Recommended U-11 Coaching Objectives

Developed by Dave Schumacher, WSYSA Coaching Director

When coaching players 9, 10, and 11 years of age, your main role as a coach expands from one of facilitating to teacher of technique.  Playing at this age is still very important; however, your emphasis should shift to skill development. Players at this age start to move from the How (technique) to "when", "where", and "with whom", and "against whom" (skill). Your practices should still focus on small sided games so players have the opportunity to recognize the pictures presented by the game.

The optimal teaching system approved by WSYSA recommends that players of 9 years of age play 9 v 9. I suggest you devote the end of each practice to playing 4 v 4 and 5 v 5. You may continue to play games involving smaller numbers 2 v 2, 3 v 1, and 4 v 2, leading up to your final activity. It's still important to lay this foundation and exposure to the game prior to adding more players to the field.

Objectives

• Further Development of U-7, U-8, U-9 and U-10 Objectives
• Developing a basic understanding of the concept and rule of offside or modified offside.
• Continued concentration at this age on the more important developments at this age of:
• The triangle in team play
• The diamond in team play
• Third man running
• Appreciation of the team principles of play and their roles when the team is in attacking or defending.
• High concentration on basic skills in cooperative play, i.e. passing, control, shooting, and introduction to heading; goalkeeper techniques and role.
• Continued development of the techniques (basic skills) with limited pressure but in a challenging environment.
• Continued emphasis on the principles of play, and the roles of the players when attacking and defending introduced at U-10. Players need to understand their particular role on the team in supporting the attack and regaining possession of the ball when defending. The players will need guidance in the performance of these roles due to the greater number of players on the field and the increased size of the field. The players should have a basic understanding of how to interchange roles during the course of play.

Summary

• Basic understanding of the offside rule
• For tactical play triangles and diamonds plus further development of basic skills.

Overriding Consideration - Avoid over-coaching at this transitional time as players move into 11 per side.