Introduction
Last week marked his eighth month, yet he hadn’t started walking. Feeling compelled by the neighbor’s son, who had already achieved this milestone, the father took it upon himself to teach his own child.
Determined to ensure his child’s ability to walk by the time he turned nine months old, the father sought the assistance of a professional coach who would dedicate daily sessions to practicing walking.
Can you imagine such a scenario? While it may sound absurd, if eight-month-old children possessed the same understanding as five-year-olds, it is plausible that some of us would pursue such measures.
In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, we often find ourselves comparing our lives to others, losing sight of the true reasons behind raising and nurturing our children. Many of us seek quick results and shortcuts to prove that our child is the best.
In every aspect of our lives, there is a progression of growth and development that occurs in a sequential manner. Similarly, infants follow a specific order of learning: they first learn to turn over, then sit up, crawl, stand, and eventually walk and run when their bodies and brains are ready. Each step in this process is crucial and requires its own time. There are no shortcuts or steps that can be skipped.
The same principle applies to sports, such as football or any other sport. When coaching children aged 16 and below, it’s important to recognize that they are not fully physically or mentally developed. Therefore, we cannot approach coaching them in the same way as we would with adult players. Coaching adult professionals aims to maintain their peak performance and compete at the highest level to win.
However, with children, our focus must be on their overall development rather than their peak performance. Attempting to keep children at their peak requires constant and intense physical and mental work on a daily basis, which can easily lead to burnout.
–Children should not be treated as miniature versions of adults when it comes to coaching, as they have distinct needs and requirements.-
I am Sandor Nagy, the founder and Director of Coaching (DOC) at Great Football United in Qingdao, China. I am eager to share my knowledge and experience regarding age-appropriate coaching and its significance with Chinese coaches and parents.
My firm belief is that every child should be given the opportunity to pursue their dreams and achieve their maximum potential, and this can be achieved by educating and inspiring coaches and parents. (For further insights on what reaching one’s full potential entails, you can read my previous article. Click here.)
Age-Appropriate
In the development of young players, there is often a prevailing mindset among coaches that winning is the ultimate goal. This can be especially true at early ages, leading coaches to overlook essential steps in the developmental process in pursuit of victory.
For instance, let’s take the example of an outstanding U8 team that excels in passing and spreading the play. It may appear impressive, as the children are demonstrating skills typically expected of players aged ten and above. They achieve a high number of wins, and the coach takes credit for their success. However, there are two significant issues with this approach.
The first problem arises when players learn advanced skills at a younger age than recommended. They may lack comprehension of the underlying concepts, and more importantly, they may not find it enjoyable because they can’t fully grasp the purpose behind it.
It’s like to teaching complex high school math concepts to a sixth grader. While you can teach them how to solve problems using formulas, it doesn’t address the long-term issue, as they won’t understand how and why those formulas work. Skipping three years of basic math lessons that lead to the formula ultimately hinders their overall understanding.
The second problem arises when attempting to teach these visually impressive passing and spreading skills at a young age solely for fast results. This approach often relies on long, monotonous repetition drills during training sessions. Unfortunately, this method fails to develop crucial decision-making and problem-solving abilities while stifling creativity.
An 8-year-old player is not inherently interested in passing and spreading; their natural inclination is to dribble the ball and score because that is what they find enjoyable. Through this enjoyment, they develop a passion for the game and cultivate the determination that will last a lifetime. At the age of ten and under, it is crucial to allow young players to express themselves freely and focus on learning the most fundamental football skill of all: dribbling (keeping the ball under control).
Workload
In China, another challenge lies in the excessive workload placed on young players. If we continuously subject children to monotonous and stressful structured training sessions, they are likely to lose their joy and interest in the game. When a child loses interest, their intrinsic motivation diminishes, and the training sessions begin to feel like tedious homework or burdensome chores. Without intrinsic motivation, children are unlikely to give their best effort, ultimately impeding their overall development.
Even the renowned FC Barcelona academy, La Masia, acknowledges the importance of keeping players hungry and motivated. Their U12 teams, for instance, are only trained three times a week, with each session meticulously planned and lasting just 90 minutes. On the remaining days, they are encouraged to engage in free play with friends during school recess, on the streets after school, or on weekends. This approach allows players to enjoy and maintain their passion for the game.
