U6 Coaching Resources

Roster:  6 players max

Practices:  30-45 minutes

Game Form:  4 v 4 (min 3)

Game Length:  2 - 16 minute halves

Goalkeeper:  No

Ball Size:  3

Field Size:  25-35 yards long x 15-25 yards wide

Player Equipment:  Team t-shirt, shorts, shin guards, soccer cleats, and socks.

Playing Time Requirement:  All players must receive 50% playing time in a game. 

Referee(s): Coaches will be informal referees.

Practice Objectives

Coaching Emphasis:  Fun!

Technique:  

• Dribbling.

• Changing direction while running with the ball.

• Shooting and kicking with different surfaces. 

• Throw ins, 2 hands over head, don’t lift feet.

• Goal kicks – when a goal kick is awarded, the defending team’s players must retreat into their own defensive half and may not move past the half-line until the goal kick is taken.  The kicking team may take the goal kick before the defending team has retreated completely into their defensive half.

• Corner kicks 

Psychology:  Sharing, fair play, how to “play”, emotional management.

Fitness:  Balance, running, jumping, coordination, movement education.

Tactics:  Players should be aware of the direction they are attacking, where they are on the field and be encouraged to be ball-orientated (always wanting to be involved in the action). Team shape can be addressed but under no circumstances should players be put in positions or made to stay in a certain area. In the U6 age group, players can be set up in a triangle shape to start the game and at other natural breaks (kick off, goal kicks, etc.)