Ten Commandments: U13 Youth Soccer Playing Style

A few games into the season, and my group of U13s, a group of technically advanced and intelligent players, were making the same basic errors. Movement was terrible, they were diving into tackles, giving the ball away at set-pieces, and panicking on the ball. That clearly had to stop. It was their first season of 11v11, their first season with me, and for many of them, the first time they had ever been in an academy environment. Was the calling too big for them? For some, maybe.

It really annoys me when kids playing games will kick the ball out of play. Don't give me that "there's a time and a place for it" rubbish. When they're playing competitively as adults, the philosophy of the manager is gospel. If the manager says don't try to turn or pass, just hoof it into row Z when you're in trouble, that's exactly what you do. If that's all you ever tell your kids to do, that's all they will learn. Winning is important in the sense that we need to be competitive, and have the will to win. What is more important is that your players have the skills required for success when they are older. Yes, I want to win. What I really want to win is the game when they are twenty-four and playing in a top league, deciding titles. If a player wins a cup final by using something I taught them, that is worth more than ten million wins at U13 level. So let's get it right now, and give them the tools for success in their later years.

If this doesn't explain well enough what we needed to work on, here's an accompanying video, including football I took at the Champions League group stage game between Man City and Barcelona, which City won 3-1 in a thoroughly entertaining game,

We started to see improvements in these areas straight away. I think the nerves and the jump in level gave some of them a fright, and they struggled to adapt. This provided a clear picture to them of what is expected. As a club, we gave them tons of information at the start of the season. I believe a lot of them read a lot of it. Perhaps it was too advanced. Perhaps they couldn't relate it to their own game. What I created here isn't reinventing the wheel, nor is it rocket science. A lot of it is basic common sense and should be ingrained in them already. It's more of a reminder, and a way to get them to adhere to minimum standards. A singer that forgets their lines is not a bad singer. It's not the singing we're judging them for, it's just that they've forgotten how to do that.

Many clubs or organisations have a philosophy or code of conduct. They are fantastic guidelines for coaches, players, and parents. There's nothing wrong with becoming more specific with your own group. If they don't get it, or are repeat offenders in certain areas, emphasise those areas. It's another way of reminding them, and it looks cool too. I'm clearly no genius with computers, as it's all a bit rough round the edges, but I can do enough to get my point across. Plus it's fun.