| (Under
13- Under 19 are unaffected by rule change)
Frequently Asked Question’s
Why make the change? It makes the game of
soccer a better experience for children. More touches
on the ball, more opportunities to make decisions,
more actual play. Energetic workouts due to playing
both attacking and defensive roles. While learning
both offense and defense, a player will become more
complete and will understand more readily the roles
and importance of teammates.
Whose idea was this? 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!
Why can’t they 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.
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.
I didn’t grow up playing this way! 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.
How will they learn to play 11v11? 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.
Does competitive or travel have to play by this
new rule? 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.
This will never work! Sure it will! A number
of State Associations have been playing 3v3 at under
6 & 4v4 at Under-8 successfully for more than
a dozen years! Adopting 8v8 for under 11’s and under
12’s is the fastest growing trend in youth soccer.
Where do I find rules? The US Youth Soccer
website 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.
Will I need more coaches? No, if you currently
play 8v8 for under 8’s you probably have eleven or
twelve players rostered per team. To play 4v4 without
changing your roster sizes simply use the "dual
field" method described below.
Will I need more referees? Small sided games
rarely need more than one referee to cover the field.
Under 6’s playing 3v3 rarely have need for the referee
to solve a dispute more serious than who’s "kick
in" it is! 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.
Will I need more fields? Rather than build
new fields "convert" your 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 for as
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.
We’ll have to break up our current team rosters!
No, Simply adopt the "dual field" method
explained below!
How many players on a roster? 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.
What is the "dual field" method?
We recommend the "dual field" method for
3v3 and 4v4- two fields, side by side, 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! Practices
are the coaches time, games are for the players.
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.
Will other State Associations play the same format
as our state? The rule change is to 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.
What is the easiest way to implement the new
rules? 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 remarking fields to the small sided games dimensions
and acquiring small goals.
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
usyouthsoccer.org or contact your State Association
or US Youth Soccer 800-4SOCCER.
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