Coaching Objectives:

The objectives below are guidelines and goals as a coach you should be working towards during your practices. Each age group skill sets are based upon building from previous accomplishments in the prior age group. Not all your players will have already mastered the previous skills listed for each age group so you may have to tailor your coaching program to include any missing skill sets you recognize as missing. These objectives should be viewed as guide lines and the better your players can perform these skills, the more success they will automatically achieve in games.

U5/U6
1) Learn to dribble ball using laces of shoes
2) Learn to make shots at goal with laces of shoes.
3) Learn to stop ball by trapping ball with soles of feet and dropping down on with knee.
4) Basic throw in motions and why we throw ball in.
5) Every kid on field must be having fun with soccer playing.
6) *Learn to change direction of dribble with insteps of feet.

U8
1) Ability to dribble forward, sideways and backwards.
2) Ability to pass using laces, inside of foot as well as outside of both feet.
3) Ability to receive passes by trapping the ball with sole, inside of foot as well as a thigh catch and drop.
4) Ability to shoot with laces of either foot.
5) Correct throw in procedures.
6) Ability to take a goal kick on offense as well as receive a goal kick on defense.
7) Ability to take a corner kick on offense as well as defend a corner kick being made.
8) Every player must have experience goalie play for at least one quarter.
9) *All should understand how to stop a ball with hands as a goalie. How to trap the ball during a catch then either punt or throw the ball back into play.
10) Ability to perform an indirect kick at start of play as well as on a Free Kick.
11) * Understand and perform clearing the ball from a defensive position by either kicking out of bounds or dribbling up and passing off to attackers.
12) * Understand and demonstrate the ability to play positions as an attacker or defensive player and maintain those positions during play.
13) * Triangle position play as offensive players when they move up and down the field.
14) NO COACHING OF INTENTIONAL OFFSIDES PLAYING SHALL BE DONE.

U10
1) Ability to dribble forward, sideways and backwards using either feet. Should be introduced to fakes, ball shielding and change dribbling feet on the move.
2) Ability to pass ball across field, backwards and drop passing and to receive each.
3) Ability to trap ball with foot, legs or chest.
4) Ability to head the ball for control.
5) Understand offsides and how to prevent being in that position.
6) How to set up a wall against a kick.
7) How to kick against a wall setup.
8) Understanding positions of Defender, Midfielder, Sweeper and Attacker and the concepts of each position.
9) Understand and demonstrate how to give and go passing.
10) Understand concept of constant movement.
11) Proper challenging from the defensive position
12) Shooting from the outside position as well the attacking position.
13) Goalie Work: Proper punts, side arm throws and rolls to start the offense after a stop, goalie kicks, how to trap and fall on the ball.
14) Understand a penalty kick and how to set up.
15) * Advance throw ins (foot drag)
16) * Set plays from restarts such as throw ins and kicks.
17) * Push, Peek and Point on shooting

U12/14
1) Ability to dribble with not only feet but knees and thighs.
2) Ability to shoot a bouncing ball.
3) Perform and set up a corner kick across the front of the goal.
4) Ability to shoot with different parts of the foot as well as header.
5) Ability to use the true Midfielder position.
6) Team support by being able to switch off on a position as an attacker beats the defender.

* These items are considered advance for specific age group listed but may be taught per coach's judgement of a player's ability.