For Fall 2015. U12 Choices for the Upcoming Fall Season: Full-sided (11v11) Small-sided (8v8) Both (teams chose and 11v11 and 8v8 brackets are.

U12 Small-Sided Soccer?

For Fall 2015

Fall 2015 Decision

U12 Choices for the Upcoming Fall Season:

Full-sided (11v11)

Small-sided (8v8)

Both (teams chose and 11v11 and 8v8 brackets are set up)

U11 Coaches’ FeedbackSurvey Results

U11 Coaches’ Feedback

102 Coaches participated in survey. Evaluating the switch to small-sided for U11:

95% thought the ref crews were good to excellent 92% thought playing time was good to excellent 91% thought that the increased number of

touches was good to excellent 94% noticed a good to excellent improvement in

player development 98% experienced a good to excellent coaching

experience

U11 Survey Results

~60% of U11 coaches did not favor playing small-sided at U12

Common concerns: Field size (too many club fields are too small) Roster size (may lose players in smaller clubs) May need additional fields May need additional equipment

Projected Impact

Reminder – 1 field needed for every 6 teams

If we had switched to small-sided for U12 for the Fall 2014-Spring 2015 seasonal year: 9 Clubs may have needed an additional field (Cape

Express, Haddon Hts, Hammonton, Marlton, Monroe, Pal-Riv, RV, West Deptford, Westmont)

If we switch to small-sided for U12 for the Fall 2015-Spring 2015 seasonal year: Same list (RV would not need one but Barrington

might)

U11 Survey CommentsComments, comments, and more comments

U11 Survey Results

Some common “negative” comments on switching to small-sided for U12:

“Not enough space on the field” “Not enough talented coaches to take

advantage of small-sided training” “Small-sided games are controlled by

one dominant player” “It would hurt middle school teams that

are playing 11v11”

U11 Survey Results

Comments cont’d: “We need to have larger rosters to keep

players” “8v8 favors larger slower players” “At U12, players are physically, technically

and tactically ready for a full sided field” “Small-sided at U12 will have negative impact

on high school teams” “The game in real life is played 11v11” “Long term this will make the transition to

college play more difficult”

U11 Survey Results

Comments cont’d: “You will lose teams to MAPS and EDP” “As a coach for over 25 years, 8v8 is not

how soccer is played” “We need to be teaching tactics at U12

and you can’t do that in small-sided” “Only the bottom tier of teams would

benefit from this”

U11 Survey Results

Some common “positive” comments on switching to small-sided for U12:

“We need our young soccer players to touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it!”

“We want our players to make more, less - complicated decisions during the game for better tactical development”

U11 Survey Results

Comments cont’d: “Our players need to learn to be more physically

efficient in the field space they are playing in” “We really need more individual teaching time

with the coach! Fewer players on the field and fewer players on the team will guarantee this! (Need to feel worthy and need to feel important)”

“Small-sided helps provide them with more playing time to learn how to solve problems during the game”

U11 Survey Results

Comments cont’d: “Small-sided allows you to give them more

opportunity to play on both sides of the ball” “Our players need more goal scoring

opportunities – without small-sided play we take away creativity”

“Small-sided provides more socialization and more importantly more FUN”

“A larger field translates to more ‘kicking’ and less passing”

Small-Sided SoccerPros and Cons

U.S. Against the World

All top international academies and teams favor small-sided (some up to U14)

European Club Association Report 214 clubs from 53 associations

including: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Sporting Club, Standard Liege, FC Basel, Panathinaikos FC, Shakhtar Donetsk

European Club AssociationU5 to U9 U10 to U11 U12 to U13 U14 and up

4v4 - 45% 5v5 - 4% 6v6 - 1% 9v9 - 2%

5v5 - 40% 6v6 - 5% 7v7 - 14% 11v11 - 98%

6v6 - 5% 7v7 - 55% 8v8 - 7%  

7v7 - 10% 8v8 - 23% 9v9 - 25%  

  9v9 - 12% 10v10 - 1%  

  11v11 - 1% 11v11 - 52%(primarily U13)

US Soccer

Annual General Membership Meeting: National Mandate of Small-sided Games

for Players U12 and Younger (tabled) Recommendation:▪ U8 – 5v5▪ U10 – 7v7▪ U12 – 9v9

Nationwide

US Soccer Current Recommendations

U6 - 3 against 3 no goal keepers U8 - 4 against 4 no goal keepers U10 - 6 against 6 with goal keepers U12 - 8 against 8 with goal keepers U13+ - 11 against 11 with goal

keepers

Final Thought

“It all starts with the proper numbers of players at training and games for the specific age group at practice.

For example, 7-9 year olds should play in a 3v3 environment, 10-11 year olds in a 5v5 environment and U12 players should play in a 7v7 environment.

The youth academies in Spain such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid play games with player numbers no larger than 7v7 up to12 years old.

The size of the field is smaller and the ball is smaller so that the players can function according to their physical abilities.

They have understood that the players are not yet adults.”

Stan Baker, author and coach

Questions?