fa u7 and u8 ydr booklet

7/27/2019 FA u7 and u8 Ydr Booklet

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THEIR GAMEYouthFootball Development


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CONTENTS

A GUIDE TO U7 AND U8 FOOTBALL 4MINI-SOCCER: MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN 6

WHY DO CHILDREN PLAY? 8WHAT CAN CHILDREN EXPECT FROM ADULTS? 10

WORKING WITH PARENTS 12FACILITIES 15

RESPECT AND MANAGING THE MATCH DAY ENVIRONMENT 16MATCH DAY TIPS FOR COACHES 20

DEVELOPING TALENTED PLAYERS

22THE FA LAWS FOR MINI-SOCCER 27

GOALPOST SAFETY 34

THE FUTURE GAME 36JOIN THE FA LICENSED COACHES CLUB 38


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U7 / U8THEIR GAME YouthFootball Development

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A GUIDE TOU7 AND U8FOOTBALL

Football is our national game, one that has the potential toignite and ascinate millions o people across the world, andthis is a young persons first steps on that voyage.

They may become aproessional or amateurplayer, reeree, coach orarmchair an o the uturebut you have the privilegedposition o being part othat journey.

MiniSoccer ofers anintroduction to the game oootball at a size and scalethat meets the needs o theyoung people playing withsmaller goals and pitches andless players per team.

Part o The FootballAssociations National GameStrategy is to develop BetterPlayers and it believes thatMiniSoccer is the mostappropriate ormat to dothis within.

This is supported byacademic research romaround the world on the valueo small sided games orimproving techniqueand skills.

MiniSoccer allows childrento have a un, enjoyableintroduction to ootball inan environment that allowsthem lots o touches, shots,dribbles and ultimately moreinvolvement and enjoymentin the game.

Adults involved in developingthe playing environment orchildren need to recognise

their role is to acilitate this; toenable young people to haveun, make new riends andlearn the game.

Our challenge as adults issimple to help young peopleall in love with the game.

I they start this journeycaptivated by the experience,this vastly improves theirchances o getting better.

Our job is to createthat experience.

OUR CHALLENGE ASADULTS IS SIMPLE -TO HELP YOUNGPEOPLE FALL INLOVE WITHTHE GAME

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U7 / U8THEIR GAMEU7 / U8 THEIR GAME

MINI-SOCCER: MEETINGTHE NEEDS OF CHILDREN

The main theme throughoutMiniSoccer is to meet the needs ochildren and elevenaside ootballdoes not meet those needs.

Children need a modified game that

fits their age and stage o learningand too oten its the children that aremodified to meet the requirements oa game.

MiniSoccer modifies ootball withoutlosing the essence o the game, whichis important or children and thereoreis the appropriate introduction tothe game.

All available research and observationsshow that children will have more unand learn more playing a game withsmaller teams and modified rules.MiniSoccer is a game children canactually play rather than struggling tounderstand a game created or adults.

IF CHILDREN ARE TO ENJOY ANDTAKE PART IN FOOTBALL THEYNEED TO:

Take an active part in the game

Form relationships and

work togetherDevelop their ootball skills andget better

Be able to take part whatevertheir ability

Develop personal skills in allour corners

Appreciate and demonstrategood sportsmanship

Understand the laws

Be listened to

Feel success.

MiniSoccer aims to set realisticexpectations. It ocuses on thedevelopment o children rather thanthe result o the match.

For their uture lives, children need tolearn that cooperation is vital but alsothe joys that being part o a team canbring and ootball is a antastic andexciting game that can teachthose skills.

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WHY DOCHILDREN

PLAY?

Our role as adults is to acilitate a learning environment thatenables children to play ootball and all in love with the game.However, when you listen to young children about why theyplay ootball the reasons they provide are oten diferent romthose that adults assume.

The Football Association has conducted research with groupso children across the whole country and the top six reasonswhy children play ootball are highlighted below:

Trying my hardest is more important to me than winning

I love playing ootball because its un

It helps keep me fit and healthyI like meeting new riends through ootball

Its a really good game and I love it

I like playing with my riends.

Research rom children alsoindicates that through theprimary school age groupand up to 11/12 they arenot ocused on winning theleague and they state thattrophies and medals are notthat important to them.

These six actors are muchmore important to them inthe scheme o the reasonswhy young people

play ootball.

I trophies and medals arentthat important or childrenit might be worth thinkingabout your end oseason plans.

Children are getting trophiesnow or doing something theywould have done anyway turn up and play ootball!

