Small-Sided Soccer The Future of Soccer Development by Mike Singleton Massachusetts Youth Soccer Director of Coaching

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer REASONS FOR SMALL-SIDED The fewer players on the field, the more players will get to touch the ball players will get to touch the ball   The more players touch the ball, the more skillful they will become skillful they will become  As skills grow, enjoyment increases As skills grow, enjoyment increases

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Why is it more fun? Children enjoy participation more than observation Children enjoy participation more than observation 1 ball: per 6 players in 3 vs. 3 per 22 players in 11 vs ball: per 6 players in 3 vs. 3 per 22 players in 11 vs. 11

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Why is it more fun? Every player gets more exposure to the ball ---- more participation! Every player gets more exposure to the ball ---- more participation! In a 40 minute game: - each player in 3 vs. 3 averages 6 min 40 sec on the ball - each player in 11 vs. 11 averages 1 min 48 sec on the ball In a 40 minute game: - each player in 3 vs. 3 averages 6 min 40 sec on the ball - each player in 11 vs. 11 averages 1 min 48 sec on the ball

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer What is fun? Research shows that seeing oneself improve is a large component of fun for youth players Research shows that seeing oneself improve is a large component of fun for youth players With increased time on ball in small- sided, children are more likely to see improvement With increased time on ball in small- sided, children are more likely to see improvement

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer The Path to Improvement Repetition is the key to technical improvement more overall touches on ball more overall touches on ball more dribbling more dribbling more shooting more shooting more receiving more receiving more passing more passing

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Constant Game Involvement Repeated exposure to defense immediate defensive recovery needed immediate defensive recovery needed more stealing ball from opponent more stealing ball from opponent more intercepting ball more intercepting ball more blocked shot attempts more blocked shot attempts GK more involved (U10 and above) GK more involved (U10 and above)

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Developmentally Appropriate Age Appropriate Problem Solving Young players have limited ability to conceptualize abstractly Young players have limited ability to conceptualize abstractly Young players think in terms of 1 to 2 degrees of separation from themselves Young players think in terms of 1 to 2 degrees of separation from themselves Learning is dependent on repeated exposure Learning is dependent on repeated exposure

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Developmentally Appropriate Players are forced to problem solve more often in small-sided  Players face reasonably difficult problems and have repeated exposure to similar problems

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Confidence Building Players experience more problem- solving success  Success breeds confidence  Success + confidence = FUN!

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Developmentally Appropriate Small field is more physically appropriate Children’s legs are smaller—the field should be too Children’s legs are smaller—the field should be too Average adult step = 2.5 – 3.5 feet Average child step = 1.5 (age 6)  2 feet (age 14) Average adult step = 2.5 – 3.5 feet Average child step = 1.5 (age 6)  2 feet (age 14) Smaller field is size/work-rate appropriate Smaller field is size/work-rate appropriate Cooling systems are less developed—don’t make them overheat Cooling systems are less developed—don’t make them overheat

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Building Athletic Mentality With fewer players on field, players need to maintain focus With fewer players on field, players need to maintain focus Smaller field and increased involvement fosters aggression Smaller field and increased involvement fosters aggression No time for regrets, get back in the play No time for regrets, get back in the play Second chances arrive quickly Second chances arrive quickly

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Building Athletic Mentality Necessitates development of more leaders Necessitates development of more leaders Players cannot hide, so they must compete Players cannot hide, so they must compete Games end with more attempts on goal and more… Games end with more attempts on goal and more…...GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALS!!

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Coaching Considerations Allows for more individual coaching Allows for more individual coaching Helps build relationships Helps build relationships Easier to see shape and paint pictures Easier to see shape and paint pictures Do not have to worry about subs as much Do not have to worry about subs as much

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer US Youth Soccer Recommendations Under 6’s play 3v3 (without a goalkeeper) Under 6’s play 3v3 (without a goalkeeper) Field Size: 25 yds x 20 yds Ball: #3 Field Size: 25 yds x 20 yds Ball: # Under 8’s play 4v4 (without a goalkeeper) Under 8’s play 4v4 (without a goalkeeper) Field Size: yds x 25yds Ball: #3 Field Size: yds x 25yds Ball: # Under 10’s play 6v6 (with a goalkeeper) Under 10’s play 6v6 (with a goalkeeper) Field Size: 50 yds x 40 yds Ball : #4 Field Size: 50 yds x 40 yds Ball : #4

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer US Youth Soccer Recommendations Under 12’s play 8v8 (with a goalkeeper) Under 12’s play 8v8 (with a goalkeeper) Field Size: 70 yds x 50 yds Ball: #4 Field Size: 70 yds x 50 yds Ball: # Under 13 and older play FIFA rules Under 13 and older play FIFA rules Field Size: 110 yds x 70 yds Ball: #5 Field Size: 110 yds x 70 yds Ball: #5

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Game Day Arrangement 3v3 & 4v4: Play “dual field” format 3v3 & 4v4: Play “dual field” format FANSFANS Field “A” Coach & Subs Field “B” FANSFANS U6 or U8

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer 48 players on a 110yd x 60yd field 3v3 FANS FANS FANS FANS COACHES AND PLAYERS

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer 24 players on a 100yd x 55yd field 6v6 U10

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer 32 players on a 110yd X 70yd field 8v8 U12

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Potential Hurdles Need more coaches? Need more coaches? Need more fields? Need more fields? Need to line more fields? Need to line more fields? Need more referees? Need more referees? Need more goals? Need more goals? Need help with parents? Need help with parents?

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer Frequent Questions How will this get them ready for 11 vs. 11? How will this get them ready for 11 vs. 11? Is this for travel and recreational? Is this for travel and recreational? What if players have already played with more numbers? What if players have already played with more numbers? How can we implement with minimal headaches? How can we implement with minimal headaches?

Mike Singleton---Director of Coaching Massachusetts Youth Soccer A World of Progress Who endorses small-sided games? Every US Youth Soccer State Director of Coaching Every US Youth Soccer State Director of Coaching US Youth Soccer National Director of Coaching -- Tom Goodman US Youth Soccer National Director of Coaching -- Tom Goodman US Soccer National Staff Coaches US Soccer National Staff Coaches Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) The Football Association (English FA) The Football Association (English FA) The French Football Federation The French Football Federation