Game Format & Brochure

Depending on the age of the team, the laws of the games will vary. See the links below for laws of the game for each age group.

1st Grade | U7 | 3 vs 3 no goalkeeper | Coach Brochure

2nd Grade | U8 | 4 vs 4 no goalkeeper | Coach Brochure

3rd & 4th Grade | U9 & U10 | 7 vs 7 including goalkeepers | Coach Brochure

5th & 6th Grade | U11 & U12 | 9 vs 9 including goalkeepers | Coach Brochure

7th Grade and Up | U13+ | 11 vs 11 including goalkeeper | Coach Brochure

Practice Resources

We recognize our coaches are volunteers and may have little to no experience. Below you can find practice resources specifically tailored for grassroots soccer and organized by age. These resources are directly from U.S. Soccer and follow a play-practice-play methodology.

1st & 2nd Grade | U7 & U8

3rd & 4th Grade | U9 & U10

5th & 6th Grade | U11& U12

7th Grade and Up | U13+

The Coaching Challenge

It is estimated that approximately 70% of children quit sports by age 13. The Youth Sports Institute cited the following reasons for kids playing and quitting sports in a 1987 study. Subsequent follow-up studies have continued to validate these findings.

 Good Coaches Strive to… 

• Understand the player's age and ability levels and plan practice activities accordingly.

• Provide for meaningful participation by eliminating lines and including every player in every activity.

• Develop technique in tactical contexts by playing small-sided games and the using relevant conditions to shape learning.

• Follow the 75/25 Rule by keeping drill-like activities to a maximum of 25% of the practice time.

• Balance success and challenge in the activities, by arranging for even-ability teams and making sure the field sizes and any conditions make sense to the skill level of the players.

• Provide for natural tactical transitions from attack to defense and defense to attack.

• Provide for natural and connected transitions between activities.

• Use competition as a motivational tool. What do the players have to do to win and how long is the game?

• Understand the value of limited feedback during natural stoppages.

• Understand the value of extended periods of uninterrupted play.

• Understand the value of excitement and positive reinforcement.

• Balance the volume of coaching information against the natural facilitation of discovery learning.

• Effectively match field space to the ability of the players.

• Vary the range of activities, while maintaining a focus on the key developmental aspects for the age.

• Study the players' body language for understanding and enjoyment.

• Study the players' body language to determine when to move an activity along.

• Show your enthusiasm when something good happens; temper your frustrations when the inevitable mistakes are made.

• Appreciate the slow pace of learning.

• Appreciate that mistakes are necessary and important for learning.