How equitable is the TopGoalscorer award anyway?

The most important trophyor children is PlayersPlayer, voted or by theirteam mates.

The challenge or spectatorsand coaches is to ensure thelearning environment createdor children when theycome to ootball is one that

matches their expectations,not the adults version.

I we get this right it can bea un, exciting and socialexperience or all involved!

Adult values and childrens values are quite diferent aboutwhat they want rom their ootball experience.

I LOVE PLAYING FOOTBALLBECAUSE ITS FUNU8, West Midlands

Hire a sportsphotographer to takeaction shots as amemento o their season

Ensure they all have aootball each or training

Buy them a club emblempencil case they can useat school

Give them a brandedbootbag they can use oreach game

Present them all with acertificate or their efortsduring the year

Ask the players what theythink would be asuitable reward.

WHY NOT:Our role as adults is to acilitate a learning environment thatena les ch ldren to play ootball and all in love with the game.However, when you listen to young children about w y theyp ay ootball the reasons they provide are o ten diferent romthose that adults assume.

The Football Assoc at on has conducted research w th groups

U7 / U8THEIR GAME

I LIKE DOING THE SKILLSU8, London


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WHAT CAN CHILDRENEXPECT FROM ADULTS?

BUILD CONFIDENCE: RESPECT THE GAME:

Play by the Laws

Respect oppo nents, o cials and allothers involved in the game

Work together as a team and cooperate.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS:

Success through efort

New skill development

Making and learning rom mistakes

Set players individual targets.

Positive encouragement providingthis really helps the kids!

Learning rom mistakes no mistakeis done deliberately so see them as anopportunity to learn

Reward efort rather than ability thishelps build confidence andselesteem

Model appropriate behaviour children will oten copy the way thecoach behaves

Constructive eedback try and putthese comments between somepositive eedback.

Remember that childrenare oten easily led, anxiousto please and prone tooverenthusiasm, and soplenty o praise and positivereinorcement is needed especially or beginners.

Children find it hard tounderstand negativeinstructions and easierto understand positivereinorcement and this canrequently mean playingdown the result and playingup the perormance.

This reduces the childsanxiety and decreases theirworry about ailing.

Remember that children donot mean to make mistakes;we should accept mistakes asa necessary partolearning.

As coaches, reerees and clubo cials you be come rolemodels to the players youwork with.

Over time as your rapportbuilds with them and theirconfidence in you growsyou are likely to see theimprovements both to theirgame and their enjoymento it.

Its possible that or somechildren you might becomethe most stable and positiveinfluence in their lives at anyone time.

Football has much to ofer.Its possible too that a youngplayer may choose to tell youwhen things are not going

ROLE MODELS well or them, or even possiblywhen someone is behavinginappropriatelytowards them.

Remember you have thesupport o your Club Welare

O cer and i a ch ild tellsyou something that raises aconcern about their welareits not your role to decidei this is happening but it isyour responsibility to reerthe concern on to the ClubWelare O cer.

Saeguarding is everyonesresponsibility and no actionis not an option. I youwould like more inormationgo to www.TheFA.com/saeguardingor speak withyour CFA Wel are O cer.

REMEMBER THAT CHILDREN DO NOT MEAN TO MAKEMISTAKES; WE SHOULD ACCEPT MISTAKES AS ANECESSARY PART OF LEARNING


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WORKING WITH PARENTS

The most influential people interms o a childs psychological andsociological development are his orher parents. A childs belies, values,perceptions, attitudes and goals areshaped by their home influences andhave a proound efect in later lie.

Evidence suggests that interest andsupport rom the home are vital in achilds overall development. With thisevidence, engaging parents in thelearning experience o their children,i guided and educated correctly canlead to positive efects in reinorcingmessages o support you ofer to theplayers during the sliver o time youhave with them.

Working with parents should be seenas a threeway process, between you,the player and the parent.

Just as you will involve them increating a clear and robust philosophy,by creating a learning environmentor the child and parent it willprovide them both a much greater

understanding o what the commongoal is.

Longer term the parents will beginto hopeully become powerulreinorcers and ultimately see thetime the child is with you as more thanjust ootball, but as a vital learningexperience. A good way to reinorcethis is by reerring them to the FA FourCorner model.

Organise a preseason meeting orplayers and parents

Talk to the parents beore/atercoaching and explain what you are

doing and why you are doing it;explain the benefits

Use a questionnaire to get theviews rom the parents, what elsecan be improvedHold a Parents Evening holdevenings when parents can comealong with their child and discusshow they are getting on

Set them basic tasks this couldbe asking or support aroundsetting out equipment or keepinga record o playing time or you

Direct them towards FA onlinecourses to help develop theirknowledge too!

