Characteristics of U6Soccer Players

Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade

Psychomotor Development

Cognitive Development

Psychosocial Development

What ever happened to free time?

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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.

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Wednesday 04/17/02

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.

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Copyright ©2001 Universal Press Syndicate

Published Tuesday 01/29/02

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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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.

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.

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Saturday 01/05/02

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

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

General Characteristics of Children U6

• NO SENSE OF PACE - GO FLAT OUT!!!

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Copyright ©2001 Universal Press Syndicate

Published Wednesday

02/20/02

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)

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Copyright ©Universal Press Syndicate Published Monday 04/15/02

U6 Tactical Sign

This Way or One Way