How to Coach U8 Soccer

U8 soccer players have an attention span that's slightly longer than U6 soccer players but they have yet to reach the competitive stage of soccer, according to Jeff Pill, NHSA Director of Coaching. U8 soccer players like doing things in small groups, not large groups. Never give U8 players negative comments because these players are at an age where they are easily bruised physiologically. U8 soccer players lack a sense of pace, they sprint as hard as they can until they're burned out. Coaching U8 soccer also involves managing the team and keeping parents involved.

Things You'll Need

  • Soccer balls
  • Pinnies
  • Whistle
  • Soccer cones
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Instructions

  1. Basic U8 Soccer Practice

    • 1

      Instruct your players to start warming up with a quick jog around the field followed by some static stretching.

    • 2

      Begin practice with small group activities after your warmup such as team passing. Have payers get into pairs and tell them to pass the ball back and forth using both the left and right foot.

    • 3

      Set up small games of 2v2, 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 with cones. More than one game should be going on at all times to keep players involved.

    • 4

      Switch teams often and give every team a chance to win.

    • 5

      Finish your U8 soccer practice with a cool-down and stretch. You can use the same warmup that you used at the beginning of practice as your cool-down.

    • 6

      Give players a homework assignment such as learning how to juggle the ball five times in a row. See which players can meet this challenge during the next practice.

    • 7

      End on time for the sake of players and parents. Even if your players are having a good time playing, ending on time will provide you with an enthusiastic return next practice.

    Equipment

    • 8

      Purchase at least one soccer ball for every player on your team to use at practice. Some coaches ask their players to bring a ball to practice, but having your own ball bag will make things easier.

    • 9

      Purchase a set of soccer cones that you can use to create small goals and grids for your soccer practices. Cones are extremely important for coaching soccer.

    • 10

      Purchase a whistle that you can use during practice.

    • 11

      Purchase a set of pinnies with at least four different colors. These pinnies will be used to make teams during scrimmages at practice.

    Administration

    • 12

      Involve the parents at the beginning of each season by getting a list of everyone's phone number and printing out a phone chain. If games or practices get canceled you can use this phone chain to relay the message.

    • 13

      Choose a team administrator who can handle telling parents when practices and games are.

    • 14

      Print a schedule for practices and games and distribute it to parents.