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| Why make the change? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It makes the game of soccer a better experience for children. More touches
on the ball, more opportunities to make decisions, more actual play and
more energetic workouts due to playing both attacking and defensive roles.
By learning offense and defense, rather than just static positions, a
player will become more complete and will understand more readily the
roles and importance of teammates.. |
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| Whose idea was this? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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US Youth Soccer has been a proponent of small sided games since the 1980's.
Small sided games are endorsed by our national coaching committee, the
State Directors of Coaching, US National Team, Coaches for Men & Women,
including many foreign soccer organizations: England, Ireland, Scotland,
Germany, France, Korea to name a few! |
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| Why can't the kids play 11v11 like "real" soccer? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 11v11 format is the adult version of the game. Using
an adult size field and goals makes little sense for children under the
age of twelve. Back to Top |
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| Other sports don't alter their game- why does soccer? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It's not a good comparison with football or baseball - neither
has the element of transition that soccer does. Look at basketball- how
many kids play basketball 5 on 5? Most basketball is played 1v1, 2v1 or
2v2 in a driveway! Kids don't wait until they have nine friends to have
a game! Playing on a small field is a more efficient use of space, it takes
less time to advance for a shot on goal, and children are more actively
involved for a longer period of time Back to Top |
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| I didn't grow up playing this way! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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True! Whether you grew up in the USA or another country, soccer was traditionally
played 11v11 for all age groups. This isn't true any longer. Small sided
game formats are in use all over the world - not just in the US. |
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| How will they learn to play 11v11? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Progressing from 3v3, 4v4, 6v6, to 8v8 BEFORE 11v11 is a sound educational
method. The problem is that young players were forced into 11v11 before
their bodies were physically developed to play the adult version of the
game. Any notion that players will be less prepared to play 11v11 is not
justified. |
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| Are you saying we shouldn't teach positions? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For the most part - YES! Sticking an Under-6 or Under-8 player in just
one spot greatly reduces his opportunities to touch the ball and, consequently,
the opportunity for him to make his decisions, right and wrong, on the
field. Playing small sided games allows every player to play offense and
defense multiple times in just one game. |
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| Won't players just "bunch up" more? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No. Because players aren't limited by position, each will explore new
opportunities to get and receive the ball. Coaches encourage this process
by teaching "triangles" and "diamonds" during practices,
instead of forcing players into fixed positions. Players can then discover
opportunities during the game. Remember - practices are the coaches' time
but the game belongs to the players. And the game is always the best teacher! |
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| Does competitive or travel have to play by this new rule? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The decision to play small sided games is based on "age appropriate"
philosophy- the level of play is not a factor. All players of that age
group should play the same format. |
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| This will never work! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sure it will! A large number of State Associations have been
playing 3v3 with Under-6 players & 4v4 with Under-8 players successfully
for more than a dozen years! Adopting 8v8 for Under-11 and Under-12 players
is the fastest growing trend in youth soccer. Back toTop |
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| Where do I find rules? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The US Youth Soccer website (www.usyouthsoccer.org)
has playing rules posted in the Coaches, Referees and Download Center pages.
A free brochure, "Official Handbook: Introductory Rules for Small Sided
Games U6 & U8" is available from your State Association. Back toTop |
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| Will we need more coaches? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| That's a decision for each club to decide. Clubs adopting
the "single field" method will need more coaches and fields to
accommodate the smaller team rosters. Clubs adopting the "dual field"
method keep the original team rosters and number of coaches but play two
games split across one field. The dual field" method is further described
below. Back toTop |
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| Will I need more referees? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small sided games rarely need more than one referee to cover
the field. Under-6 playing 3v3 rarely has the need for a referee to solve
a dispute more serious than who's kick-in is it! If you have a shortage
of certified referees, consider using coaches or parents as "officials"
- someone to monitor the game. Training materials specific to small sided
games are available for free from US Youth Soccer or your State Association
- Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA; www.epysa.org). Back to Top |
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| Will I need more fields? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rather than build new fields, some clubs "convert" existing
ones. For U-12 8v8 they can play across the width of an existing full
size field. 3v3 and 4v4 fields can be laid out in grassy spaces that were
previously unsuitable for soccer. The smaller dimensions of a 3v3 field
allow more possibilities. |
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| Will I need more goals? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YES! But they should not be permanent or expensive. A number
of manufacturers offer lightweight portable goals or you can make your own.
Remember player safety is a priority - don't let children hang or play on
the goals. Back toTop |
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| We'll have to break up our current team rosters! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Again, it's a club decision. Clubs adopting the "single
field" will reduce team rosters by creating more teams. Clubs adopting
the "dual field" will retain the original roster sizes. Back toTop |
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| How many players on a roster? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If playing 3v3 no more than six; if 4v4 no more than eight. Since participation
is a priority, every player should play at least 50% of each game. If
playing "dual field" you could have as many as nine or ten on
a 3v3 roster and in 4v4 as many as ten or eleven on a roster. |
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| What is the "dual field" method? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The "dual field" method for 3v3 and 4v4 places
two games side by side on one field, with the coaches and substitutes in
between. Players rotate from Field "A" to Field "B"
to substitute. Using this method maximizes player participation. How to
coach two fields at once? That's the beauty of two fields - you can't! Let
the kids play! Back toTop |
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| I've heard of "academy" and "scramble" methods- what are they? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rather than a set number of players on a team roster, each
player practices with a larger group of players and several coaches. On
game day players are divided into teams of three or four for games. Practice
groups or "academies" may be formed around neighborhoods or school
attendance zones. Back toTop |
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| Will other State Associations play the same format as our state? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The rule change is a national policy. While each State Association is
free to adopt the format they feel best meets the needs of its members,
interplay between States is governed by this rule.. |
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| What is the easiest way to implement the new rules? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The largest hurdles are education and logistics. Parents, coaches, referees
need to be informed of the reasons for the change as well as the rules
of play. Your State Association can provide coaching courses and clinics
as well as assist with referee training. Converting existing fields is
as simple as re-marking fields to the small sided games dimensions and
acquiring small goals. |
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| Where do I go for help in implementing the small sided games? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching courses specific to each age group are available
as are free materials dealing with the small sided game. Information is
available on the US Youth Soccer website www.usyouthsoccer.org
and from your State Association (EPYSA; www.epysa.org).
Back to Top |