There is a popular saying that suggests it takes an average of 10,000 hours to truly master a skill, and to achieve this milestone by the age of 25, it becomes necessary to start early. While it is true that spending more time with the ball improves skills, it is vital to strike a balance between structured training sessions and free play. The hours spent by children playing with friends during school recess, on the street after school, or on weekends also contribute to their overall development. Just because these activities are not led by coaches does not mean they lack value.
I understand that cultural differences in China may make it challenging to provide these types of free-play opportunities. However, as coaches and parents, we bear the responsibility of creating such opportunities. Instead of having five or six structured training sessions per week, coaches can allocate one, two, or even three sessions to free play.
By giving children a ball and allowing them to figure things out on their own, they can engage in games where they incorporate various skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. Most importantly, they have the freedom to make decisions about what to do and when to do it.
Through these games, children learn not only technical aspects but also vital life skills. When they choose captains and form teams, they develop leadership, communication, problem-solving, and more. Occasionally, mixing older and younger players can provide different challenges, allowing the older ones to take care of the younger ones. This fosters empathy and fair play among them.
By finding this balance between structured training and free play, we can ensure that children have the opportunity to develop their skills while also cultivating important qualities that extend beyond the football pitch.
Allow me to present intriguing research (conducted on www.researchgate.net and concluded in 2012) that explores the number of hours professional clubs’ youth players dedicate to structured training sessions, competitions, and free play between the ages of 5 and 15 in various countries. This research provides valuable insights into several aspects of youth development.
Let’s see England first.
The image reveals that children under the age of nine in England undergo training for less than 200 hours annually, and even as they grow older, the number of training hours increases gradually. By the time they reach 15 years old, English players train for approximately 300 hours per year. Prior to the age of nine, their focus leans more towards free play rather than structured training sessions.
French children begin with even fewer supervised training hours, and up until the age of 11, they do not surpass 200 hours per year. The amount of free play hours is relatively similar to that of their English counterparts, but there has been a significant decline in the last two years.
“Everything I have achieved in football is due to playing football in the streets with my friends.”
Here are the Brazilian kids’ statistics.
In Brazil, due to cultural and economic disparities, children aged nine and below spend more than 200 hours playing on the streets, and significant structured training only begins at the age of 10. It is not until the age of 15 that they reach 500 hours of training sessions per year. Prior to reaching the age of 10, they focus on honing their dribbling and decision-making skills without external pressure or judgment. This helps to explain why there are numerous creative and passionate Brazilian players who excel in top leagues both in Europe and around the world.
Take the case of Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, who didn’t join a club until the age of 12, and even then, it was a futsal club. Prior to that, he honed his skills by playing on the streets. It wasn’t until he turned 13 that he entered a professional academy.
If Ronaldo had focused solely on passing and spreading on the field at the age of 8, would he have become the best dribbler in the world? Doubtful. I firmly believe that there are many young Chinese children who have the potential to play at a good level in Europe if they were granted the freedom to play during their childhood.
In Brazil, a process of natural selection occurs among young soccer players. Many kids play solely on the streets until the age of 10, but their improvement rates vary. Those who possess intrinsic drive, strong will, and persistence tend to spend more time honing their skills on the streets, leading to faster improvement and potential scouting opportunities. These characteristics form the core of an elite athlete. As they continue their development, and other virtues such as vision, game intelligence, and mental strength, etc., become apparent, that indicates the potential to become professional players.
However, when we begin coaching every day a group of six-year-old children by repetitively conducting monotonous drills, their development progresses at a similar pace because they are compelled to conform to a standardized approach. By the time they reach the age of 10, their skills may appear similar, and it becomes difficult to identify those who possess exceptional natural talent. Furthermore, this approach diminishes their intrinsic motivation (passion), which is vital for their overall development. Without it, they may not be able to reach their maximum potential.
And here are the Chinese statistics.
Regrettably, Chinese children experience the fewest hours of unrestricted play each year, and even that diminishes by the age of 10 due to the immense demands of structured training schedules. By the age of ten, they surpass 500 training hours, which is equivalent to the workload of a professional adult player in an average European league.
