11 Tips for Optimal Youth Soccer Development (2024)
Youth soccer development is a journey that shapes not only a player’s skills but also their character and approach to the game, on and off the field. The beautiful game is arguably the most competitive sport in the world which is why parents, coaches, and youth players are constantly looking for the next secret to skyrocket their development.
However, one thing a lot of people miss when it comes to soccer development is that becoming a better soccer player is not that complicated. Becoming a better soccer player is actually very simple, but that does not mean that it is easy.
As an amateur footballer and a soccer coach who has been surrounded by the game since childhood, there is a lot of advice out there that I wish I knew when I was a younger player to help me maximize my time and energy. In this blog, I will provide tips and explain everything that you need to know for optimal youth soccer development.
Image by Adria Crehuet Cano
What is Youth Soccer Development?
Youth soccer development is the process of helping young players improve their talent, growth as individuals, and develop a passion for the game. Youth soccer development focuses on improving the mental, physical, technical, and tactical aspects of a young player’s journey in a positive and supportive environment.
For youth players, the most important things to develop are a passion for the game, a relationship with the ball, and most importantly being able to have fun while improving their soccer skills. If youth players are not having fun, if they are getting over-coached, and if they don’t have an innate passion for the game, their development will not be as optimal as it could be.
Youth players should be taught from a very early age that they have to spend as much time as they can with the ball and the best way to develop a real passion for the game is by being surrounded by it as much as possible. This is why you cannot force youth players to train. You can encourage players to train more often, but you cannot force them to.
Youth players should want to go out and train without being told to. Training should be fun and it should not be something they are forced to do, otherwise that is a clear sign they do not have a real passion for the game because if they did they would be training without being told.
Be in the Right Training Environment
One of the most important things for young soccer players to develop properly, is making sure they are part of a team environment and are attending regular team practices. The best way to train is to train how you play and team training sessions closely resemble a real soccer game, which is why this is the best form of training.
Being part of a soccer team is by far the best way to improve your soccer skills because not only will you be competing against other players on a regular basis, but you will also get feedback from coaches, learn by observing your teammates, and most importantly, learn through experience. Also, being in a team will help players gain valuable insights about the basic skills of the game, the physical demands, what healthy competition looks like, and the importance of teamwork and emotional growth.
Play Different Variations of the Game
One of the main reasons why soccer is called the beautiful game is because it has a ton of variations that can help players prepare for the full field game. On days off from team training, players should still be getting touches on the ball by playing variations of soccer such as
- small sided Pickup games (5v5, 7v7, or 9v9)
- Futsal
- Beach soccer
- Soccer tennis
- Soccer ping pong
- Or any other variation of the game
These variations of soccer will help players get a lot of touches on the ball, as well as put them in many game situations, which can help improve their decision making and spatial awareness skills that are needed in a full-field game.
Play Other Sports
Young soccer players that are still in the developmental stage of learning should focus on playing a lot of sports and not just specializing in soccer. Even if your main goal is to become a better soccer player, learning new skills and movement patterns used in other sports can make you more athletic, which can indirectly improve your soccer skills.
For example, tennis will improve how you track a ball, basketball will improve your hand-eye coordination, and so on. You can start off your soccer training sessions by playing other sports for a couple of minutes or spend one day a week playing another sport.
Focus on Improving the Basics
“Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple” – Johan Cruyff
One of the most important things for youth players to focus on is mastering the basics of the game. Soccer is a very simple sport, with simple skills, but again just because it is simple that does not mean it is easy.
A lot of players have a false perception of what real talent is and they spend time training things they will never show in a real game. As a youth player it is important to master the basic skills of the game , that you actually need, which include
- Technical skills such as
- Creativity
- Awareness
- Game IQ
- Decision Making
- Speed – physical and mental
Without having a solid foundation in these fundamental skills, youth players often struggle to adapt to more complex aspects of the game, such as tactics, formations, and playing different positions, as they advance through their soccer journey.
Spend More Time Outside and in Nature
It is no secret that we live in a world where technology is used more than ever before, even in the sports world. Every year it seems like there is a new “smart” technology or tracking vest for players to get addicted to.
