U9, or "under 9" girls as of the previous August 1, are a bit more skilled than the U6-U8 girls but still look at soccer mainly as fun. Coaching this group can be tricky, write D.W. Crisfield and Beth Balbierz in "Knack Coaching Youth Soccer." Work to harness the energy of the girls by dealing with short attention spans and growing gaps in skill levels.
Types
Communities often set up recreational soccer for U9 girls, and local soccer associations may offer more competitive travel teams for U9s. Travel teams will require that U9 girls train more and find funds for a full uniform kit rather than just a team T-shirt. It is common for U9 girls to play on coed teams with boys, as American soccer star Mia Hamm did.
Time Frame
Begin training of U9 girls with 20 minutes of a dribbling game and juggling, recommends John DeWitt, a coach with the New Mexico Youth Soccer Association, in "Coaching Girls' Soccer." Proceed to 20 minutes of passing work, with five minutes of one simple passing drill, a second drill for another five minutes, and then repeating both. Close with 15 minutes of a four versus four tournament, scoring a point for every three passes strung together in a row.
Features
U9 girls play with a size 4 ball, slightly smaller than the size 5 used for players 13 and above. Use the correct size ball for both skill acquisition and injury prevention. U9 girls have a greater sense of personal responsibility than U6-U8, so you as coach can set rules about bringing proper dress and proper gear to practice, such as a personal ball labeled with the girl's name, a uniform jersey and shin guards.
Theories
Tactics become more important in this age group; the girls are more capable of understanding complex concepts. You can train them to control the ball and score a ball, and to think ahead. The girls will display great enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, and you can begin to use specific soccer terms rather than making everything a game.
Considerations
U9 girls, like U8 girls, need training that focuses a high priority on technique and psychology, DeWitt writes. Psychology concerns how you deal with your players and how they deal with each other. While boys are more physically aggressive, girls are less likely to get into physical fights but more likely to form cliques and attempt to leave players out. When breaking the team into groups, observe for left-out teammates and step in to assign players to groups.
Expert Insight
When coaching girls, you can use many of the same approaches used for coaching boys. Coach the athlete, not the gender, DeWitt advises; soccer players are soccer players, he states. You may have to adjust your style for some players due more to differences in individual motivation than the fact that you are dealing with girls.
References
- "Knack Coaching Youth Soccer: Step-by-Step Instruction on Strategy, Mechanics, Drills, and Winning"; D.W. Crisfield and Beth Balbierz; 2009
- "Coaching Girls' Soccer: From the How-to's of the Game to Practical Real-World Advice"; John DeWitt; 2001
- "Go for the Goal"; Mia Hamm; 1999
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