Soccer Curriculum
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Make the experience FUN! As a coach it’s about patience, good humor and looking thru a kids eyes. The more touches on the ball the better for these young kids. Make simple corrections for the players to understand. Coaches are encouraged to explain basic concepts of the game but at this age the focus should be on their own accomplishments. Kids want to be encouraged and PLAY. They will “beehive” in a cluster following the ball. Drills and coaching should be centered around dribbling and shooting with the occasional passing. As coaches you should be changing activities every 10-15 minutes. Most activities and drills should be with a ball. Encourage sportsmanship and fair play. Keep it FUN!
Individual Skills: Toe Taps, Boggles aka boxes, sole rolls, dribbling changing direction.
Fun ideas: Red Light / Green Light dribble, hungry hippos (all the balls in the middle- players quickly sprint to the middle and dribble balls back to their starting point), shooting at targets
1st and 2nd Grade
Although most of the kids are still focused on their own individual performance you can start to share some team concepts including positioning, spacing and passing to a team member. Rules of the game can be explained in basic detail. At age 7 and 8 you can hold their attention a little longer. Activities should still change every 15min. Recommending drills with multiple goals on a field, changing direction when dribbling, proper shooting technique, attacking bouncing balls and how to defend. The playing aspect of the game will become close to organized and less bunched. All players should be rotating in various positions. Encourage teamwork, having fun, fair play and the start of being competitive.
Individual Skills: Toe Taps, Sole Rolls, Boggles, dribbling changing direction, introduction to first touch, juggling, inside and outside of the foot, watch soccer on TV, throw ins, passing in small groups
Fun ideas: Steal the bacon, world cup soccer, play with four small goals, king/queen of the field (one big circle and every player has a soccer ball- idea is to kick out all the other balls while you shield yours. The last player standing is queen/king of the field)
3rd and 4th Grade
At this age team identity becomes more of a focus. Linked passes, passes with intent, set plays, and positioning are reinforced. Young athletes are starting to showcase some individual technical abilities as well: juggling, dribbling, shooting, trapping and passing. Young brains are developing their cognitive memories so you can build from a game’s shortcomings. As some shine in various positions, its still important to have all kids play in various roles: defense, midfield, offense and keeper. Team concepts of positioning, spacing, playing defensively, dribbling at a defender one on one, and first touch should be a focus.
Individual Skills: Pull backs, chop turns, Juggling, dribbling changing direction, watching soccer on TV, passing against a wall using both feet, first touch becomes more a focus, shooting on target.
Fun ideas: steal the bacon, juggle contest, world cup soccer, relay races (dribble up pass back or dribble left foot up and right foot back)
5th and 6th Grade
Keep it fun while keeping them engaged. Let them enjoy all aspects of the game. At this point tactical aspects of the game become an equal focus to individual athletic skills like moving off the ball, staying on sides, keeping possession of the ball, role of the various positions, etc. Tactical examples: shifting your location on the field based on the circumstance, passes wide to spread the other teams defense, looking for linked passes, negative passes backwards, and the idea of pressure/cover/balance.
Individual Skills: Pull backs in tight spaces, Juggling, dribbling changing direction, watching soccer on TV, passing against a wall using both feet, trapping (throw a ball up and receive), first touch off a wall.
Fun ideas: Crossbar challenge, soccer golf in pairs to small targets, juggle contest, relay races with skills
