Click on the links below to see practice sessions from technical director, Kate Samsot.  E-mail her if you have questions:  kate@stoddert.com

U8 Shooting

U10 Defending 101

Plan your practice with a theme (i.e. passing with the inside of the foot)

Build practice from simple to complex (players start passing with no pressure/defenders - build up to a full scrimmage)

Enjoy yourself!

Players can juggle, do some short passing, play keep-away, and get a few shots on goal prior to the game. Warm up the goalkeepers with help from the parents. Pass goalkeepers a variety of balls, progressing from easy passes to shots. Once the keepers are warmed up, they can go in goal and the team can take full-force shots. 

Here is a link to a warm-up routine. It is appropriate for about age 9 (Under 10 teams) and older:  docs/Simple%20Warm-Up%20Routine.doc

Here is a video of “dynamic stretching”, as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCysoP3a9wg

We all know that success in the development of young soccer players can not be measured in wins and losses. So how then do we, as youth coaches, measure success? This Vision Statement from US Youth Soccer outlines an approach.