F

is the "F" word that no practice should be without.  "Fun" has to be at the core of practice for players of all ages and all levels - including the pros.

E

is for "Everyone Included."  No standing in lines or hanging about.  Boredom and misbehavior are partners in crime.  "E" is also for "Equal Time" and "Equal Opportunity" - particularly for the younger players.  OK!  In the World Cup and the Olympics equal time and opportunity cannot be factored in, but 7-year olds kids...come on!

A

is for "Activity" and is the partner-in-success for our "E" word.  How can we keep our practice flowing, with plenty of kicks of the ball for every player?

S

is for "Skills" and in our case, soccer skills.  The more skilled a player is, the more enjoyment he or she will get by being able to do the right things at the right time.  So skill development is an important part of the menu.

T

is for "Team."  Soccer, probably more than any other sport, is about team work and this should be incorporated into every practice - even if it is only 3 vs. 3 for 6-year olds.  While the coach is a very important person in soccer it is not possible to manipulate the next play as it can be in some other sports.  Soccer is about individual and collective decision making and combination plays.