Comparison of England, France, Brazil, and China.
According to the available data, if player development were solely dependent on structured practice hours, China would have likely produced numerous players of Messi and Ronaldo’s caliber in the past decade. This assumption is based on the fact that Chinese children have trained for significantly more hours during their childhood and adolescence.
However, football is a much more intricate and multifaceted sport, and there are various factors at play. Over the past decade, professional Chinese club academies have increased practice session hours in the hopes of developing superior players, but this approach has proven to be ineffective. In fact, it has had adverse effects.
The extensive, structured, and demanding training workload endured by Chinese children during their formative years takes a toll. Throughout their development, they often lose interest, love, and passion, which are crucial for realizing their full potential.
Furthermore, the inclination towards seeking quick results and prioritizing winning games at all costs has severely hindered player development in China. These shortcuts have had a detrimental impact on fostering the necessary conditions for nurturing talent.
I suggest achieving a harmonious blend of structured training sessions and unstructured play to discover the distinct talents within each child.
When it comes to determining the appropriate field size for players, I recommend taking into account their individual abilities. For instance, if U10 players are unable to consistently cross the ball over a distance of 40-45 meters, it may not be tactically advantageous to have them play on an 8v8 field (approximately 45×60 meters). In such cases, it would be more suitable for them to play on a smaller field with fewer players, considering their limitations in executing long passes and switching the side of play.
Conclusion
Age-appropriate soccer coaching refers to tailoring coaching methods, activities, and expectations to align with the developmental stage and abilities of young players. It emphasizes creating a positive and enjoyable learning environment that promotes skill development, teamwork, and a love for the game.
Coaches must focus on age-specific drills, simplified instructions, and supportive communication to ensure players can learn and thrive at their own pace while building a solid foundation for their soccer journey.
I would love to read your opinion on this because we still have much to learn from each other and can move things forward through meaningful debate discussions. So please leave your comments below, and let’s see different thoughts and critiques that can develop new ideas.
Fundamental
Last week marked his eighth month, yet he hadn’t started walking. Feeling compelled by the neighbor’s son, who had already achieved this milestone, the father took it upon himself to teach his own child.
Determined to ensure his child’s ability to walk by the time he turned nine months old, the father sought the assistance of a professional coach who would dedicate daily sessions to practicing walking.
Can you imagine such a scenario? While it may sound absurd, if eight-month-old children possessed the same understanding as five-year-olds, it is plausible that some of us would pursue such measures.
In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, we often find ourselves comparing our lives to others, losing sight of the true reasons behind raising and nurturing our children. Many of us seek quick results and shortcuts to prove that our child is the best.
In every aspect of our lives, there is a progression of growth and development that occurs in a sequential manner. Similarly, infants follow a specific order of learning: they first learn to turn over, then sit up, crawl, stand, and eventually walk and run when their bodies and brains are ready. Each step in this process is crucial and requires its own time. There are no shortcuts or steps that can be skipped.
The same principle applies to sports, such as football or any other sport. When coaching children aged 16 and below, it’s important to recognize that they are not fully physically or mentally developed. Therefore, we cannot approach coaching them in the same way as we would with adult players. Coaching adult professionals aims to maintain their peak performance and compete at the highest level to win.
However, with children, our focus must be on their overall development rather than their peak performance. Attempting to keep children at their peak requires constant and intense physical and mental work on a daily basis, which can easily lead to burnout.
–Children should not be treated as miniature versions of adults when it comes to coaching, as they have distinct needs and requirements.-
I am Sandor Nagy, the founder and Director of Coaching (DOC) at Great Football United in Qingdao, China. I am eager to share my knowledge and experience regarding age-appropriate coaching and its significance with Chinese coaches and parents.
My firm belief is that every child should be given the opportunity to pursue their dreams and achieve their maximum potential, and this can be achieved by educating and inspiring coaches and parents. (For further insights on what reaching one’s full potential entails, you can read my previous article. Click here.)