WHY NOT:FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

With player development in mind, iwe would like children to develop anunderstanding o the game as wellas an ability to problem solve, thenwe have a duty to let them think or

themselves rom time to time.

Less input rom the sidelines = morethinking time or the players.

SOME QUESTIONS YOU COULDASK YOUR PARENTS:

Do your actions on game day...

demonstrate trust in the coach?

centre around the players needs?help or conuse the players?

One big piece o evidence rom the

research rom children was that theydont like being embarrassedby adults.

So you know that moan you otenhave, the flailing arms and negativebody language when they make amistake they see that!

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FACILITIES

An important aspect o helping young people to learn aboutplaying ootball is to ensure the size o the pitch is appropriateto their age and stage o development.

Whilst we may not haveexisting 5v5 pitchespermanently marked out atthe right size it is worthwhile

adults gaining a perspectiveon the issue.

This is a game o ootballor six and seven year oldchildren, not the WorldCup Final!

All the Premier League teamsplay within coned of areasevery day in training so i itworks or them then it is fineor the children to learn thegame within.

The pitch doesnt have tobe perectly marked out likeWembley and adults need totry and move away romthat mindset.

In an ideal world andwherever possible, this wouldbe marked out with linesand fixed goals but i thepitch needs to be organisedusing cones/flat markersand portable goals, or drawnwithin another pitch area,then great!

Find a piece o grass the

appropriate sizeUse flat markers tohighlight the goal area tohelp the goalkeepers

Move the portable goalsto the right place

Maybe look at using a3G pitch or commercialprovider as a venue

Put up the Respect barrieror the parents tostand behind

Mark out a small technicalarea or the coaches andsubs near the halway lineto stand within.

I you are having trouble withfinding pitches or grass space,please contact the CountyDevelopment Manager at

your local County FA.

It is their job is to come outand help you with these kindo challenges, support youwith finding unding streamsto go towards the cost odeveloping acilities andbroker relationships with localpitch providers such as localauthorities, schools andother agencies.

Not having the right sizepitch might be a challengein the shortterm whenimplementing something newbut this is about the uture oEnglish ootball or the nextfiteen to twenty years, thelongterm game!

HINTS AND TIPS:

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RESPECT AND MANAGING THEMATCH DAY ENVIRONMENT

Football is a passionate game and all o us can get swept up in the moment.However it is possible or leagues and clubs to manage the match dayenvironment in such a way as to clearly signpost which behaviours areacceptable and unacceptable.

Establishing a team/club philosophy isa good way to agree with the players,coaches and parents how you aregoing to work together to ensure thatthere is harmony within.

You can relate back to what wasagreed beore the start o the seasonand use this philosophy to remindpeople o the clubs way o operatingor to mediate i a dispute arises.

Depending upon age, maturity andlocal considerations your philosophymay difer rom that o another team/clubs, however, the key should beputting the child at the centre othe philosophy.

You may wish to considerthe ollowing:

Communication channels

Time keeping

Playing time

Substitutions and who startsthe game

Sharing responsibilities

Winning at all costs v developmento the players

Agreeing a philosophy against TheFAs Four Corner LTPD model

The Respect Programme codeso conduct.

A TEAM/CLUB PHILOSOPHY

PARENTS EMBARRASS ME WHEN THEYSHOUT AND JUST CONFUSE MEU8, Yorkshire

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Why not stage parents meetings where you can provide guidance on thepracticalities o playing or the club but also agree a meaning ul and sharedcode o conduct? Your local County FA will have resources to support you to holda parents meeting. Its a great opport unity to also introduce the clubs o cialssuch as the Wel are O cer.

Display the Clubs Code o Conductor everyone attending to see

Pass a laminated version down the

line o spectators or all to readPut up a Respect sign on theclubhouse so people can see this iswhat you believe in

Designate an area or thespectators to stand and watchthe game

This should be three yards romthe touchline on both sides o thepitch and run the ull length othe pitch

No spectators should be allowedbehind the goal it puts ofthe goalkeeper

Put the coaches technical areason the opposite side tothe spectators

Mark out a technical area or thecoach to stand within three yardseither side o the halway line there is no need or coaches to runup and down the touchline too!

Let the subs play a little 2v2 matchi there is some spare grass next tothe pitch.

