Same-team kid steals the ball

[Anonymous]

This is why they say that, when the kids are young and playing 3v3 or 4v4, it's really 1v5 or 1v7. Everyone wants the ball and they haven't learned teamwork yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why they say that, when the kids are young and playing 3v3 or 4v4, it's really 1v5 or 1v7. Everyone wants the ball and they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Haha yes i was just chatting with a mom whose son plays college soccer yesterday and she said when her son was my kid’s age (7) they called it “8 vs. the ball”. My son is probably a bit of a ball hog/stealer right now. He is faster than almost all the other kids and just wants to run after the ball all the time. He is getting better at passing but it’s a work in progress. We try to compliment him for good team work after the game if he did some good passes. I can’t imagine a 9 year old playing with 7 year olds. I wouldn’t have signed my 9 year old up for that. There are other leagues nearby that go by birth year only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they say that, when the kids are young and playing 3v3 or 4v4, it's really 1v5 or 1v7. Everyone wants the ball and they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Haha yes i was just chatting with a mom whose son plays college soccer yesterday and she said when her son was my kid’s age (7) they called it “8 vs. the ball”. My son is probably a bit of a ball hog/stealer right now. He is faster than almost all the other kids and just wants to run after the ball all the time. He is getting better at passing but it’s a work in progress. We try to compliment him for good team work after the game if he did some good passes. I can’t imagine a 9 year old playing with 7 year olds. I wouldn’t have signed my 9 year old up for that. There are other leagues nearby that go by birth year only.

We are on the other side of the same problem. DD (age 7) really takes in the coach's instruction of "going to the quiet place other than the busy place" and "staying in your side of the court", etc. But the problem is most teammates （and the other team as well) are still gathering around the ball and there's very few passing, and even less to DD. So this makes the game less fun. I know she's capable of chasing the ball and possess the ball, as she did in the beginning of the season. By keeping the coach's instruction, DD is actually put in a disadvantaged position, as she appears to be less aggressive or skilled or both. I noticed the play time she's given is relatively smaller than the beginning of the season too. I struggle as to what suggestion to give her. Should I encourage her to continue implementing the coach's instruction, as that's what we've been promoting or should I tell her to go back to the old way of everyone chasing the ball? At this age, maybe to develop individual skill is more important than focusing on the team cooperation? Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

This will have to change with the kids mentality which will be around 9 years old. Usually only 1-2 kids do this at 9 or 10. Just don't coach her, let her coach coach her, and let her use her own instincts which will be about 50% positional, 50% ball chasing. This is how kids learn. My ds ball chased until 9 and now he is a great midfielder.

[Anonymous]

Neymar and Messi are ball hogs too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke?

Stop yelling at children. If you must, yell at your own only.

What’s wrong with what I yelled? The kid needs direction and our coach isn’t giving it.

You aren't the coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I call bullshit. No team of 7 year olds has positions like "center forward".

OP here. That wasn’t me. I don’t know what a center forward is. My kid was playing defense with the little girl. The teams ages are 7-9. It’s Great Falls-Reston. FWIW, I think the little girl is from Great Falls. She sometimes comes to practice in cute little skorts and her hair all done up. Makes me gag. Then she steals the ball and kicks it the wrong way.

You're talking about a 7 year old!!

Your kid needs to do a better job of ball security. If a 7 year old can take it from her all the time how will she play on a team her own age?

[Anonymous]

I'm just going to say that you probably should not be a parent, I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they say that, when the kids are young and playing 3v3 or 4v4, it's really 1v5 or 1v7. Everyone wants the ball and they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Haha yes i was just chatting with a mom whose son plays college soccer yesterday and she said when her son was my kid’s age (7) they called it “8 vs. the ball”. My son is probably a bit of a ball hog/stealer right now. He is faster than almost all the other kids and just wants to run after the ball all the time. He is getting better at passing but it’s a work in progress. We try to compliment him for good team work after the game if he did some good passes. I can’t imagine a 9 year old playing with 7 year olds. I wouldn’t have signed my 9 year old up for that. There are other leagues nearby that go by birth year only.

We are on the other side of the same problem. DD (age 7) really takes in the coach's instruction of "going to the quiet place other than the busy place" and "staying in your side of the court", etc. But the problem is most teammates （and the other team as well) are still gathering around the ball and there's very few passing, and even less to DD. So this makes the game less fun. I know she's capable of chasing the ball and possess the ball, as she did in the beginning of the season. By keeping the coach's instruction, DD is actually put in a disadvantaged position, as she appears to be less aggressive or skilled or both. I noticed the play time she's given is relatively smaller than the beginning of the season too. I struggle as to what suggestion to give her. Should I encourage her to continue implementing the coach's instruction, as that's what we've been promoting or should I tell her to go back to the old way of everyone chasing the ball? At this age, maybe to develop individual skill is more important than focusing on the team cooperation? Any thoughts?

My DD never joined in the crowd of kids. Eventually the ball would come out and that's when she would take advantage. Your DD may be ready to play with better or older players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they say that, when the kids are young and playing 3v3 or 4v4, it's really 1v5 or 1v7. Everyone wants the ball and they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Haha yes i was just chatting with a mom whose son plays college soccer yesterday and she said when her son was my kid’s age (7) they called it “8 vs. the ball”. My son is probably a bit of a ball hog/stealer right now. He is faster than almost all the other kids and just wants to run after the ball all the time. He is getting better at passing but it’s a work in progress. We try to compliment him for good team work after the game if he did some good passes. I can’t imagine a 9 year old playing with 7 year olds. I wouldn’t have signed my 9 year old up for that. There are other leagues nearby that go by birth year only.