Age-Appropriate
In the development of young players, there is often a prevailing mindset among coaches that winning is the ultimate goal. This can be especially true at early ages, leading coaches to overlook essential steps in the developmental process in pursuit of victory.
For instance, let’s take the example of an outstanding U8 team that excels in passing and spreading the play. It may appear impressive, as the children are demonstrating skills typically expected of players aged ten and above. They achieve a high number of wins, and the coach takes credit for their success. However, there are two significant issues with this approach.
The first problem arises when players learn advanced skills at a younger age than recommended. They may lack comprehension of the underlying concepts, and more importantly, they may not find it enjoyable because they can’t fully grasp the purpose behind it.
It’s like to teaching complex high school math concepts to a sixth grader. While you can teach them how to solve problems using formulas, it doesn’t address the long-term issue, as they won’t understand how and why those formulas work. Skipping three years of basic math lessons that lead to the formula ultimately hinders their overall understanding.
The second problem arises when attempting to teach these visually impressive passing and spreading skills at a young age solely for fast results. This approach often relies on long, monotonous repetition drills during training sessions. Unfortunately, this method fails to develop crucial decision-making and problem-solving abilities while stifling creativity.
An 8-year-old player is not inherently interested in passing and spreading; their natural inclination is to dribble the ball and score because that is what they find enjoyable. Through this enjoyment, they develop a passion for the game and cultivate the determination that will last a lifetime. At the age of ten and under, it is crucial to allow young players to express themselves freely and focus on learning the most fundamental football skill of all: dribbling (keeping the ball under control).
Workload
In China, another challenge lies in the excessive workload placed on young players. If we continuously subject children to monotonous and stressful structured training sessions, they are likely to lose their joy and interest in the game. When a child loses interest, their intrinsic motivation diminishes, and the training sessions begin to feel like tedious homework or burdensome chores. Without intrinsic motivation, children are unlikely to give their best effort, ultimately impeding their overall development.
Even the renowned FC Barcelona academy, La Masia, acknowledges the importance of keeping players hungry and motivated. Their U12 teams, for instance, are only trained three times a week, with each session meticulously planned and lasting just 90 minutes. On the remaining days, they are encouraged to engage in free play with friends during school recess, on the streets after school, or on weekends. This approach allows players to enjoy and maintain their passion for the game.
There is a popular saying that suggests it takes an average of 10,000 hours to truly master a skill, and to achieve this milestone by the age of 25, it becomes necessary to start early. While it is true that spending more time with the ball improves skills, it is vital to strike a balance between structured training sessions and free play. The hours spent by children playing with friends during school recess, on the street after school, or on weekends also contribute to their overall development. Just because these activities are not led by coaches does not mean they lack value.
I understand that cultural differences in China may make it challenging to provide these types of free-play opportunities. However, as coaches and parents, we bear the responsibility of creating such opportunities. Instead of having five or six structured training sessions per week, coaches can allocate one, two, or even three sessions to free play.
By giving children a ball and allowing them to figure things out on their own, they can engage in games where they incorporate various skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. Most importantly, they have the freedom to make decisions about what to do and when to do it.
Through these games, children learn not only technical aspects but also vital life skills. When they choose captains and form teams, they develop leadership, communication, problem-solving, and more. Occasionally, mixing older and younger players can provide different challenges, allowing the older ones to take care of the younger ones. This fosters empathy and fair play among them.
By finding this balance between structured training and free play, we can ensure that children have the opportunity to develop their skills while also cultivating important qualities that extend beyond the football pitch.
Allow me to present intriguing research (conducted on www.researchgate.net and concluded in 2012) that explores the number of hours professional clubs’ youth players dedicate to structured training sessions, competitions, and free play between the ages of 5 and 15 in various countries. This research provides valuable insights into several aspects of youth development.
Let’s see England first.
The image reveals that children under the age of nine in England undergo training for less than 200 hours annually, and even as they grow older, the number of training hours increases gradually. By the time they reach 15 years old, English players train for approximately 300 hours per year. Prior to the age of nine, their focus leans more towards free play rather than structured training sessions.
French children begin with even fewer supervised training hours, and up until the age of 11, they do not surpass 200 hours per year. The amount of free play hours is relatively similar to that of their English counterparts, but there has been a significant decline in the last two years.
