ORSC YOUTH JUNIOR DIVISION SUMMARY U13-U14
Overview of U13-U14: The focus at this age is the continual development of technical abilities and now an introduction to the tactical elements of the game. As the players graduate to the junior level, they should possess a comfort with the ball and an insight into the game that will allow them to deal with the increased pace of the game, both in athletic speed and speed of decisions.
Players are now capable of thinking beyond their own skills to how they can work on team challenges also. The goal at this point in a player’s development is to begin expanding his or her understanding of the game as their technical game maturity allows.
Tactically, we will begin to introduce the players to the idea of thinking about their decisions with regards team movement. Coaches will use a variety of techniques to teach small sided tactics and develop an understanding of the principles of play. For example, ‘How do we keep possession of the ball when we are attacking?’ Or ‘How do we switch play and why?’ Tactical development is only possible when the players have sufficient technical skills so training sessions tends to be a mix of both technical and tactical work. Players are now also capable of the implementation of both tactics and strategy in games.
Games and the training environment will become more competitive. Players may also be asked to complete soccer homework assignments to promote their learning outside of scheduled team practices.
Fitness and conditioning now has more of an impact on a player’s performance and so conditioning activities will be introduced into practices.
Players will be now competing in 11vs11 games. They will be exposed to various formations and asked to understand their roles in specific positions on the field in games. At this age players are still encouraged to experiment and discover a number of positions they prefer to play.
As teenagers this can be a tough and trying time for players both physically and emotionally. Often the players experience growth spurts and changes in their body. Rapid bone growth can be painful (in particular Osgood-Schlotters Syndrome in the knees). Players at this age can also experience a temporary lose in coordination. Changes in Hormonal levels can also affect how a player behaves both on and off the field. Both coaches and parents need to be aware of these.
Coaching U13-U14s: Coaches will begin to focus somewhat on team issues, such as how the backs work together in different parts of the field, or the relationship between the different lines of the team (defenders and midfielders, mid-fielders and forwards, etc.). At this point, most of the exercises and games that the players play in practice should be competitive, with a winning and losing team(s). Their focus should be on how their decisions and their ball skill help or hinder their team’s ability to win at whatever game or exercise that they play. Results are important as it gives the players a competitive focus in the match, but they are not the objective and ultimate goal; player development is.
Coaches are still encouraged to provide feedback that sandwiches positive encouragement with areas of needed improvement, and keep a ratio of 4:1 in the positive to negative comments. This focus on positive will allow players to play without fear of making a mistake, and fear of reprisal from their coach or teammates. Yearly evaluations are provided to help the players and parents understand both their strengths and weaknesses and set goals for improvement.
At these ages, ball skills, enjoyment and insight into the game, with a gradual introduction to fitness, mental toughness, and results are the keys. Success in winning matches should begin to be the product of a consistent and systematic approach to the game that focuses more on player development than on team building. The players should be developing an understanding and familiarity with each other on the field, but the desire to get a result on Saturday should not hamper their instincts for the game, or their desire to experiment and explore the game. These players are a long way from being “complete.”
Playing Time and Positions: Players should be more and more familiar with multiple positions. We are looking to create soccer players, not defenders or forwards. All around players will have more success in the game as they have the diversity to fill in where their coach needs them. There should be no set 'starters' at this age group. Every player should start at least half of the games in any season or tournament. Additionally, players should play at least half of every match in the season. This ensures that players develop at as close to the same rate as possible through these formative years, and allows a coach to truly see what a player is capable of; you never know how a player will do in a 1-1 game until you give him or her a chance to play in one! This is vitally important in a player's mental development.
However, in big games players will be placed where the coach needs them for the benefit of the whole. Playing time is generally spread fairly equally throughout the year. However in key competition and games (i.e. State Cup) the coaching staff may make decisions for the good of the team. This may be contradictory to what the player wants. Coaches look to balance their players' match experiences so that some games will allow experimentation without necessarily sacrificing the result. As players get older they will tend to narrow down their interests in playing positions. Many players want to play just one or two positions in order to become an expert at them. In all cases the players are expected to earn their playing time by working hard at practices and other games and displaying a good attitude.
Travel and Tournaments: At this level the teams will usually play in state run leagues and may play in out of state tournaments to aid their development. Teams will attend 2-3 events per year at the discretion of the coaching staff. Teams will compete in State Cup at this age and potentially in regional tournaments.
Teams at this age will play year round with the exception of a winter break from November 1 through February 1. League play takes place in the spring and fall with tournament play taking place at the discretion of the coach. At the U14 age, some players may be a grade 'older'. This means that the coach must work closely with the player and their high school coach to ensure the player is not over fatiguing their muscles and overextending themselves. Players in this situation should be able to work out a schedule where they can attend 2/3rds of their club practices in addition to the high school practices as generally they will be at the junior varsity level. At this point soccer is expected to be their primary sport of choice.
Role of the Parents: The role of the parents of a U13-U14 soccer player is similar to that of our younger age players. You are probably becoming more knowledgeable on the game which is great! Remember to still allow your son or daughter to make her own decisions on the field. Also, players this age will be playing in higher level games in which winning and losing will start to mean more to them. Always remember to support them, whatever the outcome. Look for the good things they and their team did in a game.