We are on the other side of the same problem. DD (age 7) really takes in the coach's instruction of "going to the quiet place other than the busy place" and "staying in your side of the court", etc. But the problem is most teammates （and the other team as well) are still gathering around the ball and there's very few passing, and even less to DD. So this makes the game less fun. I know she's capable of chasing the ball and possess the ball, as she did in the beginning of the season. By keeping the coach's instruction, DD is actually put in a disadvantaged position, as she appears to be less aggressive or skilled or both. I noticed the play time she's given is relatively smaller than the beginning of the season too. I struggle as to what suggestion to give her. Should I encourage her to continue implementing the coach's instruction, as that's what we've been promoting or should I tell her to go back to the old way of everyone chasing the ball? At this age, maybe to develop individual skill is more important than focusing on the team cooperation? Any thoughts?

Is this a parent coach or a paid coach? I don’t like criticizing coaches but if what you describe is what is actually happening I have some serious alarm bells ringing.

1. At that age kids should all be getting the about the same game time, it definitely should not be based on perceived ability.
2. Any decent coach would realize your daughter is following his instructions and and provide positive reinforcement.
3. The coach should be trying to get the girls to stay in a formation, rather than chase the ball around, eve if that means pausing scrimmages to coach and instruct.

I would consider moving to a different club to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why they say that, when the kids are young and playing 3v3 or 4v4, it's really 1v5 or 1v7. Everyone wants the ball and they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Haha yes i was just chatting with a mom whose son plays college soccer yesterday and she said when her son was my kid’s age (7) they called it “8 vs. the ball”. My son is probably a bit of a ball hog/stealer right now. He is faster than almost all the other kids and just wants to run after the ball all the time. He is getting better at passing but it’s a work in progress. We try to compliment him for good team work after the game if he did some good passes. I can’t imagine a 9 year old playing with 7 year olds. I wouldn’t have signed my 9 year old up for that. There are other leagues nearby that go by birth year only.

We are on the other side of the same problem. DD (age 7) really takes in the coach's instruction of "going to the quiet place other than the busy place" and "staying in your side of the court", etc. But the problem is most teammates （and the other team as well) are still gathering around the ball and there's very few passing, and even less to DD. So this makes the game less fun. I know she's capable of chasing the ball and possess the ball, as she did in the beginning of the season. By keeping the coach's instruction, DD is actually put in a disadvantaged position, as she appears to be less aggressive or skilled or both. I noticed the play time she's given is relatively smaller than the beginning of the season too. I struggle as to what suggestion to give her. Should I encourage her to continue implementing the coach's instruction, as that's what we've been promoting or should I tell her to go back to the old way of everyone chasing the ball? At this age, maybe to develop individual skill is more important than focusing on the team cooperation? Any thoughts?

+1


U5-U7 is ALL about individual development! Nothing else! This is the phase where each player should be scoring 2-3 goals and all should be attacking and all should be trying to take the ball. Once the pitch gets bigger and the goals are farther apart do you start to take stamina and passing into consideration. Tell your DC to go get the ball and get a goal! She will be happy and excited and want to play again!

The problem with well-intentioned coaches who don't understand or know how little kids think, usually volunteer rec but sometimes travel, is that they try to do too much too soon.

[Anonymous]

U5 is very different to U7.

At U7 kids should be able to play to a basic formation rather than charging round the field in a pack surrounding the ball.

By playing to a formation you create space which gives all kids on the field time on the ball and room to dribble without being overrun by 7 other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:U5 is very different to U7.

At U7 kids should be able to play to a basic formation rather than charging round the field in a pack surrounding the ball.

By playing to a formation you create space which gives all kids on the field time on the ball and room to dribble without being overrun by 7 other kids.

Ha! "Should" is very different from "are". At U5 half the kids aren't even participating at any given moment. In U6-U8 they get progressively better at understanding the basics. I think it's U9 where they really start playing to a formation. I have one in U5 and one in U8 right now. Not a single U8 team has played to a formation. For some kids it's their first time even playing soccer and others haven't played since they were 5 years old due to the pandemic. They are all over the map. The coaches are trying to get them to spread out but they don't really listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:U5 is very different to U7.

At U7 kids should be able to play to a basic formation rather than charging round the field in a pack surrounding the ball.

By playing to a formation you create space which gives all kids on the field time on the ball and room to dribble without being overrun by 7 other kids.

Ha! "Should" is very different from "are". At U5 half the kids aren't even participating at any given moment. In U6-U8 they get progressively better at understanding the basics. I think it's U9 where they really start playing to a formation. I have one in U5 and one in U8 right now. Not a single U8 team has played to a formation. For some kids it's their first time even playing soccer and others haven't played since they were 5 years old due to the pandemic. They are all over the map. The coaches are trying to get them to spread out but they don't really listen.

You don't get a team to spread out by saying "spread out" or to play as a team by yelling "work together" in the middle of a match. All this work is done by the coach at training, beginning with proper technique and individual development to possession based drills that require them to spread out. At the match, you hope it all stuck, take mental notes, and work on what hasn't stuck.

[Anonymous]

Funnily enough I also have a U5 and a U8.

Agree that U5s are more often off looking at the flowers and chatting to friends. But by U8 kids should (that word again) be able to play to a formation and definitely are in the league our team plays in (EDP Futures). But I accept that is not going to be true across the board.