Skill Development
U6 | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 |
Individual or Technical Skills
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Dribble with all sides (inside, outside, instep, sole) of both feet | Dribble with all sides (inside, outside, instep, sole) of both feet | Dribble with all sides (inside, outside, instep, sole) of both feet | Dribble with all sides (inside, outside, instep, sole) of both feet | Dribble with all sides (inside, outside, instep, sole) of both feet |
Stop ball with underside of foot off dribble | Stop ball with underside of foot off dribble | Stop ball with underside of foot off dribble | Stop ball with underside of foot off dribble | Basic techniques to dribble out of trouble |
Basic passing (inside of foot) | Basic techniques to dribble out of trouble | Basic techniques to dribble out of trouble | Basic techniques to dribble out of trouble | Basic techniques to dribble past someone (i.e., creating an angle, basic feinting, changing speed) |
Soft first touch upon receiving pass | Basic shielding | Basic techniques to dribble past someone (i.e., creating an angle, basic feinting, changing speed) | Basic techniques to dribble past someone (i.e., creating an angle, basic feinting, changing speed) | Intermediate techniques to dribble past someone (step-over/turning on ball techniques, etc.) |
Controlling ball to space with first touch when appropriate, rather than instinctively kicking ball away | Basic techniques to dribble past someone (i.e., creating an angle, basic feinting, changing speed) | Speed dribble | Intermediate techniques to dribble past someone (step-over/turning on ball techniques, etc.) | Speed dribble |
Basic trapping technique (using underside of foot) | Elementary passing (include passing with both sides of feet) | Basic shielding | Speed dribble | Shielding against aggressive pressure |
| Basic throw-in technique | Passing using both sides of feet | Basic shielding | Passing using all surfaces of foot (inside, outside, instep, heel) |
| Soft first touch upon receiving pass | Passing using both feet | Shielding against aggressive pressure | Passing using both feet |
| Controlling ball to space with first touch when appropriate, rather than instinctively kicking ball away | Passing while leading teammate | Passing using all surfaces of foot (inside, outside, instep, heel) | Passing while leading teammate |
| Intermediate trapping techniques (using underside of foot, upper chest) | Long, lofted kicks (e.g., goal kicks) | Passing using both feet | Accurate long passes using strong foot |
| Basic shooting technique | Basic throw-in technique | Passing while leading teammate | Accurate long passes using WEAK foot |
| Basic defensive play-marking, goal side positioning | Intermediate throw-in technique (step while dragging rear foot) | Accurate long passes | Long, lofted kicks (e.g., goal kicks, corner kicks) |
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| Soft first touch upon receiving pass | Long, lofted kicks (e.g., goal kicks, corner kicks) | Crossing (i.e., can the player cross the ball into the goal mouth from the corner area?) |
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| Receiving pass - deadening (both feet) | Crossing (i.e., can the player cross the ball into the goal mouth from the corner area?) | Crossing using WEAK foot |
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| Receiving pass - controlling to space (both feet) | Intermediate throw-in technique (step while dragging foot) | Intermediate throw-in technique (step while dragging rear foot) |
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| Controlling ball to space with first touch, when appropriate, in defensive situation rather than instinctively kicking ball away | Advanced throw-in technique (step while dragging foot) with accuracy and distance or touch | Advanced throw-in technique (step while dragging foot) with accuracy and distance or touch |
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| Intermediate trapping techniques (using underside of foot, upper chest) | Soft first touch upon receiving pass | Soft first touch upon receiving pass |
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| Elementary shooting technique (i.e., instep power shot) - strong foot | Receiving pass - deadening (both feet) | Receiving pass - deadening (both feet) |
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| Elementary shooting technique - WEAK foot | Receiving pass - controlling to space (both feet) | Receiving pass - controlling to space (both feet) |
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| Basic heading technique | Receiving the pass away from pressure (i.e., "opening up" and receiving with lead foot) | Receiving the pass away from pressure (i.e., "opening up" and receiving with lead foot) |
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| Basic defensive play-marking, goal side positioning | Controlling ball to space with first touch, when appropriate, in defensive situation rather than instinctively kicking ball away | Controlling ball to space with first touch, when appropriate, in defensive situation rather than instinctively kicking ball away |
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| Basic goalkeeper play (i.e., positioning to cut down angles, blocking, catching, distributing ball (rolling, throwing, punting)) | Intermediate trapping techniques (feet-inside, outside, top, bottom; thigh, chest) | Intermediate trapping techniques (feet-inside, outside, top, bottom; thigh, chest) |
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| Elementary shooting technique (i.e., instep power shot) -strong foot | Advanced trapping techniques (feet-inside, outside, top, bottom; thigh, chest AND head, while controlling ball to space) |
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| Elementary shooting technique - WEAK foot | Elementary shooting technique (i.e., instep power shot) -strong foot |
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| Intermediate shooting technique - strong foot (including inside of foot from close range, "one-time" shots, penalty kicks) | Elementary shooting technique - WEAK foot |
