Player Development Objectives for the U11/U12 Age Group

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”left-to-right”](based on Components of the Game as identified by MA Youth Soccer for the U11/U12 Age Group)

Technique:

  • Execute a moving throw-in
  • Mastery of the qualities of a bouncing/spinning ball – ability to control it with one touch
  • Ability to control a flighted ball
  • Ability to execute feints with the ball
  • Ability to receive bouncing and air balls with the thigh and chest
  • Ability to control ball with first touch receiving
  • Ability to control ball with first touch
  • Ability to take first touch into space
  • Ability to use heading to score goals and for clearances while standing or jumping
  • Accuracy and quality of outside of foot passing
  • Ability to receive cleanly with either foot
  • Ability to execute accurate and weighted short passing with both feet
  • Ability to bend shots
  • Ability to cross ball to near post space and penalty spot space
  • Ability to use heel and flick passing
  • Ability to execute half volley
  • Ability to shoot off a volley
  • Ability to chip the ball to pass to a teammate
  • Ability to slide tackle
  • For goalkeepers: W grip, footwork, underarm bowling, side-arm throwing to targets, taking own goal kicks, side-winder kick, low and forward diving and angle and near post play.

Tactics:

  • Understanding & ability to execute 2v1 defending
  • Understanding of & ability to execute 2v2 attacking and defending
  • Understanding of roles of 2nd attacker and defender
  • Understanding of man-to-man defense
  • Ability to use combination passing
  • Ability to play both on and around the ball as a group with purpose
  • Use of verbal and visual communication
  • Ability to execute a wall pass at a variety of angles
  • Ability to execute passing combinations on the move
  • For goalkeepers: positional play, basic angle play (ebb and flow) – into and down the line of the flight of the ball, commanding the goalmouth for the goalkeeper and positioning during a penalty kick and communication.

Psychology:

  • Player seems self-motivated
  • Player understands value of teamwork
  • Player has confidence, desire, mental skills
  • Player can handling distress
  • Player understands how to learn from each match
  • Player engages in fair play
  • Player needs limited parental involvement
  • Player’s ability to handle emotional management (discipline)

Fitness:

  • Endurance
  • Agility at speed (sharp turns)
  • Use of acceleration and deceleration
  • Reaction speed

US Youth Soccer Player Development Model – October, 2013 – Available on the ASC Website.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]