U4 / First Kicks
Philosophy
First and foremost the objective of our First Kicks program is for the players (and their families) is to have FUN. If the players have fun they will continue to play soccer.
Introduction
While FUN is the objective, we also strive to teach some of the basics of soccer. Most of the technical aspects of soccer are beyond the physical and cognitive capabilities of the U4 player, we can introduce the importance of teamwork and observing the basic rules of soccer.
U4 format (3 v 3) is designed to limit the complexity of the decision making and maximize playing time. Teams are limited to 6 players.
We are trained the coaches to understand the motor and emotional development of the players and structure their training to support the growth of the players. Some keys:
- Players must be treated as children, not mini adults
- Players are in the early stages of physical development and thus may not be able to accomplish some soccer skills
- Players have limited span of attention, so coaches must frequently rotate activities
