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Post by silverback on Oct 21, 2013 13:33:41 GMT -5
Curious as to what people think is a good age for players to move to 11v11. IMO - the field is too large at U12 and kids should play on a smaller field which would allow for more touches and play in tight spaces. What do others think?
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Post by jash on Oct 21, 2013 13:37:34 GMT -5
I think the current u13 level is fine, but I don't like how most clubs ignore the recommendation.
I'm cynical, but I think they do it to lock in more players earlier, not for player development.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Oct 21, 2013 13:44:49 GMT -5
i struggle with this often. should top teams play 11v11 sooner? Unfortunately its a numbers game for smaller clubs, but that shouldn't effect if teams play 11v11.
teams should start at u13, all teams.
u8-u10 should play 7v7 not 6v6
u11-12 should play 9v9 not 8v8
u13 - 11v11
i do like teams starting to play some 11v11 in the spring of the u12 season though. but the problem is clubs are so worried about placement for u13, they will not experiment with rosters in the spring, too worried about winning vs development!
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Post by guest on Oct 21, 2013 21:11:49 GMT -5
Our U12 teams are playing a few games as 11v11. The majority though are 8v8.
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Post by zizou on Oct 21, 2013 22:11:44 GMT -5
There are three primary reasons I think later (U13 at earliest) is better:
1. U12 kids on average are just not physically capable of taking advantage of the big pitch. Have you watched them try to get a corner kick even to the near post? Now if they always played these matches on the smallest possible full sized pitch that might change things. Of course, for me, the next two issues still trump this one and lead me to think later is better.
2. Lot of space on a full sized pitch. I don't know about all of you, but I am appalled at the limited amount of time U12 teams seem to spend training ball handling in tight spaces. This is where truly great players excel, and it is a skill that will easily transfer to a larger pitch. Putting them on the full sized pitch before their time will even further limit such training opportunities because coaches will work on strategy in space.
3. The brains of 11 year old kids are still far from developed. Their cognitive abilities are not what they will be as all parents of early adolescents can attest. Can these kids even appreciate the complexities of 11v11soccer? Can they really even appreciate 8v8? Are the 11 year olds you watch really taking advantage of all the options provided by their teammates? I would say no. Regardless of teams I watch, I see them mostly playing about 4v4. Now some people will say we can train them to understand, to which I would respond you cannot make a system (like the brain) perform in a manner for which it is not prepared. There are limits. It would be better to realize the limits and train them exceptionally well to do what they can do and wait to impose greater complexity when there is a chance it will stick.
There are certainly exceptions. If you see the exception put the kid in an enriched soccer environment just like you would an academically or musically gifted child. But there are just not that many exceptional people in any sphere of life. I am also not saying something magically happens when they turn 12. But on average they will be better able to handle everything that comes with playing full sided with each passing year.
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Post by actualparent on Oct 23, 2013 9:46:10 GMT -5
I started 11v11 when I was 9 or 10, but on a smaller field. the idea then (so long ago) was that we'd learn the spatial strategy first and foremost, with less emphasis on foot skills that I see today. I'm not sure if that wasn't a better approach, although the u16's CL1's would likely have beat us when we were 19. Granted, we'd be smoking minutes before a game...ahh, the motherland.
As for the lack of field awareness/spatial strategy, I constantly see kids at u12/u13, and older bunching up on the ball or in the center of the field all the time, and I always wonder if it is because they practice the "short field" close-quarters drills and never practice playing the entire field.
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Post by spectator on Oct 23, 2013 12:50:42 GMT -5
As for the lack of field awareness/spatial strategy, I constantly see kids at u12/u13, and older bunching up on the ball or in the center of the field all the time, and I always wonder if it is because they practice the "short field" close-quarters drills and never practice playing the entire field. For us it's lack of field space - multiple teams practicing at the same time on the same field. If you're lucky enough to have only two teams, you can scrimmage but most of the practices are half field or even quarter field - great for ball handling and touches but not for spacing. |
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Post by jack4343 on Oct 24, 2013 8:43:31 GMT -5
My daughter started the full field 11v11 this year at u13. I'm fine with waiting for u13 to expand the teams and the field size. Like spectator said, practice space is usually at a premium so most teams only get to practice on a quarter of the field anyway. I think the biggest thing some of the girls on our team are struggling with is maintaining the shape as the play moves and movement away from the ball. One of my daughter's biggest frustrations as a defensive center mid is the left and right mids are not maintaining their shape and don't get in the space to receive her passes to start offensive transition. They are too busy chasing the ball. Can't blame them as I hear plenty of parents yelling at them to do just that.
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