Stars United implements the U.S. Soccer Coaching Curriculum
Children do not learn in the same way as adults, especially when the learning process involves both intellectual and physical activity.
Age conditions the way a person perceives and interacts with the world and with others. In any learning process, age is the key component in selecting appropriate content and methodology. Soccer is no different. For this reason we must not train 6 year old players the same way as 13 years old players. Training sessions must be adapted to the age of the players. Taking into consideration the characteristics of human and player development, we have structured the curriculum into four age groups. The first two age groups are:
1. Initial stage – 5 to 8 years old
At this age children do not have the same capacity as adults to analyze the environment. They explore and have an egocentric conception of the world. Children are still gathering the experience necessary to interact with their surroundings and with others. Also, empathy and the capacity to consider the thoughts and feelings of others is very low. In order to help children build their own experience, many exercises will be individual (e.g. each player will have a ball). The tactical component of the game will be reduced to small-sided games with basic explanations about space distribution. Training sessions will be treated more as physical education than specifically as soccer training.
2. Basic stage – 9 to 12 years old
At this stage, the structure (but not the content) of the training sessions will be similar to that of older players. The main component of the training session will be technical. It is sensible at this age to develop technique and basic tactical understanding. Children’s capacity to solve problems increases significantly. Therefore players will begin working on basic and dynamic tactical scenarios. At this stage, players are pre-pubescent and have important physical limitations in terms of strength and endurance.
3. Intermediate stage – 13 and 14 years old
Players at this age develop a good understanding of the game. However, these players are limited by their physical size and the significant changes, which arise with puberty. Safety should be the number one priority for the coach. The coach must be cautious to avoid overtraining should focus more on tactical and technical elements of the game and less on the physical aspects. Tactical
training plays an important role at this age.
4. Advanced stage – 15 to 18 years old
Players at this age have completed most of their physical and mental development. All components of training can be combined and organized with the purpose of developing the highest potential of the player. The strength of the muscles helps to develop technique at high speed and this speed helps the player to react faster to tactical situations. This stage is crucial for combining all the components of soccer in order to increase the players’ soccer knowledge. These are some of the facts in terms of human development adapted to soccer. In this document these facts are used to develop the most appropriate training methodology for each age group.
Coaching Philosophy
THE MATCH
The objective of the training session is to prepare players for competition. The game shows the tactical, technical, physical and psychosocial development of the player.
FOUR COMPLEMENTARY COMPONENTS
TACTICAL
This component helps the player fit into the team. Our aim is to create clever players, capable of adapting to the constantly changing circumstances of the game.
TECHNICAL
All players in the team have to be individually competent and proficient in the most important skills
for each position. For example, a central midfield player will need different techniques and expertise
as compared to an outside back.
PHYSICAL
Strong and resilient players will provide a significant advantage to the team. A tired player will struggle to think properly and is prone to commit more errors.
PSYCHOSOCIAL
The human being is often affected by his/her emotions. We will train the players to use these emotions
to their advantage and turn them into strengths and not weaknesses.
All four components below are interrelated with the four key points in soccer. Developing these components in the training sessions will be essential to create an appropriate environment in order to develop top soccer players.
GAME UNDERSTANDING This component is related to the TACTICAL side of the game. Developing vision and game awareness is crucial from an early age. In soccer, one action is never repeated in exactly the same way and game situations change constantly. Collective practices and experience in different game situations aids the player by improving his/her knowledge of the game.
QUALITY This component is related to the TECHNICAL side of the game. A quality touch of the ball is indispensable to the tactical side of game-efficiency. Technique in soccer allows for great diversity; therefore repeating specific technical actions in a game context provides the player with a wide range of technical movements. Coaches will insist on a clean touch on the ball as well as quality technique.
INTENSITY This component is related to the PHYSICAL side of the game. Practices must be performed at game intensity. Short working periods of high-intensity develops the technical quality and the quick, tactical decisions required in the game. Reproducing game intensity during training sessions is essential to the improvement of the different types of speed and endurance.
COMPETITIVENESS This component is related to the PSYCHOSOCIAL part of the game. Opposed and high-intensity practices are essential in the development of high-quality and competitive players. Developing committed and competitive players from an early age is an indispensable aspect in the creation of successful teams.
