How to Properly Conduct a Scrimmage With a Young Soccer Team

Scrimmages are a good way for young soccer players to learn rules and skills while playing the game in a safe and controlled environment. A scrimmage involves members of the same team competing against each other in a practice game. Scrimmages usually take place during a practice session with the coach deciding the level of control needed. Scrimmaging provides young soccer players with real-time game experience that will help them compete against other teams in future matches.

Instructions

    • 1

      Divide the team into two sides. If your team has a particularly large number of players, you can divide the players into four groups and play two separate scrimmages. According to the U.S. Youth Soccer association, the optimal team size for scrimmages is four players. Scrimmage teams can have as many as eight players per side if there are enough team members. Using more players on the field during a scrimmage will make the game more complex, so keep the number of team members low until the team has gained experience.

    • 2

      Select a goalkeeper for each team once the players have become familiar with a the rules of the game. The objestive of a scrimmage is to practice real-life soccer in a controlled setting that includes a goalkeeper.

    • 3

      Use only half the field for younger players who do not yet have a grasp on the game. It is better for them to play with no goalkeepers. This is the best way to conduct a scrimmage for children ages four to seven. Older children with more experience can scrimmage on the entire field with goalkeepers in place.

    • 4

      Use the scrimmage as an opportunity to teach players rules, skills and strategy. Call out to them when they are playing incorrectly, but make sure to also offer plenty of encouragement. Allow players to experiment with different positions to find out where they best fit on the team.