To help implement the Designated Spectators Area, The FA has endorsed aRespect Barrier Kit which is available rom www.Touchlinelogos.com

Clubs should consider theuse o a touchline manager someone known to clubmembers designated to helpmaintain a supportive

playing environment.

Some clubs have equippedtouchline managers witha Respect bib which hasincreased their visibility andassisted them when requiredto intervene. They are thereto deal with small scaleincidents and to reduce anddifuse problems.

It is not the role o thetouchline manager toreplace the reeree or thenormal league sanctionsand they should never place

themselves or othersin danger.

Remember: your role as amanager or coach is to set agood example to all othersinvolved in the game.

Whilst the reeree, sometimesa younger reeree learningthe game too, will makemistakes and there may bedecisions that you disagreewith, try not to lose sight othe whole experienceand ethos.

DEALING WITHDIFFICULT SPECTATORS

They are learning thegame and will makeunintentional mistakes

Playing to the whistle ispart o the game

Not shouting at thereeree helps make itmore enjoyableor everyone

Being polite when talkingto the reeree is important

Shaking hands ater thegame, regardless o thescore, is the right thingto do.

PUT UP A RESPECT SIGN ONTHE CLUBHOUSE SO PEOPLE

CAN SEE THIS IS WHATYOU BELIEVE IN

Talk to your players/parentsabout reerees andexplain that:


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MATCH DAYTIPS FOR

COACHES

Most importantly, ensure that you dont overload your playerswith lots o inormation.

Beore the game you may justwant to set a couple o basictargets or the playersto achieve.

Just beore the kick of remindthe players what they were

again and possibly ask thesubstitutes to watch the gameand see i they areachieving them.

The ocus at hal time can nowbe on whether the players havecompleted the tasks.

Get the substitutes to help eedthis back.

It will almost certainly be a morepowerul message coming romthem rather than you.

Ater the game, think o thediferent ways that you can useto debrie the players.

Once again reer back to thetargets you set the players andlink these into what actuallyhappened during the game.

You may want to arrange theplayers into small groups andask them to debrie amongstthemselves then eedback toother small groups.

Use age appropriate language

Get the attention o your players beore speaking

Keep it simple

Be positive at all times

Focus on the most important aspectsGive clear instructions to your players

Always finish with a positive

Dont orget they are just children, notproessional ootballers!

Things to consider when talking to players:


Play players in diferentpositions during diferentperiods o the game i they arehappy to do so.

Allow players to learn as mucho the game or themselves asthey can but be prepared tosupport their learning needs

when necessary.

Play diferent ormations andsometimes allow the childrento help picking these.

TECHNICAL

Incorporate generic movementsagility, balance andcoordination into your warm up.

Allow players to play on diferentsides o the pitch, sometimes onthe let and sometimes onthe right.

Use tag and chase games,handball and 2v2/3v3 games aspart o your warm up.

Avoid having the children standingin lines or waiting, try and getthem active as much as possible.

PHYSICAL

Allow the players to learnrom their mistakes andtheir successes.

Let the players experiment,practice and compete whilemaking their own decisions.Ensure that you cater ordiferent learning styles duringyour team talk try using awhite board or get players tostand in the ormation.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Allow the players to beinvolved in decisionmaking processes.

Give the players ownership,trust and responsibility.

I the players do somethingwell, praise them. I they makea mistake, they didnt do it on

purpose, so ofer some wordso encouragement or help.

SOCIAL

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Sometimes adults buildthe pressure on youngplayers much too soonwithout understanding the

environment that is neededto oster talent.

The ollowing actors arethe research, principles andtools upon which high qualitytalent development is built.

DEVELOPINGTALENTED PLAYERS

U7 / U8 THEIR GAME Youth Football Development

As coaches and parents, we would all love our child to become the next top England player,to have a career as a proessional ootballer and no doubt when they start playing, mostchildren have that same dream!

A coach that is totally

ocused on talentdevelopment puts theplayer first; their needsare paramount. Too manycompetition structures,training programmes,coaching methods andpractice schedules have

BEING PLAYERCENTRED

been set to suit those whoadminister and run themrather than thosewho participate.

For talent to be truly nurturedthese systems require review,players needs assessed andchanges made to ensure thatevery player has the bestnetwork o people supportingthem as they attempt toachieve their potential.

Developing talent should beabout developing the wholeplayer not just their skillsand techniques.

Using the C system canhelp coaches, parents andorganisers to keep their eyes

on the progress o all aspectso their development.

