Grassroots

Grassroots Workshop

As part of the Long Term player development and Sports for life initiative the Alberta Soccer Association will conduct Grassroots Workshops throughout the Province of Alberta. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce the Sports for life model as well as provide information with regards to the stages of development specific to soccer players. The information will coincide with the U6-U8-10 booklets that were introduced at the 2010 AGM. The workshops will be approximately 3 hours long and will contain both a classroom session and field session. If your district or zone is interested in hosting a workshop or for further information please contact the Grassroots Coordinator for the Alberta Soccer Association at admin@albertasoccer.comor by phone 780-474-2200.

Information Booklets for U6, U8, U10 and U12.

U6 Part One U6 Part Two

U12 Soccer

Player Development within an 8 A-Side environment

For More Information, please examine the following booklets

U12 League Administration U12 Parent's Guide U12 Technical

Why make a change?

For a number of years, Alberta Soccer and the supporting districts have recognized that mini-soccer at the U10 age level are critical years in the development of children in sports and that we need to provide the appropriate environment for ALL of these children.

Currently in Alberta U12 soccer is played in the form of 11 vs. 11 games. In order to develop our young players further, the ASA Technical Committee is recommending this positive change.

Soccer for players under the age of 12 years old is a topic that has been looked at very carefully. There are many varying opinions and desires among parents, players, coaches, and administrators. However, all research shows that playing small-sided games is far more beneficial to developing soccer skills than playing 11 a-side games.

Progressing from 3 vs. 3, 4 vs. 4, 7 vs. 7 to 8 vs. 8, prior to the 11 vs. 11 games is based on sound educational methods world wide.

The ASA Technical Committee believes it is the right thing to do and, it is one more piece of the puzzle in the young players' development.

What is 8 A-Side Soccer?

Small sided games are the best way for players to combine nearly all elements of the game. The fewer the players the more game-conditioned touches on the soccer ball. As well as you get all these touches in a ‘realistic' and ‘live' environment with the addition of tactical applications. This is where the enjoyment happens and after 60 minutes of high activity combined with structured repetition the players learn and go home HAPPY!

The 11 a-side game routinely plays structured formations - defense, midfield and forward. Playing 8 A-Side games have the same structure but players are more able to move from position to position, from defense to offence making the game exciting for them. The smaller field and smaller number of players on the field will help the players to develop their technique because they will have more touches of the ball. Because there are fewer players on the field there will be extra space, which will give the player more time to make decisions, this will help develop the tactical side of the game. In a 8 A-Side soccer game rules such as throw-ins, free kicks, corner kicks and goal kicks still apply.

Further from a coaching perspective organizing players during the match is far less stressful and practice time is not occupied with trying to demonstrate an 11 a-side picture. Valuable training time can be spent on technique and small sided tactics. From a player perspective all players can have more opportunities to attack (develop and identify goal scorers) and all players will recognize that they will have to defend as well.

When will the change occur?

The Technical Committee of Alberta Soccer is recommending the change be fully implemented for the 2008 outdoor season.

How can this be accomplished?

An Education officer of Alberta Soccer in conjunction with the District Head Coach should be available to work with all districts in organizing, guiding and evaluating the program. In addition licensed mentor coaches could be hired/organized by the districts to assist beginner coaches in the proper "on field" implementation of the program.
With assistance from Alberta Soccer, a strong belief in the 8 A-Side game, coupled by creating two streams at the grassroots level for the developing player:

1. Community Stream (Program)

It is recommended that players should be placed into teams and compete within their district or local association. Games will be played during the months of May and June. Alberta Soccer recommends that practices will be arranged at the discretion of the team coach, in consultation with all parents of the players. Play to train ratio could be 2:1

2. Development Stream (Program)

This program is recommended to be a far more challenging program. The development stream is designed to create an environment for players who have decided soccer to be their sport of choice. Properly organized this program should demand a greater commitment from players and parents, i.e. training and travel. Play to train ratio should be a minimum of 1:2

Identification of Players:

Players wishing to be considered to play in this program should be identified through pre-season small-sided games. Where possible it is recommended that independent, qualified coaches should record their playing abilities. Teams could then be formed to compete in a league.

