Youth Soccer Coaching
"Results of a Youth Soccer Try-Out"

We just finished our youth soccer tryouts for this fall. We have 154 kids in U10 boys this year, which is very good indeed. Our tryouts consisted of three phases:

First phase: dribble through cones with your right foot and take a shot on goal, and then repeat with the left foot.

Second phase: control rolling balls delivered to the right and left of the player.

Third phase: a small scrimmage.

After seeing half of I would estimate that of the kids couldn't dribble with their off-foot (usually left), couldn't shoot with their couldn't control a rolling ball properly. Furthermore, couldn't demonstrate the proper defensive stance, poking or block tackling technique during scrimmage. Approximately 70% still toe-punted their shots.

I don't care how good a coach you are, there is no way that those kids can master all of those skills in 1 league season. Thus, based on my observations, it is apparent that the material in your books can't possibly be mastered before age 12. Maybe our youth soccer league is unique, but I doubt it. During the all-star tournaments and post-season play, our league consistently does well in competitive events against other regions. Tim Schum in his article indicated that his granddaughters U11 league had similar Skill levels, and that was for a team a year older!

My point is that anyone who thinks your FUNdamental Soccer books are only for very young soccer players is mistaken, if by very young they mean U10 and less. My big dilemma is whether to teach your more advanced dribbling skills to my team this year. (The 4 ways to change direction.) Some of the kids will be ready for it, but based on what I saw during tryouts, it will be way above most of the kids. I'll have to emphasize the easier left and right foot dribbling exercises early and see how it goes.