Core aspects o the Csystem include:

COMPETENCEDeveloping the playersabilities in all aspects otheir sport.

CONFIDENCESport develops confidencei delivered well. A confidentplayer perorms better sothis is an area that shouldalways be reerred to whendeveloping young players.

CREATIVITYThe players should bein charge o their owndevelopment and shouldbe allowed to come up withtheir own solutions. Childrenhave been shown to be morecreative than adults butoten their creativity is stifledthrough well meaning adultswanting to show them theproper way.

USING THE C SYSTEM TODEVELOP THE WHOLE CHILD

CONNECTION AND CARINGPlayers should be encouragedto be competitive but theyshould also be taught to lookater each other. Gettingplayers to be in touch withone another needs helpsto develop teamwork and

leadership skills.

CHARACTERSport can develop a playerscharacter and teach themvaluable lie lessons that willbe important to theiruture development.


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PHYSICAL LITERACY NOT TRYINGTO RUN BEFORE WE CAN WALK!

Physical Literacy is best described as the building blockso movement. By this we mean a series o undamentalmovements and skills that underpin all sporting activit y inone way or another. Examples o these movements include:

There has been research whichsuggests that Deliberate Play andTeaching Games or UnderstandingTGU should be a big part o a childssporting experience.

Both Deliberate Play and TGU involves

un semicompetitive games andchallenges that stretch the childsskills and require them to make rapidadaptations to succeed atthe activity.

Both approaches require the playersto make decisions and develop skillsin a gamelike context which has beenshown to develop their skills moreefectively than the traditional drillbased approach alone.

The Football Association has adoptedgame orms with reduced numbers atyounger ages to encourage youngstersto get a lot o touches o the ball anddevelop their skills more efectively inline with these approaches.

SPECIALISATION VARIETY IS THE SPICEOF LIFE

Specialisation is the point at which aplayer is encouraged to ocus attentionon a specific sport and begin theprocess o developing the skills o thatsport over others.

Oten children are encouraged by

competition organisers, parents,coaches, talent scouts and others tospecialise in a specific sporting domaintoo early. Sport is particularly proneto this phenomenon. Young childrenwho display ability at a young age areencouraged to play and practice to theexclusion o other activities.

Specialising too early in sports has beenshown to contribute to:

DELIBERATE PLAY ANDTEACHING GAMES FORUNDERSTANDING (TGFU)

Without these basic movement skills, a young per sonscapacity to ully develop their skills may be afected. Manyelite perormance programmes are working hard to try andrectiy physical or technical problems in players which couldhave been solved earlier in the players athletic lie by thedevelopment o sound physical literacy.

TRAVELLINGSKILLS

Climbing, hopping,jumping, running,skipping

OBJECT CONTROLSKILLS

SendingKicking, rolling a ball, strikingan object, throwingReceivingCatching, stopping, trapping

Travelling withDribbling with either eet,hands or stick

Receiving and sendingStriking a moving ball withbat or stick, volleying

BODY MANAGEMENTSKILLS

Balancing/centering, dodging,stopping, stretching, twistingand turning

T

ng,ng

(Talent development inormation courtesy o StuartArmstron g, Lead Developm ent O cer or Talent atSportscoach UK)

Athletic deficiencies

Overuse injuries

Early burnout and dropout

Unhappy children

Adults need to be patient with childrenand recognise they all grow and learn

at diferent rates. Dont orget, littlechildren today wont always be littleand some may appear excellenttoday because o a shortterm physicaladvantage. Can you spot and oster thedevelopment potential?



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YouthFootball DevelopmentYouth Football Development

THESE ARE SHORTTERMEXPERIENCES HELPING

CHILDREN LEARN ABOUTWINNING AND LOSING IN ANAPPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT

THE FA LAWS FORMINI-SOCCER

This guide provides the Laws or Under 7 and Under 8versions o the game, with children playing a maximumo 5v5.

Please remember:Under 7s or Under 8s are not

permitted to play in leagueswhere results are collected orpublished or winner trophiesare presented. This is deemedto be detrimental to thedevelopment o the playerand the game and will notbe sanctioned.

From season 2013/14, Under7s and Under 8s can play ina maximum o three trophyevents during the season,lasting a maximum o twoweeks each.

These are shorttermexperiences helping children

learn about winning andlosing in an appropriateenvironment. The winners othese events can be publishedand trophies canbe presented.

Except where other provisionin these Laws are made, theLaws o Association Footballapply. Each Law is numberedto correspond with theappropriate Law o the Game.These Laws are mandatoryunless special permission isgranted by The FA.

