CHARACTERISTICS OF U - 8 PLAYERS

• Attention span is a bit longer than U-6 players but still not at a "competitive" stage
• Inclined towards small group activities.
• Always in motion: scratching; blinking; jerking; rocking....
• Easily bruised psychologically. They will remember negative comments for a long time. Shout praise. Give "hints".
• They want everybody to like them.
• Developing physical confidence.
• Lack sense of pace. They go flat out until they drop.
• Skeletal system growing rapidly. Often results in apparent lack of coordination.
• Cardiovascular and temperature regulation system is not developed. Their heart rate peaks quickly and they overheat quickly. make sure that they get adequate water breaks.
• Limited understanding with personal evaluation. "If they try hard, they performed well" regardless of the actual performance. Thus, they need to be encouraged constantly, and asked "Now, can you do this?" •Better at recognizing when the ball is out of play, and remembering what goal they are going for... but, in the heat of battle, they will sometimes still forget. They still find it difficult to really be aware of more than one thing at a time.

INVOLVING THE PARENTS

It is imperative that coaches get the parents involved. A meeting should be held with the parents at the first practice so that objectives and team policies can be addressed.

Some topics that you may want to address at this meeting are:

• A means of contacting everyone without one person doing all of the calling. (Phone chains/ emails.)
• Choosing a team parent-someone to handle details; including snacks.
• Discuss the laws of the game.
• Practice and game schedules. How you feel about starting and ending on time.
• What each player should bring to practice: ball, filled water bottle, soccer attire, shin guards (Cleats are not mandatory for outdoor.)
• Most importantly, your philosophy about coaching U-8 players. Let them know that everyone plays; that the game does not look like the older player's games; that you are there to ensure that their player is safe and has a good time, as well as learn about soccer.
• What your expectations for them is during game time. How do you want them to cheer? Do they know that they should not coach from the sidelines?
• Above all, try to enjoy yourself. If you do they probably will too.

THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT

Six, and seven year old players are a bit more compliant than their U-6 counterparts. They will be able to follow 2 or 3 step instructions and are starting to have a good understanding about what it means to play a "game". They are also starting to cooperate more with their teammates. Often, they will repeat the phrase "I can't do that!", but, will quickly run to you to show you that they can, even when they only think that they can. Some other things that you can expect to happen during a season with this age group are:

• There will be at least 200-300 falls during the season, but, now they will usually pick themselves back up.
• Some of the girls are a lot tougher than the boys.
• They will still want to wear a pinnie, even when the color is identical to their shirt.
• They will wear their uniform to bed.
• Small sided soccer is the best option for these players. Not only will they get more touches on the ball, but, it is an easier game to understand.
• Passing is not an important part of their game, no matter how much anybody yells at them to do otherwise, it is much more fun to dribble and shoot. Let them.
• Training once a week is plenty, and should not last longer than one hour.
• Have as many different kinds of activities ready as you can get into one hour. Emphasis needs to be placed on what is FUN!.