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| Intermediate shooting technique - WEAK foot, (excluding penalty kicks) | Intermediate shooting technique - strong foot (including inside of foot from close range, "one-time" shots, penalty kicks) |
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| Basic heading technique | Intermediate shooting technique - WEAK foot, (excluding penalty kicks) |
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| Intermediate heading technique (offensive and defensive heading; heading while jumping) | Ability to volley ball on goal |
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| Basic defensive play-marking, goal side positioning | Ability to chip the ball on goal |
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| Basic goalkeeper play (i.e., positioning to cut down angles, blocking, catching, distributing ball (rolling, throwing, punting)) | Ability to shape shot |
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| Intermediate goalkeeper play-mobility in penalty area (charging breakaways, cutting off crosses), punching, deflecting; defending penalty kicks | Ability to score regularly on penalty kick |
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| Ability to score regularly on breakaway |
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| Basic heading technique |
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| Intermediate heading technique (offensive and defensive heading; heading while jumping) |
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| Advanced heading technique (directing ball, heading to score) |
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| Basic goalkeeper play (i.e., positioning to cut down angles, blocking, catching, distributing ball (rolling, throwing, punting)) |
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| Intermediate goalkeeper play-mobility in penalty area (charging breakaways, cutting off crosses), punching, deflecting, defending penalty kicks |
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| Advanced goalkeeper play-smothering, diving, jumping, getting to the ground |
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Team or Tactical Skills | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 |
| Basic field positioning, formations | Basic field positioning, formations, retaining shape | Basic field positioning, formations, retaining shape | Understanding basic 11 v. 11 formations (i.e., 4-3-3, 4-4-2) |
| Basic ball movement concepts | Basic ball movement concepts | Understanding of sweeper's role | Understanding of sweeper's role |
| Basic on-field communications | Basic on-field communications | Basic ball movement concepts | Understanding of stopper's role |
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| Basic attacking ideas | Basic on-field communications | Basic on-field communications |
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| Tactical passing (e.g., forming triangles, passing back, reversing field, playing through balls, seeing and executing overlap opportunities) | Tactical passing (e.g., forming triangles, passing back, reversing field, playing through balls, seeing and executing overlap opportunities) | Tactical passing (e.g., forming triangles, passing back, reversing field, playing through balls, seeing and executing overlap opportunities) |
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| Understanding of roles of 1st and 2nd attackers | Understanding of roles of 1st and 2nd attackers | Understanding of roles of 1st and 2nd attackers |
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| Basic defending ideas | Understanding of role of stretching field side-to-side | Understanding of role of stretching field side-to-side |
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| Understanding of roles of 1st, 2nd and third defenders (i.e., "ball, cover, balance") | How and when to switch the point of attack | How and when to switch the point of attack |
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| Understanding of 1 v 1 concepts | Recognizing offsides during game situations | Recognizing offsides during game situations |
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| Understanding of 2 v 1 concepts | Basic defending ideas | Combination play |
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| Understanding of 2 v 2 concepts | Understanding of roles of 1st, 2nd and third defenders (i.e., "ball, cover, balance") | Basic defending ideas |
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| Understanding of 1 v 1 concepts | Understanding of roles of 1st, 2nd and third defenders (i.e., "ball, cover, balance") |
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| Understanding of 2 v 1 concepts | Understanding pressure vs. containing |
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| Understanding of 2 v 2 concepts | Understanding 1 v 1 roles |
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| Understanding of 2 v 1 roles |
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| Set play for center-mid start | Understanding 2 v 2 roles |
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| Set plays for corner kicks | Understanding 3 v 3 roles |
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| Penalty kicks | Ability to execute offsides trap |
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| Direct kicks | Set play for center-mid start |
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| Set plays for indirect kicks | Set corner kicks |
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| Forming defensive walls (coordination with goalkeeper, tactics to preventing surprise kick) | Direct kicks |
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| Defending corner kicks | Set plays for indirect kicks |
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| Forming defensive walls (coordination with goalkeeper, tactics to preventing surprise kick) |
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| Defending corner kicks |
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