2nd/3rd GRADE PROGRAM
U.S. SOCCER BEST PRACTICES
OVERALL OBJECTIVES:
Soccer is still all about having fun with the ball and encouraging the children to want to have the ball at their feet. The numbers should still be one and two players to a ball.
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS AGE:
These children are still young. By the end of this phase, (around eight- years-old) children are beginning to be able to apply past experiences to the present situation. For example, at a simple level, they can remember what they were shown or what they tried with the ball from last practice. At the same time, this ability is not present on a consistent basis. They are still not able to imagine consequences (i.e., if you do this, what will happen?). Let them learn through experience.
Do not attempt to replicate organizational schemes that you have seen older teams doing. Seven-and eight-year olds are not capable of playing anything that resembles organized soccer. For example, team concepts such as combination play or positions should not be introduced at this age.
DO use older players as mentors and role models. Often, the younger players will learn simply by watching how the older players move or by what they can do with the ball.
GOALS FOR PRACTICE, GAMES AND SEASON
■ PRACTICE:
There should be a lot of playing with the ball in small numbers for relatively short periods of time. A key focus for this age is to encourage players not to fear the ball. Give each player plenty of opportunities to experience the ball at his or her own pace. For example, organizing games where there are multiple goals and balls for the players to work with. Also, games where they are changing direction and changing how fast they run, and dealing with balls on the ground and with bouncing balls.
■ DURATION, RATIO OF BALL: CHILD
Practices should last 45 to 60 minutes. For most of the practice, each player should be actively involved with a ball. Games of 1 v 1 or games up to 3 v 3 with multiple balls involved (2:1 ratio of player to ball) and games to goals are also enjoyable and effective for this age.
■ GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING DURING PRACTICE
No Lines. No laps. No Lectures. Attendance is still optional. Provided there is adequate supervision, children at this age should be allowed to come in and out of practice as they please. At this point, if you have not already done so, you may want to introduce some boundaries. However, don’t allow the boundaries of the environment to hinder the training time by producing frequent stoppages of play because the ball goes ‘out of bounds.’ Try to keep the flow of the game going. Encourage informal play without pressure to “perform.” Encourage the basic skills and give the players a lot of time with the ball. This will ultimately build their confidence. Make sure to always include games to goals.
■ GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INFORMATION THAT IS COMMUNICATED TO THE PLAYERS BY THE COACH
Similar to the U-6 age group, the coach/parent should be positive and encouraging of each child. Specific soccer-related information should be limited to basic ideas of how to best keep the ball from running out of bounds too often, as well as some simple ideas for maneuvering in tight spaces and past opponents. Coaches should exclude discussions about positions or other team concepts. When addressing technique, consider that kids learn much by watching and copying. A good picture of proper technique can be a very powerful learning tool. Coaches should say things such as, “See if you can make it look like this.” Limit time spent breaking down the mechanics. Instead, try to do most of your teaching of technique by offering a picture and then set up fun games where the objective of the game is for players to practice certain ways to control the ball. This approach allows the player a certain amount of freedom to develop their ball control and accept that there is more than one way of doing it. This is applicable at least through U-12.
■ GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN MATCHES
U.S. Soccer recommends that there be no organized matches at this age. Consistently set up mini games at practice for your kids to compete with and against each other, according to their age. There will be no need to keep score or even be very involved, except to enjoy the players and their effort and joy. Every player should look forward to opportunities to have the ball at his or her feet and to score.
It is the coach’s responsibility to encourage this fear-free culture. For the 7- and 8- year-old groups, these games should only be seen as another fun activity that happens to include a soccer ball. They are not ready for specific soccer type information and there should be no emphasis on team concepts or positions. They will have plenty of opportunities to play in “real soccer games,” as they get older. Most of the information from coaches during these times will pertain to each player’s individual relationship with the soccer ball — to want it, how to find it, deal with it, feel more comfortable with it, keep it close, etc.
GAME RULES:
The Laws of the Game are established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), and govern all play sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The In-Town Program follows these Laws with some specific modifications to suit different age groups and different playing arrangements (e.g. 6v6). The modifications for the In Town Program are described on this page.
LAW 1: FIELD OF PLAY
- FIELD SIZE:
- U8 - 30 yards X 50 yards
- U9 - 35 yards X 55 yards
- Penalty area line marked touchline to touchline 10 yards from the goal line.
- No marked goal area.
- GOALS
- U8–5 ft high X 10 ft wide
- U9 - 6.5 ft high X 12 ft wide (7v7 GOAL)
- U8 FIELD DIMENSIONS AND U8 GOAL WILL BE USED FOR 2ND/3RD PROGRAM
LAW 2: THE BALL
- U8 (2ND GRADE) - SIZE 3
- U9 (3RD GRADE) - SIZE 4
- SIZE 3 BALL WILL BE USED FOR 2ND/3RD PROGRAM
LAW 3: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
- GAME FORMAT: 6v6 (5 FIELD PLAYERS AND A GOALIE)
- FORMATION: 2-1-2
No fewer than 5 players and no more than 6 players are needed to start the game.