League Program:

The formed teams should then compete in a league which may include "club" teams from within. One or two games per week will be played during the months of May and June. If districts wish the league could break for the month of July and resume play in August/September. Since U12 soccer is development. - It is important that no league standings be kept!

Practices:

Two practices per week should be expected as a minimum. Practices should be structured, focus on movement and enjoyment, have a theme and include warm-ups - with the soccer ball, technique and skill training, and small-sided games. Practices must be no longer than one hour in length.

Games

By implementing this program the difficulty with lack of proper fields is reduced (one full field can now be divided into two smaller fields) while the number of players on one full field is increased from twenty-two (22) to thirty two (32). In addition the program can act as a good development opportunity for the districts youth referees.

3. Festivals
Rather than offering Provincial Championships at the U12 age group Alberta Soccer is recommending Festivals be held on a regional basis.

In addition, districts can host festivals, as these provide a popular format for districts and clubs who come together at a central venue with teams playing a small number of games on a friendly basis. Results are not kept and the importance is placed on fun and enjoying the next game without the pressure of league tables.

4. Organization

All youth districts shall administer leagues and programs under the Alberta Soccer regulations. Included will be U12 development soccer.

In all U12 development soccer, emphasis shall be placed on enjoyment, sportsmanship (fair play), education, skill development, and respect for teammates, opponents and referees.

Keeping U12 Development Soccer Simple

The game U12 soccer (8 a-side) provides the best environment for youth players to develop soccer skills and techniques. When coaching, officiating or parenting remember to keep the game simple. Over complicating things can loose the flow of the game in turn inhibiting a player's development. Encourage the players to discover the love of the game through the game.

In addition a small sided game is a great teacher.

The teaching of the game and the organization of the practices will require time for everyone to familiarize themselves with the game. After a week or two, however, there should be no difficulties.

Be Patient! The principles of the game are right. The game is right. The rewards will be in the children's enjoyment of playing and their positive development.

Typical comments and questions for U12 8 A-Side Soccer

Why 8 A-Side?

It makes the game a better experience for children. More touches on the ball, the more a player will develop his/ her skills, having more opportunity to be actively involved in the game. Energetic workouts occur due to players playing both defensive and offensive roles.

Why shouldn't they play 11 vs. 11 like 'real' soccer?

The 11 vs. 11 formats is the adult version of the game. It makes little sense for Under 12 players to play on a full size field with full size goals, as they do not have the strength and size to play such a game. The players at this age have difficulty taking a goal kick that will reach out side of the goal area or a corner kick that reach the opponents goal mouth. The game will be played in a small area of the field for long periods of time as players do not have the strength to get the ball up the field. This would not help them develop their soccer skills.

I did not grow up playing this way.

True. Whether you grew up playing here or elsewhere, soccer was traditionally played 11 vs. 11 for all age groups. This is no longer true. Players under the age of twelve are now playing small-sided games in soccer rich nations all over the world.

How will they learn to play 11 vs. 11?

Young players were forced to play 11 a-sides before their bodies were physically developed to play the adult version of the game. Any notion that players will be less prepared to play 11 vs. 11 is not justified.

Soccer Rules of the U12 Game

Game Format

Team Size

Game Duration

Ball Size

Field Size

Min/Max Width

Field Size

Min/max

Length

Goal Size

(no larger than)

8 vs. 8

Ideal 11/Max 14

2 X 30 min

42 to 55m

45 to 60 yd

60 to 75m

65 to 82 yd

6ft/1.83m X

18ft/5.49m

The Canadian Soccer Association highly recommends no 11 a-side soccer be played before U13

For Mini Stars information click here.

'The Dutch were ahead of us in their vision for eight-year-old players playing small-sided games.

'It's only seven or eight years ago that we started to play seven-a-side football on smaller pitches for the youngsters. Before that we were playing 11-aside. It was crazy.

'It's not rocket science. You want young players having 100 touches of the ball per game, rather than five.'

Success story: Hoddle's academy has already helped young English players find another club

On bigger pitches, physical players stand out and the temptation to use the extra space to hit long balls has been irresistible for generations of English schoolboys.

'Absolutely right,' says Hoddle. 'That's been our problem for years, to the detriment of the technical player."

Read more: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1211431/Glenn-Hoddle-believes-England-arent-technically-astute-world-beaters.html#ixzz0RJGridNd