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LAW 1PLAYING AREA

3 YARDS

3 YARDS

2 YARDS

30YARDS

7YARDS

0.2YARDS

16YARDS

9YARDS

40 YARDS

2 YARDS TECHNICAL AREA TECHNICAL AREA

3 YARDS10 YARDS 10 YARDS

Halway LineThe field o play is divided into twohalves by a halway line. The centremark is indicated at the midpoint othe halway line. This is also used asthe retreat line when restarting playwith a goal kick.

Goal SizeThe distance between the posts is12t and the distance between thelower edge o the cross bar and theground is 6t.

LAW 2THE BALL

The ball should be size three or U7 and U8. It should be sae and made oleather or other suitable material.

The above table indicates the maximumnumber o players per team at that age group.I the competition would like to have smallernumbers, e.g. 4v4 at U7 or U 8, this is allowedwithin this ramework.

A match may not START i either teamconsists o ewer than our players. Theminimum number o players in a teamrequired or a match to CONTINUE is alsoour. Matches can begin with 5v4 but theimportance and ethos o MiniSoccershould be upheld wherever possible and thedevelopment o the children should comebeore the score line.

Players must play with and against playersonly rom their own age range, as per FootballAssociation and Competition rules. Each teammust not have a squad greater than doublethe size o the team per age.

Any number o substitutes, without beingnamed, may be used at any time with thepermission o the reeree. A player who hasbeen replaced may return to the playing area

as a substitute or another player.

All team members should receive equalplaying time where possible, with a b estpractice recommendation o at least 50% perplayer or each game.

Players must wear shin g uards andgoalkeepers must wear a distinguishingplaying top. Shin guards must be coveredentirely by the socks. Players must wear theappropriate clothing dependant onthe weather.

Correct ootwear must be worn or the suraceo the pitch e.g. no metal studs on artificial

grass pitches.

LAW 4PLAYING EQUIPMENT

The Authority o the ReereeEach match is controlled by a reeree who hasull authority to enorce the Laws orMiniSoccer in connection with the match towhich they have been appointed.

Furthermore, reerees should also recognisetheir role is to acilitate the learning o theplayers, or example, allow young children totake a second attempt at a throwin i the firstis not within the Laws.

LAW 5REFEREES

Assistant reerees are not required.

LAW 6ASSISTANT REFEREE

LAW 3NUMBER OF PL AYERS

Maximum number per team, including goalkeeper

Under 7 and Under 8 5v5

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In any one day, no player shall play morethan 40 minutes. It is the responsibility othe parent/carer or organisation to ensurethe child does not exceed this. Each league/competition will determine its own playingtime within the maximum time permitted,however, the maximum duration will be twohalves o 20 minutes.

It is permitted during development matchesthat the periods o play can be split into equalquarters. The hal time interval must notexceed five minutes.

Please reer to the Standard Code o Rules orYouth Competitions.

ProcedureA kickof is taken at the centre o the playingarea to start the game and ater a goal hasbeen scored. Opponents must be five yardsaway rom the ball and in their own hal o thefield. The ball must be played or ward. In MiniSoccer a goal cannot be scored directly rom astart or restart o play.

Special CircumstancesA dropped ball to restart the match, aterplay has been temporarily stopped insidethe penalty area, takes place on the p enaltyarea line parallel to the goal line at the pointnearest to where the ball was located whenthe play stopped. No goal can be scored directrom a dropped ball.

Normal rules apply, as per Laws oAssociation Football.

LAW 9BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

Normal rules apply, as per Laws o

Association Football.

LAW 10METHOD OF SCORING

There is no ofside.

LAW 11OFFSIDE

takes more than six seconds to release theball rom his/her hands

touches the ball again with his/her hands

ater it has been released rom his/herpossession and has not touched anyother player

touches the ball with his/her hands aterit has been deliberately kicked to him/herby a team mate

touches the ball with his/her hands aterhe/she has received it directly rom athrow in taken by a teammate.

Normal rules apply, as per Laws o AssociationFootball. However, in MiniSoccer all reekicks are direct. A ree kick is awarded to theopposing team i the goalkeeper:

For all these ofences, the ree kick should betaken rom the penalty area line, parallel withthe goal line, at the nearest point tothe ofence.

LAW 7DURATION OF THE GAME

LAW 8START AND RESTART OF PLAY

LAW 12FOULS AND MISCONDUCT


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ProcedureA player o the deending team kicks the ballrom any point within the penalty area.

