Youth Soccer Coaching
"Tackling Drills for U6???"

Drills are for the Army. Your children come to practice to play soccer!

Therefore, teach them 'how to' play 1 vs. 1.

since they are 6 years old you must be very PATIENT in teaching them the following:

Show & Tell them how to:
-Make a small goal
-with feet together, hold object (cones) in outstretched hand.
-move right foot as far as you can. Place cone outside right foot.
-bring feet back together.
-do same thing on left side.
-there is their perfect goal.

-Step off the distance between goals (10 yards or 10 giant steps)

-Step off the distance between adjacent goals (5 yards or 5 giant steps)

-Start the game with a serve

-Become a 1st Attacker

-Become a 1st Defender (your theme and question)

SLOW down the attacker by getting between your goal and the ball (show them)

LOW - bend your knees and go sideways into the defensive stance (show them)

GO - force the attacker in the direction you want by staying on your feet and shuffling sideways (show them)

-Stop the game and report the scores

-Rotate (clockwise) and face the next opponent.

As they are playing the 1 vs. 1 game. Observe and help those individuals who need the most help with their defending technique! But, make sure to allow them to experiment and fail their way to success. That is, give them until the age of about 18 to become masters of the defending game!

Have FUN teaching your 6 year olds 'how to' play the 1 vs. 1 game.

Koach Karl Dewazien