Developing Coordination With Youth Players – Part 1 of 3

Let’s face it folks, in today’s physical education programs not only are our children learning nothing about running styles, agility, and basic physical mechanics in regards to athletics, the coordination aspect of youth players is almost non existent.

In my opinion, one of the most important speed, agility, and quickness tools we can give to our players is helping them to develop coordination.  I’m not just talking about walking and chewing gum at the same time, I’m talking about global coordination, individually, with the ball, and corporately with their teammates.

One of the very first aspects of Speed of Play principles we teach our players, is that the speed of play is not only mental, but physical as well.  In all of our coach’s education programs and clinics, we define speed of play as: “Mental decisions made during a match that involves the whole team, and dictates the flow of a game.”

In all of our programs, we teach our players and coaches that in order to lock into the flow of the game, the flow of the team, and have a reason with our principles and systems of play there needs to be a common theme that is prevalent in every player, and every aspect of the game, COORDINATION!

Over the next three articles, I am going to outline for you several basic exercises you can use to help develop coordination individually without the ball, individually with the ball, and corporately within the team as a whole.

WARM UP COORDINATION

The best way to teach coordination with your players is to insert certain exercises and drills into every aspect of your practice. The following Global Coordination Exercises are fantastic at any age and really begin to promote individual coordination as well as corporate.

These exercises come from the Brazilians, as laid forth in the BFUT licensing program authored by Thadeau Goncalves. The following two exercises stress the relationship between the upper and lower body coordination.

Exercise #1

Sideways Counting/Clapping – This is the beginning of the coordination part of the exercise. Have the players face laterally towards the cones. The players begin their exercise but MUST ALL COUNT TO 3! On the count of three, they double clap, and the players pivot on the ball of the feet to face away from the cone. Make sure all of the players count and clap until the last player finishes the exercise.

See Video #1

Exercise #2

Thigh, Thigh, Clap – In this exercise the players start off in a slow jog. They yell out the command, THIGH (they slap their left hand to their left thigh), THIGH (they slap their right hand to their right thigh) and the CLAP (in which they clap their hands. Again this is accomplished in a very slow jog, and repeatedly saying, Thigh, Thigh, Clap. As they get better, we have our players slap their thigh while bringing the knees to a 90° angle.

See Video #2

LADDER EXERCISE

Side-to-Side (4 count)

For me this is the best exercise to begin teaching players lateral balance, strength, and maintaining a good set. The player begins at the end of the ladder with a good set! As they progress through the drill, make sure their set is maintained, and the player is balanced. NO CLICKING BOOTS!

Remember to have them sink their hips, as these drills are great exercises for teaching foot moves, and get away steps with explosion. The back is relatively straight and the head should be up.

This drill moves side to side. Starting on the left side of the ladder have your players move laterally with a two in, and two out foot pattern. I usually have them count 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4. Step #1 is with the right foot, and #2 with the left go in the box. Steps #3, right, and step #4, left, are outside of the rope.

So place the emphasis on the inside foot, and its speed in touching down to leading into the next box.

Therefore, the progression goes like this, starting from the left of the ladder. Right, left, right, left, –Left, right, left right, and so on down the ladder.

Side-to-Side (4 count)

Ladder Side to Side 4-count

Emphasis

1. Lateral Speed
2. Maintaining good set
3. Increase Foot Speed (inside step and go)
4. Center of Gravity (body management)
5. Dorsiflexion (ankle/foot)
6. Knee and Ankle Protection

See Video 3

Once again the development of coordination is critical, especially for the younger youth age players. These are the basic exercises we teach to players from U8 ages and up. We utilize these until perfected, and then challenge them constantly with new exercises that help them not only develop physical coordination, but mental as well.

Yours in Speed and Soccer,

Billy Elias

The above information comes from the manual entitled “S.A.Q. Soccer Style The Basics” written by Billy Elias

Copyright © 2008 Billy Elias, United Speed Clinic. All rights reserved

ISBN 9781441472410

Printed in the United States of America

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a revival system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above author of this book.

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