Opponents must retreat to their own hal untilthe ball is in play.

The deending team does not have to waitor the opposition to retreat and has the

option to restart the game b eore should theychoose to.

The ball is in play when it is kicked directly outthe penalty area.

The opposing players must remain at leastfive yards rom the ball until it is in play.

The kicker may not touch the ball again until ithas touched another player. I he/she does, aree kick is awarded against them.

The ball is in play immediately when it entersthe field o play.

For all ree kicks opponents must b e five yardsrom the ball.


Position o the Ball and the PlayersAll players except the deending goalkeeperand kicker must be outside the penalty areaand at least five yards rom the penalty mark.The ball must be kicked orward.

LAW 14PENALTY KICKS

I MUCH PREFER A CLOSE GAME AS THEREIS MORE TO DO THEN


In addition, U7 and U8 children are permittedto roll the ball underarm with one or bothhands into the field o play.

The role o the reeree is to also allowyoung players to learn the game. This mayinvolve letting players take throwins again,i incorrect technique is used. The reereeshould ensure the same player attempts asecond time, with guidance and help rom thematch o cial.

U8, Yorkshire

LAW 13FREE KICKS

LAW 16GOAL KICK

LAW 15THROW IN

LAW 17CORNER KICKS


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Funding or the replacement o unsae goals is available via the Football Foundation andeligibility criteria and urther details can be obtained rom their website atwww.ootballoundation.org.uk.

The FA together with representatives rom the industry, sports governing bodies andGovernment have prepared guidance notes or pitch users and pitch providers, whichsummarise the key priorities o the BSIs Code o Practice and provide urther details o n theinormation included above. These details are eatured within the acilities sec tion o The FAswebsite at www.TheFA.com/myootball

1.For saety reasonsgoalposts o any size(including those which areportable and not installedpermanently at a pitch orpractice field) must alwaysbe anchored securely to theground or have a weightedback bar.

Portable goalposts

must be secured as perthe manuacturersinstructions; this is also arequirement or the Lawso the GameUnder no circumstancesshould children or adultsbe allowed to climb on,swing or play with thestructure o the goalpostsParticular attention isdrawn to the act that inot properly assembledand secured, portablegoalposts may overturnRegular inspections ogoalposts must be carriedout to check that they areproperly maintained.

2.Portable goalposts shouldnot be let in place ateruse. They should be eitherdismantled or removed to aplace o secure storage, orplaced together and suitablefixings applied to preventunauthorised use at any time.

3.The use o metal cup

hooks on any part o a goalrame was banned rom thecommencement o season20070 8 and match o cialshave been instructed not tocommence matches wheresuch net fixings are evidentor saety reasons. Nets maybe secured by plastic fixings,arrow head shaped plastichooks or tape and not bymetal cup hooks. Any metalcup hooks should be removedand replaced. New goalpostsshould not be purchased ithey include metal cup hooks.

4. Goalposts which arehomemade or which havebeen altered rom theiroriginal size or constructionshould not be used underany circumstances as theypotential pose a serioussaety risk.

5. There is no BS/CENstandard or wooden goalsand it is unlikely that woodengoals will pass a load orstability test. All woodengoals previously tested byindependent consultantshave ailed strength andstability tests. The FArecommends that wooden

goals should be replaced withcompliant metal, aluminiumor UPVC goalposts (this wasupdated in March 2012).

For reerence, you shouldnote that The FA and BSI, inconjunction with the industry,have developed standards orgoalposts BSEN 748 2004and BS8461:2005+A1:2009.BS 8462:2005+A2:2012 wasupdated in March 2012. Itis strongly recommendedthat you ensure that all goalspurchased comply with therelevant standard. A Code oPractice BS 8461 has alsobeen completed and copieso all o these standards areavailable rom the BSI via

their website atwww.bsigroup.com.

The Football Association, along with the Department orCulture, Media and Sport, the Health and Saety Executiveand the British Standards Institution, would like to drawyour attention to the ollowing guidelines or the sae use ogoalposts.

Several serious injuries and atalities have occurred in recentyears as a result o unsae or incorrect use o goalposts. Saetyis always o paramount importance and everyone in ootballmust play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring inthe uture.

GOALPOSTSAFETY


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THE FUTUREGAME

The launch o The Future Game, The FA Technical Guide or YoungPlayer Development, in 2010, outlined a philosophy and vision orplayer development in English ootball.

