Characteristics of U10Characteristics of U10Soccer PlayersSoccer Players

Fourth & Fifth GradeFourth & Fifth Grade

Psychomotor Psychomotor DevelopmentDevelopment

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Psychosocial Psychosocial DevelopmentDevelopment

Notable QuotesNotable Quotes

Dr. John LawtherDr. John Lawther, Child , Child Development Expert, clarifies that Development Expert, clarifies that feelings and feelings and allall learning tends to learning tends to utilize and build onutilize and build on earlier earlier learninglearning and that growth and and that growth and development actually owes its development actually owes its efficiency to the slow and inefficient efficiency to the slow and inefficient experiencing that has gone before.experiencing that has gone before.

Psychomotor DevelopmentPsychomotor Development

Boys and girls begin to develop Boys and girls begin to develop separatelyseparately. .

Ability to stay physically active is Ability to stay physically active is increased. increased.

Psychomotor DevelopmentPsychomotor Development

More prone than adults to heat injury.More prone than adults to heat injury.

Affected by accelerated heat loss, Affected by accelerated heat loss, increasing risk of hypothermia.increasing risk of hypothermia.

Psychomotor DevelopmentPsychomotor Development

Gross and small motor skills becoming more refined.Gross and small motor skills becoming more refined.

Greater diversity in playing ability.Greater diversity in playing ability.

Psychomotor DevelopmentPsychomotor Development

Physically mature individuals Physically mature individuals demonstrate stronger motor skills.demonstrate stronger motor skills.

Children make rapid gains in learning Children make rapid gains in learning and function at increasingly and function at increasingly sophisticated levels in the sophisticated levels in the performance of movement skills.performance of movement skills.

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Some children begin moving from Some children begin moving from concrete operational to formal concrete operational to formal operational stage.operational stage.

Lengthened attention span, ability to Lengthened attention span, ability to sequence thought and actions.sequence thought and actions.

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Pace factor becoming developed – Pace factor becoming developed – they are starting to think ahead.they are starting to think ahead.

Intrinsically motivated to play.Intrinsically motivated to play.

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Demonstrate increased Demonstrate increased responsibility:responsibility:

– bring ball and water to practicebring ball and water to practice– tuck in jersey & pull socks uptuck in jersey & pull socks up– ““carry own stuff”carry own stuff”

Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Starting to recognize fundamental Starting to recognize fundamental tactical concepts such as changing tactical concepts such as changing direction of the ball.direction of the ball.

Repetitive technique very important, Repetitive technique very important, but itbut it must be DYNAMIC not static! must be DYNAMIC not static!

Notable QuotesNotable Quotes

Dr. Robert WhiteDr. Robert White, Harvard Professor, famous , Harvard Professor, famous for his classic study, “Motivation Reconsidered” for his classic study, “Motivation Reconsidered” (1959). (1959).

““Play may be fun, but it is also a Play may be fun, but it is also a serious business in childhood. serious business in childhood. During these hours the child steadily During these hours the child steadily builds up his competence in dealing builds up his competence in dealing with the environment.”with the environment.”

Psychosocial DevelopmentPsychosocial Development

May initiate play on their own.May initiate play on their own.

Continued positive reinforcement Continued positive reinforcement needed.needed.

Explanations must still be brief, Explanations must still be brief, concise and purposeful.concise and purposeful.

Psychosocial DevelopmentPsychosocial Development

Becoming more serious about “their Becoming more serious about “their play.”play.”

Peer pressure is significant.Peer pressure is significant.

Psychosocial DevelopmentPsychosocial Development

Team identification becomes Team identification becomes important.important.

Adults outside of the family may take Adults outside of the family may take on added significance.on added significance.

Typical U10 Training Typical U10 Training SessionSession

Should not exceed 1 hour and 15 minutes.Should not exceed 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Warm-up, partner and small group Warm-up, partner and small group activities, stretching. activities, stretching.

(approx. 15 min.)(approx. 15 min.)

Introduce small group activities (3-6 Introduce small group activities (3-6 players).players).

Typical U10 Training Typical U10 Training SessionSession

Add more directional games. Play to targets Add more directional games. Play to targets and/or zones. and/or zones.

(approx. 25 min.)(approx. 25 min.)

Conclude with small-sided game 6v6 with Conclude with small-sided game 6v6 with GK’s. GK’s.

(approx. 25 min.)(approx. 25 min.)

Finish with a cool down activity. Finish with a cool down activity. (approx. 5 to 10 min.)(approx. 5 to 10 min.)

U10 Tactical SignU10 Tactical Sign

Awareness of Width & DirectionAwareness of Width & Direction

Any QuestionsAny Questions