As the modern Western Society has long since taken away any sensible and safe opportunity for street soccer and sandlot soccer for young children, and as increasing diversions/distractions are offered to our children - many of which are sedentary in nature, and with the increasing educational demands of the Western world, children and their coaches are finding it more and more difficult to arrange sufficient practice times to develop the skills.

It is now widely accepted by the leading coach educators and physical education experts world-wide that much more time must be given to skill development than competitive play.

It changes the whole soccer landscape with regard to the playing and the organizing of the game at the grassroots level and within community soccer organizations - especially if we limit the use of the word "recreational" in soccer.

In Stage 4 (U11 Girls/U12 Boys - U15 Girls/U16 Boys) of the Canadian Soccer Association's Long Term Player Development document - Wellness to World Cup - the recommended training to competition ratio calls for between 5 to 12 practice sessions to every game.  This is not much different to what other western countries are saying.

Is this realistic?

Is it possible?

It is, but only with a major paradigm shift in the way that soccer is organized and conducted.

And before looking at the possible solutions, are we just talking about elite players and teams?  I believe not - certainly not at younger ages (U6 - U12).

There will always be exceptions, but no one can really say that a normally healthy young athlete is going to be the star of the future.  And in many cases, nobody can say they can't.  So parents believe that their young Johnny or Jennie could become an accomplished player of the future. 

If, for the moment, you have read enough, go to the bottom of the page and click on the You Tube link.  You might then decide to return to the article.

As well, during the ages U6 - U12, there are some serious health issues for the future well-being of children that should and can be addressed during those years.  We know that a well-rounded, physically literate soccer player is much more likely to continue playing after 12-years of age if they feel the game enhances their self-esteem, rather than demeaning it.

The good news is that at this Fundamental Stage and the Learning to Train Stage (U6 - U12) the number of recommended practices is less that 5, but more than is presently accomplished (1 or if you are lucky, 2).

So back to reality.  Most enlightened soccer educators, while in agreement with a paradigm shift, are not coming up with the solutions (other than in the professional clubs and for-profit academies). 

What all of this does is offer a great opportunity for any group that can develop a formula and programs to make the 3+ and the 5+ practice sessions a reality.

So that's the summary of the existing or "into the near-future" situation.

The solutions?

A grassroots community soccer organization can provide the one or two practice sessions for the U6 - U12 and two, perhaps three for the U11- U16 - even though that is not enough.  This means, however, that clubs must continue to provide products and programs to help them recruit and train their coaches and provide the equipment and environment for practice and play (DVDs, Manuals, Curriculum, Websites, On-Line Help, Soccer Goals, On-Field Clinics, On-Line Clinics, and...SPACE!).

Just remember that for individual skills development we are not talking about the necessity of a full soccer field or even a quarter of a field.  Much can be accomplished in a 10 by 15 yard area or less.  More than that space would be a great bonus, but not essential.

Here are some alternative programs and product ideas to enable the minimum number of recommended sessions to be achieved or bettered.

1. A club designates an "On-Your-Own" practice area that may be adjacent to a practice field (or at the end of a field), but does not encroach on normal practice areas, for self-administered practice sessions (Players on their own with the assistance of DVDs, On-Line Help, Booklets, Minimum of Trained Coach Mentors for Hands-On Help if required, Rebound Walls, Rebound Nets, etc.).  May need to organize times for the drop-in by age, etc.

2. Other opportunities for further practice sessions outside the club environment (Small Gym or Grass/Artificial Area, Rebound Wall/Rebound Net, Professional Coaches with a non-competitive program, i.e., skills and individual development, but not a team concept or a team travel opportunity, DVDs, On-Line Help, Creative Soccer-Type Program, Curriculum, etc.).

3. Individual practice programs for one player that can take place within limited space, such as a back yard, school yard, park or beach, where a limited amount of essential equipment is required, e.g., DVD, On-Line Help, Booklets, Website, Rebound Wall or Boards, Rebound Net, Skills Testing Element via Website).

4. Parent & child programs especially for 3, 4 & 5 Year Olds and for 6, 7 & 8 Year Olds and perhaps, for 9,10 & 11 Year Olds (DVD, On-Line Help, Equipment such as a rebounder, Website).

5. Small number "friends" practices - one, two and threes - that can take place in the backyard, in a playground, a park or at the beach (DVD, On-Line Help, Booklets, Website, Rebound Wall or Boards, Rebound Net, Skills Testing Element via Website/On-Line).

The great players of today and yesteryear did not become "great" with one or two practices per week.  They worked and worked at the individual skill for endless hours.  You don't think the great Wayne Gretsky became the best-ever hockey player on 2, 3, 4 or 5 practices a week.  His Dad built him a rink in his own backyard.

Young soccer players do not need a rink.

Look at the graphic above.  Is there not a rebound wall of some kind in your neighborhood?  An industrial area, park, school, rec center, or better still, the garage wall or the side of your house?

One final comment:  All soccer educators who accept the need for the paradigm shift must lobby hard and long for a limit to be placed on competitive games each season/year.  This will be much more difficult to affect than providing the means and tools for additional practice sessions.  That is why 5 sessions per competitive game is much more realistic than 12.

To limit a team, of say 14 year olds, to a maximum of 20 - 25 games per season/year might at first glance seem to be changing the world - or that is the way some parents, coaches and club/provincial/state and national "leaders" would see it.

So that part of it will take time.

Adding one, two or three additional sessions per team game will not.

If you have survived to the end of this article, here is some interesting footage to look at on You Tube.  Some will have already seen it.  It shows a remarkable 7-year old soccer player.  Click here to Watch....

I have linked you for your enjoyment. 

I am not going to draw any conclusions - publicly!

But I would like to ask you some questions:

1. Is this the way to go?

2. Is this boy a shoe-in at the pro level in later years?

3. Should we be drawing any sort of conclusions right now?

4. Are there other aspects of the game that might be addressed at this age - other than ball manipulation?

Be really interested to get your feedback.