2013 Section Meeting
Coaching Workshop
Delivering a Successful Program
to 4 Year Olds
© AYSO 2006
Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Years Olds
Overview:
AYSO Vision/Mission Statements
The objectives of the AYSO Under 5 National Program
The role of the U-5 Master Coach
U-5 Program Guidelines
U-5 Program Organization
Master Coach Handbook
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U-5 Program Implementation
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
AYSO Vision Statement
To provide a world class soccer program that
enrich children’s lives…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
AYSO Mission Statement
To develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs, which
promote a fun, family environment based on the AYSO
Philosophies of:
Everyone Plays
Balanced Teams
Open Registration
Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
The objective of the U5 program is to:
Provide young players and their parents with a
“pressure free” introduction to the beautiful
and simple game of soccer.
At this age players should be exposed to soccer
by playing simple, fun activities and games that
require little to no practice, and a minimal time
commitment…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Years Olds
The AYSO U-5 National program allows players to
discover the game for themselves while parents
are given a soccer foundation on which to build
and grow into future AYSO coaches, referees and
administrators.
The AYSO U-5 National Program is a coaching
program and is designed to be facilitated by a
qualified AYSO Master Coach...
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
The AYSO Master Coach
The Master Coach must be a registered AYSO volunteer.
Preferably should be an Advanced Coach and Advanced
Coach Instructor but, at a minimum, be an
Intermediate Coach. The key is that they MUST
follow the AYSO U-5 National Program.
The Regional Coach Administrator shall work
with the Regional Commissioner to determine the most
qualified person to be a Master Coach…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
The AYSO Master Coach
The Master Coach is the key to a successful
U-5 program.
The Master Coach must have a complete
understanding of the entire AYSO National
Coaching Program…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
The AYSO Master Coach
The Master Coach must have a complete
understanding of child development issues:
Young soccer players need special consideration.
These are children playing a child’s game.
These young children must be regarded as young children, not
mini adults…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
The AYSO Master Coach
The Master Coach must have a complete
understanding of child development issues:
Fun activities must be a central part of a child-centered
program.
Educators agree that early learning experiences are the
most important and produce life-long learning experiences.
Under 5 players are essentially self-oriented and relate
naturally to one or two others, not to large groups.
Most children cannot sustain prolonged activity…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
The AYSO Master Coach
The Master Coach must have a complete
understanding of child development issues:
Young children function best in suitable starts and
concentration span is limited, so frequent changes of
pace and activity is essential.
Young players should learn to discover the
wonderful game of soccer, not be taught the game of
soccer by adults...
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
A “Master Coach” must take the lead in the
U-5 program implementation within a
region…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
U-5 Program Guidelines
The U-5 program should be separate from
U-6, as there are significant social,
emotional and physiological differences
between U-5 and U-6 players…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
U-5 Program Guidelines
Every effort should be made to have
separate girls and boys teams.
The U-5 program consists of one day per week
of a Jamboree Parent with Player program
for 6 weeks.
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
U-5 Program Organization
Jamboree Parent with Player:
Jamboree means that teams are formed on a
weekly basis depending on how many
players attend a given session.
Parent with Player:
Refers to the concept that each player will have a parent (or
other adult) working with them on the activity of the
week…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
U-5 Program Organization
The “Master Coach” will lead each session
The Master Coach will introduce a game/activity that will
apply to a certain skill or part of the game.
If the activity is a group activity, each parent will be given
the opportunity to play the activity (game) with the group
(team).
Each Jamboree session will end with a 20 minute 3v3 Game…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
Most importantly, allow the players to play
without coaching or teaching as this
experience is designed to expose them to
soccer, not begin developing them as players.
The two objectives of the program are to
allow the players to enjoy the activities, and
let the game be the teacher…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
Get a copy of the:
AYSO U-5 Master Coach
Handbook…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
Session Schedule
Sessions (with children) should last one hour and fifteen
minutes including organizing time and breaks— NO MORE.
15 minutes – Days activity explanation by the Master Coach for all
helpers (1st week)
10 minutes –Team formation assigning players to teams
20 minutes – Training activities (no more than two per session)
10 minutes – Game organizing and water break
20 minutes – 3 v 3 game (played in two halves with a short break at
the quarter to make substitutions and get a quick drink)
If the region uses Teams:
Each U-5 team should have a maximum of 4 or 5 on the team.
Games are played with 3 players per team on the field (3v3) and
no goalkeepers. Substitutions are made at quarters, halftime
and for injuries…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
See Master Coach Handbook for:
Field of Play
Goals
Ball
Teams
Player Equipment
Start of Play
Ball In and Out of Play
Throw-in
Method of Scoring
Fouls and Other Stoppages
Free Kicks…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
Summary:
AYSO Vision/Mission Statements
The Objectives of the AYSO National
U-5 program
The Role of the U-5 Master Coach
U-5 National Program Guidelines
U-5 National Program Organization
AYSO Master Coach Handbook…
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Delivering a Successful Program to 4 Year Olds
Following the AYSO National U-5 National
Coaching program may not guarantee the
children and the coaches playing and
coaching in AYSO a positive experience but
who knows, it just might (and
probably will)…!
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Any questions?
Thank you!...
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