friend to assist me.

Yes - this should work well. I would add make sure you have enough activities planned so each one doesn't take too long. I used to actually write out a practice plan on a piece of paper before pratice to help ensure I had enough ideas and there was no standing around.

[Anonymous]

Between my husband and me, we have coached dozens of seasons of rec soccer and basketball U5 or 6 - U9 or so.

I think some groups just have a challenging dynamic. Sometimes, it's that the kids are good friends and there to be silly. Or a particular kid gets everyone going. Or maybe a combo of kids.

Other years everyone listens. Or one kid stands out because he is the only one who doesn't.

I think it is key to have an assistant coach mostly to keep the groups small and to be able to keep drills and activities short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No they can’t behave for 45 minutes.

But you can structure a practice that changes every 5-10 minutes with each child having many touches with the ball during that time snd the practice will work.

Are you a bad coach... no.
Are you a good coach ... no.

You should have a very specific plan laid out and it should be somewhat repeatable every practice so the kids understand what is expected.

You should use a timer, you should have multiple “stations”.

You need assistants.

You can find plans online.

OP here. The practices go OK when I focus on simple individual skills and simple passing drills. But scrimmaging seems to result in chaos. Perhaps I should just forget about scrimmaging, or limit it to just the final 5 minutes.

In any case, I'll try to have better structure, and I'll see if a friend can come to assist me.

At this age you should be doing small games- 3v3, sharks vs minnows, etc. If you scrimmage with more kids, kids who are not immediately involved get bored. Every kid should have a ball on their foot as much as possible....so no line with kids waiting to do a drill.

^^^ this

Also you need every kid involved so if you need to run 2 3v3's at a time, you need help.

I actually disagree with this slightly. These are 8 year olds, not 5 year olds. They should certainly be able to scrimmage 5v5 or 6v6 for 15 minutes without problems.

No keep it small with lots of touches. Doubling the group size decreases the touches by more then halves. It also encourages ball hogs. Most kids do not start to develop spatial awareness till u13/u14 with it really developing at u15-u18. Below u12 it should be lots of touches and small size games to develop touch and skill while having fun. Remember 75% of the kids will stop playing by 13. Your goal should be to keep as many playing as possible in to their teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:have you taken the 7v7 Grass Roots coaching module with VYSA?

OP here. I have not taken this module. Instead, I've watched a dozen YouTube videos with coaching suggestions aimed at this age group, and I've chatted with a couple other coaches in the league. Based on the feedback I've gotten, I think I just need to (1) stick with simple games/exercises, (2) keep up the pace such that there are no intervals when kids are idle (except for a water break), and (3) get a friend to assist me.

Yes - this should work well. I would add make sure you have enough activities planned so each one doesn't take too long. I used to actually write out a practice plan on a piece of paper before pratice to help ensure I had enough ideas and there was no standing around.

I agree with everything here. I have a few things to add, but will caveat it with the admission that I've coached more basketball than soccer, but here goes:

Lay your your expectations for the kids. I always told them that "if you ask to play X position or be on a team with Y, I will say no. I'm rotating people through different postions and groupings. You will get there eventually." I had one kid who was OBSESSED with getting to wear a pinnie (vs being on the shirts team without a pinnie. Same thing went for pinnies, tho that was back when kids could share pinnies during a practice.

Also, let the kids pick a game to play at the end if they've listened well and worked hard throughout practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No they can’t behave for 45 minutes.

But you can structure a practice that changes every 5-10 minutes with each child having many touches with the ball during that time snd the practice will work.

Are you a bad coach... no.
Are you a good coach ... no.

You should have a very specific plan laid out and it should be somewhat repeatable every practice so the kids understand what is expected.

You should use a timer, you should have multiple “stations”.

You need assistants.

You can find plans online.

OP here. The practices go OK when I focus on simple individual skills and simple passing drills. But scrimmaging seems to result in chaos. Perhaps I should just forget about scrimmaging, or limit it to just the final 5 minutes.

In any case, I'll try to have better structure, and I'll see if a friend can come to assist me.

At this age you should be doing small games- 3v3, sharks vs minnows, etc. If you scrimmage with more kids, kids who are not immediately involved get bored. Every kid should have a ball on their foot as much as possible....so no line with kids waiting to do a drill.

^^^ this

Also you need every kid involved so if you need to run 2 3v3's at a time, you need help.

I actually disagree with this slightly. These are 8 year olds, not 5 year olds. They should certainly be able to scrimmage 5v5 or 6v6 for 15 minutes without problems.

No keep it small with lots of touches. Doubling the group size decreases the touches by more then halves. It also encourages ball hogs. Most kids do not start to develop spatial awareness till u13/u14 with it really developing at u15-u18. Below u12 it should be lots of touches and small size games to develop touch and skill while having fun. Remember 75% of the kids will stop playing by 13. Your goal should be to keep as many playing as possible in to their teens.

Not saying3v3 is a bad thing - just that 8 year olds should be able to focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:for some this is more social than anything else. They're 8 and its rec. Throw in the pandemic and this may be the only time they actually see other kids

+1
Can depend on the group dynamics. I've seen groups of 8 year olds where they are nice and obedient and ones that are more wild.
Since it's rec they are presumably friends and I'd expect it to be more on the chaotic side. Very normal. As long as no one is doing anything dangerous it all seems great.