The big kick-off. very big when you’re four

One question I am always being asked by parents who are keen for their child to be playing football from an early age is: How do I go about starting my own team of 4/5 year old? Boys and girls of this age love turning up for an hour on a Saturday morning keen to play football. Charging around after the ball like bees after a honey pot. But you can make it a very rewarding experience for yourself and the children.

1. Keep it small

If you put your players into small groups of seven or less it is easier for you to keep control and the kids see more of the ball and have more fun. Have as many assistants as is possible – two or three parents make excellent assistants. Tell them from the very beginning in soccer it’s very important: NO HANDS!

2. Twos or threes

Play 2X2 or 3X3 lead-up games. You can put one parent on each team to help direct the game, give them strict instructions as to what they can or cannot do (one touch, no tackles, and not in goal) and show what the helpers are doing to the players. Explain the skills and fundamentals of soccer during practice.

3. Have you enough balls?

Invest in cones, hoops, speed ladders, making sure you don’t have long lines of children waiting to take their turn. This is when problems happen. It may sound obvious but you must have enough balls for all the players to use. Prepare a few simple activities and try to maximize time on task (show-tell-show-practice). Avoid lengthy explanations. Whenever you think about game strategy, relax and let it go, that comes later. Trying to teach children to play positions is a long term thing. They all want to be striker, so switch them around.

4. Can they kick it?

Try and get your kids to kick with the side of the foot not to toe punt.
(1) Start from a standing position with a stationary ball, (2) kick stationary ball with the kids moving slowly, (3) kick moving ball while in stationary position (you roll it too them), (4) kick moving ball while moving (again you roll it to them).

5. It’s also a social event

Allow plenty of drinks breaks and allocate time for socialising before and after training. Make sure the kids know you have allocated this time and that during training chatting about last night’s TV is out.

6. Parents

Keep them quiet! Avoid excessive cheering when a goal is scored so its no big deal when they lose a goal. Remember, it’s a fun thing.