[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]