IN SUMMARYThe Future Game headlines:

The FA Coaching Philosophyand Vision

Central to the message arethe principles o creativity andinnovation, or both coachesand players, and a vision orplaying the game based onquality passing, possession andbuilding play through thethreethirds o the pitch.

The guide, the first o its kindsince The Football AssociationsCoaching Book o SoccerTactics and Skills published in1991, provided a response towidely agreed opinion that atthe highest level o the mensgame. English players had allenbehind their global counterpartswith regards to technicalcompetence anddecisionmaking capability.

Statistics backed up thisnotion. Other than success atthe U17 and U18 EuropeanChampionships in 2010 and1993, England had not won aninternational competition, atany level, since the World Cupin 1966.

Other actors also contributedto the necessity o arereshed vision.

With the onset o the PremierLeague and the significantinfluence o oreign coachesand players, the landscapeand culture o English ootballchanged dramatically sincethe early 1990s. European andInternational ootball thearena in which young English

players must compete hadaccelerated too.

Addressing this cultural shit,The Future Game championsthe development obetter coaches.

Each layer o the game, romthe grassroots to the elite,must be populated withexcellent teachers o the gamewho possess the appropriateattributes to positively afectthe players and teams withwhich they work.

Dedication to specialisationis central. Players who arelearning the game requiresupport and guidance at eachstep along the player pathway,with coach efectiveness judgedby the ability to make the gamerelevant and realistic to the ageand stage o the playersor team.

The value o technique

English coachesmust add a greaterimportance and valueto the development otechnique and skill.

A clear playing

philosophy based on:

A possessionbasedapproach

Playing through thethreethirds othe pitch

Quality o passing

Intelligentmovement andsupport ofthe ball

Penetrative/incisiveattacking play

Counterattacking.

Innovative teachers othe game

The best coaches are thebest teachers. Efectivecoaches understandthe individuals intheir care and have anunderstanding andawareness o their age,stage o development/learning andtheir abilities.

One strand: a viewthrough the whole game

To develop playersthat can perorm at thehighest stage, coachesat all levels o the gameshould understand whatcharacteristics lead tohighclass perormance.

The Future Game philosophyunderpins the content o alluture FA course provisionand will be brought to lie withthe opening o St GeorgesPark, The FA National FootballCentre, in late summer 2012.

*The original Future Game

document had a clear anddefined target audience: theboys/mens proessionalgame.

However, to prompt changeat the top o the pyramid,a resh approach was alsorequired at the grassroots.

As a result, The Future Gamegrassroots guide ollowedthe elite version in December2010. The grassroots versiono the document had a widerappeal providing guidanceor both male/emale playersaged 521.

nce at eacher pathway,eness udged

ake the gametic to the ageayers


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U7 / U8THEIR GAME

38

U7 / U8 THEIR GAME

JOIN THE FA LICENSEDCOACHES CLUB

In a society where expertise commands prestige,position and creditability, skilled dentists, doctors andfinancial advisors are highly desired services. Whythereore isnt the suitability o those entrusted to coachour children or the players at your club, aforded the

same scrutiny?

They are ater all, in a position o authority and influence,playing a part in shaping experience and behaviour.

Through commitment to continued proessionaldevelopment, uptodate learning, and adherence to goodpractice, an FA Licensed Coach stands or reliance, trustand credibility within the game.

Clubs, players and parents will have the assurance thattheir coach is suitably qualified and trained to managea coaching programme suitable or the need o theirplayers, and that they have undertaken the continuoustraining necessary to handle the growing demands o thegame at every level.

A valid FA/UEFACoaching Qualification

An in date FA SaeguardingChildren Qualification

An in date Emergency First AidQualification FA or HSE

An FA CRB check

A commitment to CPDeach season.

Raise the standards or your players

An FA Licensed Coach holds:

O cial FA License d CoachPhoto Licence

The FA Licensed CoachesClub website

Ballot entry or 100 pairs o reetickets to all England Senior and

U21s home matches

10% discount on FA LearningNational Courses

Exclusive FA Licensed CoachesContinuous ProessionalDevelopment Events

UEFAs 3D animation tool, TactX.

As a FA Licensed Coach youcan access:

To join The FA Licensed Coaches Club, please visit:www.TheFA.com/LicensedCoachesClubor call0844 980 8212


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The FA Youth Development ReviewWembley StadiumPO Box 1966,London SW1P 9EQ

Telephone:+44 (0) 844 980 8200

Email:[email protected]

Visit:www.TheFA.com/youthdevelopmentreview

fa u7 and u8 ydr booklet

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