Characteristics of 4 and 5 year olds:
Developmentally, 4 and 5 year olds
are very different from children who are just two or three years older.
For example: 
·
Most of your
players will cry immediately when they
get hurt. Some cry even when they are not hurt.
·
No matter how
loud you shout, or how much they "practice" it, they cannot or will
not pass the ball.
·
Somebody will
come off the field in need of a toilet. Somebody will stay on the field when
they should be going to the toilet!
·
The only player
to hold a position is the goalkeeper (if you play with one.) Don't even
consider teaching positional play,
·
Twenty seconds
after the start of a game, every player will be within
·
Several players
will slap at the ball with their hands, or pick it up. Several parents will
yell at them not to do that.
·
A model rocket
that is launched from a nearby field will get 99% of the player's attention. By
all means, stop whatever you are doing and watch for a couple of minutes.
·
During a season,
you will end up tying at least 40 to 50 shoelaces
They will do something that
is very funny. Make sure that you laugh.
Five
and Six year olds can't play competitive team sports. They lack the experience
to understand cooperative play and the real meaning of winning and losing. Here
soccer is a means to an end, a way to introduce social and motor skills to
young children who are just beginning to experience the world outside of home
and school.
Some of the children may experience a new form of
conflict, the difference in what adults say and mean. One example is between
the "just do your best and that's good enough" mantra and the
realization that sometimes "your best is not good enough." Another is
when the coach instructs them to take the ball away another child, (which isn't
nice) while their teachers insist on sharing and being nice. This can lead to
confusion about what adults, authority figures, really want.
The basic game format (2, 4
goals or use targets) allows the children to learn direction. 2v2 and 3v3
mini-tournaments allows for team work on their scale. Using an appropriate field size
(too big and there is no pressure, too small and players will experience
conflict and stress) can help teach the consequences when the ball goes out.
Goals in unusual positions (in the corner of the pitch or at an angle) can help
children to get their heads up and to see beyond their feet. All of the
technical skills will come along with the games and the basic lessons of
"work together, keep the ball on the field and let's try going the right
way" can be learned.
Kids at this age do not "play soccer"; they
play while at soccer. Practices must be kept active with fun, imaginative
games. Each player works with his or her own ball for most of the practice.
Coach should exert minimal pressure but strive to provide an environment where
kids can experiment and learn.
The concept of team is non-existent at this age.
Instead of 3 vs. 3, it is really 1 vs. 5! Practices shouldn't last longer than
45 minutes (60 minutes with good breaks). Focus on dribbling and fundamental
movement skills (running, leaping, hopping, bending, stretching, twisting,
throwing,
catching,
and kicking).
In practice players should never wait in a line more
than 30 seconds. They should not run laps. The coach should not lecture for
long perio ds of time. Keep players active in the practice. Develop a
"flow" in which a flurry of activity is followed by short rests or
less demanding activities. Players will learn by copying other players. Kids at
this age barely understand rules and boundaries (sidelines). Don't emphasize
boundaries in your practices or games. Keep the rules very simple.
Kids need generous praise. Curiosity should be
stimulated through games of their own devising. Ask them what they want to do.
Let players demonstrate skills or accomplishments. Go with it.
Examples of activities for 4 and 5 year
olds:
“Try this”
1. The Coach does coordination exercises without
ball--clapping, stretching, twisting, jumping, balancing, skipping…and asks
players to try. Later, have players come up with ideas for other players to
imitate.
2. Same as above but with a ball. (Okay to use hands and
feet. Progress to ball movement exercises, toe touches, rolls, etc.)
“Body part dribble”
Players dribble ball with different parts of their
body as designated by the coach. Switch quickly between commands. Get players
up and down quickly. Use verbal commands first, and then point to the area that
you want the player to use. This teaches the players to look up.
“Hit the bear”
Players dribble around and try to hit coaches (or
parents). Who can hit the most in 30 seconds?
“Red Light, Green Light”
All players start in a line at one end of the grid, while coach is in the middle. When coach says "green light" players dribble forward. When coach says, "red light" players stop with a foot on the ball. On "yellow light" players move forward slowly. "Reverse" players go backward. After a few rounds, use hand signals instead of verbal commands.