Tips on Coaching Soccer for Ages 10 & Under

Under 10 soccer coaches focus on technique, psychology, fitness, and tactical skills, along with having fun, and building good sportsmanship. Each session should build on the prior session's skills. This can be difficult because most U10 soccer is recreational soccer, relying on parent volunteers to coach the teams. Skill reinforcement therefore begins with getting to know what is expected at each age level and getting to know your players and their skills well.

  1. Fitness and Technique

    • Work in small groups for practice sets. Players need to practice passing and dribbling, learn heading and crossing, goaltenders need to practice saving shots. Rules must be reinforced. Endurance begins to be a major factor at this age group, so make sure that your team warms up and cools down before and after each game. Establishing good range-of-motion will help players refine their techniques.

    Psychology

    • Staying focused tends to be less difficult than it was for the under six and under eight players. The U10 group works to keep emotions in check, communicates with other players on the team, and works on being good sports. Parents tend to be more vocal from the sidelines. Set parameters of good sportsmanship early for both players and their parents. Although the players are refining tactical skills at this level, keep the fun in the practices and the compassion in the game.

    Tactics

    • Defensive and offensive strategy begins to be a higher priority for the U10 players, now that there is less focus on simply dribbling the ball and kicking it into the goal. Coaches must begin to concentrate on teaching man-to-man defense, defining player roles of attack and defend, setting up and executing plays, and small-sided games.