One of the most important tips on this list is to let your player spend more time outdoors in nature. Being in nature not only improves your recovery, physical, and mental well being, but it also directly affects your mitochondria function and circadian rhythm, which are the most fundamental aspects of health and performance.
In short, mitochondrial function is about how well your body is able to generate and use energy, while your circadian rhythm is your internal clock, controlled by sunlight and darkness, that plays a huge role in everyday functions.
Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle
Along the same topic of spending more time in nature it is also important to encourage players to live a more natural and healthy lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle will help your player recover faster, limit and prevent injuries, and improve physical and mental well-being.
Everything a player does from the minute they wake up until the minute they fall asleep will affect their performance one way or another which is why you want to be optimizing the following key areas:
- Sleep
- Nutrition
- Hydration
- Supplementation
- Limiting EMF exposure
- Spending time in a productive way such as by:
- Reading books
- Listening to podcasts and interviews
- Watching soccer documentaries, TV shows, movies, or anime
Focus More on Progress Rather than Winning
When a coach or a parent is developing youth players, it is very important to focus more on progress and real development over winning. While winning trophies and getting ranked can seem very important, those rankings don’t really mean much at the youth level because they are only important at the higher levels.
During youth levels player development is the priority over winning championships and trophies. Winning championships could give more exposure to your player, but at the youth levels the most important thing is their development At the higher levels, once everyone is about the same level of talent, the most important thing then is to win games and trophies.
Record Soccer Games and Analyze Them
One of the best ways to improve the learning process of youth soccer players is by recording their soccer games. Watching game footage, analyzing it, and noting what things they are doing well and what things they can improve on play a huge role in how players mature and develop.
The sooner the players start learning how to analyze themselves the better their own development will be from technical development to physical development and of course tactical awareness as well.
Encourage your Player to Watch High Level Soccer Games
Along the same lines of analyzing their own soccer games, youth players should be encouraged to watch high level professional soccer games. By watching, analyzing, and learning from the same players that they are striving to become, youth players can get a much deeper understanding of the game.
Watching high-level games is also part of developing passion for the sport and it’s important for players to have some sort of emotional attachment to a professional team or player because it fuels their motivation to improve.
When young players connect with a team or idolize a particular player, they often feel inspired to copy their skills, work ethic, and dedication. This emotional connection can drive them to work harder in their own training and aspire to reach higher levels.
Have the Right Training Equipment
Although soccer is a very simple game that requires very little gear and equipment to start playing, the right equipment can enhance your player’s training and playing experience as well as overall development. As a youth player this is the most important equipment to have.
- The correct type of soccer cleats based on the playing surface
- Firm Ground Cleats: Designed for use on natural grass fields
- Soft Ground Cleats: Designed for use on natural grass fields that are wet and muddy
- Turf shoes: designed for use on artificial turf surfaces
- Indoor soccer shoes: designed for playing on hard surfaces
- The right size soccer ball
- Youth players will need a size 2 to size 4 ball depending on their age
- A soccer ball pump
- Shin guards
- Soccer Bag
- Training Gear
- Socks or grip socks
- Shorts
- Training jerseys
- Gear for the right weather conditions
Goal Setting
Goal setting is a crucial aspect of youth soccer development, offering young players a roadmap for progress and success. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, players can channel their energy effectively towards improvement and reaching their goals.
Players are encouraged to set both short-term and long-term goals to empower them to track their progress, stay motivated, and strive for continuous improvement throughout their soccer journey.
Image by Kelly
Summary
In conclusion, optimal youth soccer development is no accident and requires knowing what to do and most importantly taking action. In this blog, I have listed some of the best tips to help younger players develop properly in the competitive world of soccer.
So now that you are done with this blog, make sure you apply the information so that you can begin improving your player performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you develop as a youth soccer player?
- Technical abilities: Play the game as much as possible in a team environment and through futsal and pick up games
- Tactical abilities: Join a team and learn from your coaches, read soccer books about soccer tactics, analyze and watch high level games
- Athletic abilities: Play the game as much as possible, play other sports, optimize your fascia system, fix your breathing patterns
Can you Improve your football skills alone?
Yes, you can, but not to the extent you would if you played outside against real opponents. Nothing that happens on a football pitch, futsal court, or indoors can be replicated with a drill. If you must train alone, use a wall, train barefoot, and use the max intent principle.
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.