SUBSTITUTIONS — may be made anytime the ball goes out of play or at the start of a new quarter or half.
EQUAL PLAYING TIME: All players shall play an equal amount of time. Each player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time. No one player shall play the entire game unless all the other players have had a minimum of 75% playing time.
LAW 4: PLAYER'S EQUIPMENT
- FOOTWEAR — sneakers or soft cleated soccer shoes
- SHIN GUARDS ARE MANDATORY. No child will be allowed to play in a game without shin guards.
- Players must wear their team colored jersey with socks that cover their shin guards.
- The goalkeeper must have a different color shirt or pinnie than the field players.
LAW 5: REFEREES
- A minimum of one referee, assigned by HYS, who has attended an on-field orientation by the referee assignor.
- All law infractions shall be briefly explained to the offending players.
- Referee’s decisions on points of fact connected with the game shall be final.
LAW 6: ASSISTANT REFEREES
- None
LAW 7: DURATION OF THE GAME
- The game shall be divided into two 25-minute halves.
- There will be a 5-minute halftime.
At each game, each team must have a qualified, responsible adult present who must be at least 18 years old and two years older than the age limit of the team, and who can be a coach, or someone designated to substitute for them, and whose responsibilities shall include maintaining control and discipline over the team and its spectators.
The responsible person must display by wearing their valid credentials during the game and present their Mass Youth Credential with the current soccer year to the referee before the game commences. An Electronic version of the Mass Youth Soccer credential is not acceptable.
Games shall not exceed one-hour in length. If the game starts late, the Center Referee shall adjust the game time to two equal halves, so that the game ends prior to the start of the next scheduled game on the assigned field.
LAW 8: THE START OF PLAY
- Opponents must be eight yards from the center mark while kick-off is in progress.
LAW 9: BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
- Ball out of play — the ball is out of play when:
- It has wholly passed over the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air.
- Play has been stopped by the referee.
- It touches a match official, remains on the field of play and:
- A team starts a promising attack or
- The ball goes directly into the goal or
- The team in possession of the ball changes
- In all these cases, play is restarted with a dropped ball.
- Ball in play — The ball is in play at all other times when it touches a match official and when it rebounds off a goalpost, crossbar or corner flag post and remains on the field of play.
LAW 10: DETERMINING THE OUTCOME
- Goal scored
- A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offense has been committed by the team scoring the goal.
- If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded.
- If a referee signals a goal before the ball has passed wholly over the goal line, play is restarted with a dropped ball.
- Winning team
- The team scoring the greater number of goals is the winner.
- If both teams score no goals or an equal number of goals, the match is drawn.
GAME ENDS AFTER REGULATION TIME EXPIRES NO MATTER WHAT. We do not wait until the end of a play or for a player to take a shot!
NO OVERTIME
GAME MANAGEMENT — Winning by more than 5 goals does not enhance the experience for the winning team, but it can significantly diminish the enjoyment and interest in soccer for the losing team. Beyond that, it is considered poor sportsmanship and lack of respect for your opponent. It is the coaches' responsibility to manage the scoring and take the necessary steps to keep within the suggested goal differential.
Game matches should not see goal differentials of more than +5.
LAW 11: OFFSIDES
- There shall be no offsides
LAW 12: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT:
- No cautions (yellow cards) or ejections (red cards) for players.
- All fouls result in an indirect free kick. Opponents must be eight yards from the ball when it is kicked.
- Coaches manage player behavior.
- Referees can use cautions and/or eject coaches and spectators.
LAW 13: FREE KICKS
- All free kicks are indirect. The opponents must be eight yards from the ball when it is first kicked.
- No free kicks shall be taken by the attacking team within the defending team’s penalty box area. The ball will be placed on the penalty line at the point closest to the point of infraction.
- Indirect Kick — defined as one full rotation of the ball before another player can touch it.
LAW 14: PENALTY KICKS
- NO PENALTY KICKS ARE TO BE TAKEN DURING THESE GAMES. (SEE LAW 12 AND 13)
LAW 15: THROW-INS
- A second throw-in may be allowed if the player throws the ball improperly on the initial attempt.
- The referee will explain the proper method before allowing the player to re-throw.
LAW 16: GOAL KICKS
- A goal kick may be taken from any point inside the penalty area.
- All opponents must be behind the center mid-field line.
- Defenders must not engage with attackers until they cross midline.
LAW 17: CORNER KICKS
- Opponents must be eight yards away from the ball when it is kicked.
- The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player touches it.
LAW 18: GOALKEEPER RESTRICTIONS
- On a goalkeeper save followed by a throw or punt, the ball must touch the ground or any player before it crosses the halfway line.
- If the ball goes over the halfway line, the penalty is an indirect free kick from the center circle.
- The 6-second rule is not enforced.