“Everything I have achieved in football is due to playing football in the streets with my friends.”
Here are the Brazilian kids’ statistics.
In Brazil, due to cultural and economic disparities, children aged nine and below spend more than 200 hours playing on the streets, and significant structured training only begins at the age of 10. It is not until the age of 15 that they reach 500 hours of training sessions per year. Prior to reaching the age of 10, they focus on honing their dribbling and decision-making skills without external pressure or judgment. This helps to explain why there are numerous creative and passionate Brazilian players who excel in top leagues both in Europe and around the world.
Take the case of Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, who didn’t join a club until the age of 12, and even then, it was a futsal club. Prior to that, he honed his skills by playing on the streets. It wasn’t until he turned 13 that he entered a professional academy.
If Ronaldo had focused solely on passing and spreading on the field at the age of 8, would he have become the best dribbler in the world? Doubtful. I firmly believe that there are many young Chinese children who have the potential to play at a good level in Europe if they were granted the freedom to play during their childhood.
In Brazil, a process of natural selection occurs among young soccer players. Many kids play solely on the streets until the age of 10, but their improvement rates vary. Those who possess intrinsic drive, strong will, and persistence tend to spend more time honing their skills on the streets, leading to faster improvement and potential scouting opportunities. These characteristics form the core of an elite athlete. As they continue their development, and other virtues such as vision, game intelligence, and mental strength, etc., become apparent, that indicates the potential to become professional players.
However, when we begin coaching every day a group of six-year-old children by repetitively conducting monotonous drills, their development progresses at a similar pace because they are compelled to conform to a standardized approach. By the time they reach the age of 10, their skills may appear similar, and it becomes difficult to identify those who possess exceptional natural talent. Furthermore, this approach diminishes their intrinsic motivation (passion), which is vital for their overall development. Without it, they may not be able to reach their maximum potential.
And here are the Chinese statistics.
Regrettably, Chinese children experience the fewest hours of unrestricted play each year, and even that diminishes by the age of 10 due to the immense demands of structured training schedules. By the age of ten, they surpass 500 training hours, which is equivalent to the workload of a professional adult player in an average European league.
Comparison of England, France, Brazil, and China.
According to the available data, if player development were solely dependent on structured practice hours, China would have likely produced numerous players of Messi and Ronaldo’s caliber in the past decade. This assumption is based on the fact that Chinese children have trained for significantly more hours during their childhood and adolescence.
However, football is a much more intricate and multifaceted sport, and there are various factors at play. Over the past decade, professional Chinese club academies have increased practice session hours in the hopes of developing superior players, but this approach has proven to be ineffective. In fact, it has had adverse effects.
The extensive, structured, and demanding training workload endured by Chinese children during their formative years takes a toll. Throughout their development, they often lose interest, love, and passion, which are crucial for realizing their full potential.
Furthermore, the inclination towards seeking quick results and prioritizing winning games at all costs has severely hindered player development in China. These shortcuts have had a detrimental impact on fostering the necessary conditions for nurturing talent.
I suggest achieving a harmonious blend of structured training sessions and unstructured play to discover the distinct talents within each child.
When it comes to determining the appropriate field size for players, I recommend taking into account their individual abilities. For instance, if U10 players are unable to consistently cross the ball over a distance of 40-45 meters, it may not be tactically advantageous to have them play on an 8v8 field (approximately 45×60 meters). In such cases, it would be more suitable for them to play on a smaller field with fewer players, considering their limitations in executing long passes and switching the side of play.
Conclusion
Age-appropriate soccer coaching refers to tailoring coaching methods, activities, and expectations to align with the developmental stage and abilities of young players. It emphasizes creating a positive and enjoyable learning environment that promotes skill development, teamwork, and a love for the game.
Coaches must focus on age-specific drills, simplified instructions, and supportive communication to ensure players can learn and thrive at their own pace while building a solid foundation for their soccer journey.
I would love to read your opinion on this because we still have much to learn from each other and can move things forward through meaningful debate discussions. So please leave your comments below, and let’s see different thoughts and critiques that can develop new ideas.
Scroll down for English 
