1. Characteristics of U6 Soccer Players Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade Psychomotor Development Cognitive Development Psychosocial Development

2. What ever happened to free time?

3. In the Bleachers previous dateprevious date | next date | send to a friend | buy a printsend to a friendbuy a print

4. Psychomotor Development Movement Education Approach Body segments grow at different rates Differences between boys & girls are minimal Weight range approx. 30-50 lbs. Height range approx. 35-37”. Motor development starts with the head and moves downward to the feet, and from the center of the body outward.

5. Cleats previous dateprevious date | next date | send to a friend | buy a printsend to a friendbuy a print Copyright ©Universal Press SyndicatePublished Wednesday 04/17/02

6. Psychomotor, con’t. Easy fatigue, rapid recovery. HR around 90 bpm. Increased use of all body parts. Need to explore qualities of rolling and bouncing ball. Emphasis on fundamental movement skills Locomotor: walking, running, leaping, jumping, hopping. Nonlocomotor: bending, stretching, twisting, pulling, pushing. Basic Manipulative: throwing, catching, striking, kicking.

7. In the Bleachers previous dateprevious date | next date | send to a friend | buy a printsend to a friendbuy a print Copyright ©2001 Universal Press Syndicate Published Tuesday 01/29/02

8. Cognitive Development Preoperational stage (Piaget) Play consists of a high degree of imagination and pretend activities. Beginning use of symbols to represent objects in their environment. Tend to only one task at a time in problem- solving situations.

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10. Cognitive, con’t Process small bits of information at a time. Long sequential instructions are not processed. Immature understanding of time and space relationships. Simple rules.

12. Psychosocial Development Development of self-concept, body awareness, self-image through movement. Egocentric, see world only from their perspective. Demonstrated through parallel play. Need generous praise. Play without pressure. Influential person in their life is most likely their mother or significant parent. May verbalize team, but does not understand group or collective play.

13. Cleats previous dateprevious date | next date | send to a friend | buy a printsend to a friendbuy a print Copyright ©Universal Press SyndicatePublished Saturday 01/05/02

14. General Characteristics of Children U6 Short attention span Most individually oriented (me, my, mine) Constantly in motion Psychologically easily bruised Little or no concern for team activities Do believe in Santa Claus, but will not discuss with peers Physical & psychological development of boys & girls quite similar

15. General Characteristics of Children U6 Physical coordination immature Eye hand and/or eye foot coordination most primitive at best Love to run, jump & roll Like to roll on the ground - (that’s in good dress-up clothes, not in team uniform) Enjoy climbing Prefer large soft balls and nerf balls Catching skills not developed Can balance on good foot

16. General Characteristics of Children U6 NO SENSE OF PACE - GO FLAT OUT!!!

17. A Professional Coach with a U6 Team In the Bleachers previous dateprevious date | next date | send to a friend | buy a printsend to a friendbuy a print Copyright ©2001 Universal Press Syndicate Published Wednesday 02/20/02

18. Typical U6 Training Session Should not exceed 60 minutes Every child should have a ball Warm-up includes movement education problems & soccernastics (approx. 20 min) Games Activities, mostly of a body awareness type along with some maze games (20 min.) Finish with 4v4 game to small goals, NO GK’s (20 min)

19. Cleats previous dateprevious date | next date | send to a friend | buy a printsend to a friendbuy a print Copyright ©Universal Press SyndicatePublished Monday 04/15/02

20. U6 Tactical Sign This Way or One Way