Was reading an article about the amout of time it takes to master a skill. As it relates to soccer, I was wondering how much most of the kids of the parents posting on this board put into practicing. I am not talking about just organized practice with the team, but working on skills, playing picking up games etc in a given week?

I have an older kid and a younger one and the older just practiced with his team twice a week and then every now and then on his own. The younger one is more motivated and practices probably 5 times a week. 2 team practices and 3 days of playing in the backyard, with me or with friends. The younger son if farther ahead of the older one at the same age.

What about your kids? How much do they practice? What do you think is optimal?

Great question.

The easy answer is, they should be doing something skill related with the ball 5 or 6 days a week.

Looking at the European academies, kids are generally getting 8-9 hours a week of team training. The majority of it is technically oriented. That's at U13/14.

Unfortunately we don't have those opportunities here.

I would say if a kid 12 and under is working diligently 2 or 3 days a week in addition to their standard 2 team sessions, then consider yourself lucky. Because that is probably substantially more than what most kids are doing.

The important thing to remember is that they can get many more meaningful touches on the ball in much less time on their own. Rather than in a group setting.

You can easily get 1,000 touches in 40 minutes. Juggling, banging the ball off of a wall (first touch is most important) and general technique.

The ideal mix for my 13 yr old seems to be 3 team sessions and 2 "light" technical sessions.

For the last 2 years he has played saturday morning pickup games with adults. (When there's no league game or tournament that conflicts.)

I think he has gotten more out playing those pickup games than any "coaching" he has had.

Another important (and overlooked) aspect is actually sitting down and watching games on television. It can only enhance their tactical insight.

Under the age of 10 I don't think it is necessary for them to play everyday. Unless it doesn't seem like 'training' to them.

By the age of 15 I think it is absolutely essential (if they are serious about playing at elite levels)for them to train 5-6 days a week. Year round. With a few weeks off.

Again, at 14 and younger, the more unstructured time the better. As they get older, they need to ideally be training more within a group setting and a little less 'kickaround' stuff.

I would be willing to bet that the typical classic league/select (whatever term you want to use) player is doing much outside of the standard 2 team sessions and maybe a "skills" session.

Laimport wrote:Great question.

The easy answer is, they should be doing something skill related with the ball 5 or 6 days a week.

Looking at the European academies, kids are generally getting 8-9 hours a week of team training. The majority of it is technically oriented. That's at U13/14.

Unfortunately we don't have those opportunities here.

I would say if a kid 12 and under is working diligently 2 or 3 days a week in addition to their standard 2 team sessions, then consider yourself lucky. Because that is probably substantially more than what most kids are doing.

The important thing to remember is that they can get many more meaningful touches on the ball in much less time on their own. Rather than in a group setting.

You can easily get 1,000 touches in 40 minutes. Juggling, banging the ball off of a wall (first touch is most important) and general technique.

The ideal mix for my 13 yr old seems to be 3 team sessions and 2 "light" technical sessions.

For the last 2 years he has played saturday morning pickup games with adults. (When there's no league game or tournament that conflicts.)

I think he has gotten more out playing those pickup games than any "coaching" he has had.

Another important (and overlooked) aspect is actually sitting down and watching games on television. It can only enhance their tactical insight.

Under the age of 10 I don't think it is necessary for them to play everyday. Unless it doesn't seem like 'training' to them.

By the age of 15 I think it is absolutely essential (if they are serious about playing at elite levels)for them to train 5-6 days a week. Year round. With a few weeks off.

Again, at 14 and younger, the more unstructured time the better. As they get older, they need to ideally be training more within a group setting and a little less 'kickaround' stuff.

I think you are spot on and can see it in my kids. I can also see it in the kids that come to club training, even at the select level, and you can tell they have not touched a ball since the last practice. It shows up in their play.

The main concern is at what age do they start to ramp up to 5 days a week. I know when I was in HS playing Bball we practiced 6 days a week and never thought twice about it. I like the idea that at 10 you start to get into 4 to 5 days a week of some type of practice, work if you plan to play at an elite level.

I grew up practicing formally twice a week, but playing Soccer every chance I got. I was a 1-sport kid and did not start practicing 3 or 4 times a week until I started playing with 2 teams at about 13 (and then 4 or 5 days a week when turned Pro).... I have 2 boys, about 13 months apart and that has helped them a lot, because they both play soccer (Competitive) and they complement each other's positions....

I think the secret is "at what point is no longer fun" for them? What other activities will they hesitate to sacrifice for Soccer? And why not, how far do they want to go playing Soccer? I just try to guide them and make sure they have fun; I am very lucky though, that I can spend 3 or 4 hours doing something I love (playing Soccer) and enjoy that time with my boys, too.

debit wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:In all seriousness, you don't need to ramp up individual sessions or force your kid to do extra work at home. All you need to do is leave a soccer ball out in whatever room your TV is in. Just leave it there in the room and see what happens. Your kid will touch the ball. They'll sit next to it. They'll fiddle with it. When they get bored they'll move it around the room. When they walk to the kitchen they'll dribble it with them. You'll never have to say a word.

I started that 6 months ago with my kids. I just left a ball there like a regular toy in the house. (I do have an excess of soccer balls around here.) My kids just migrated to it. 2 kids, 2 balls waiting in the living room when they get home from school. You'd be shocked how quickly my 8 & 5 year-olds have improved. My BB just always fiddles with it all the time.

NOW... If you try it, and you kid doesn't ever touch the ball at all, you may use that to check yourself. If he avoids the ball all together, he may not love soccer as much as you think.

I endorse this approach. There are several balls laying around our house including a futsal ball and a size 1 "skill ball". Typical afternoon after school at our house:

Mom: Sit down here at the kitchen table and do your homework. I'm going to prepare dinner and can help you if you stay close.

BB: OK

(10 minutes later BB gets up to use the restroom. On his way back he spots a ball, dribbles around some living room furniture, moves into the dining room, executes a few stepovers before finishing strong against the front door, BOOM!)

Mom: WHAT WAS THAT!?! ARE YOU KICKING A BALL IN THE HOUSE!?!

BB: I had to pee and just kicked the ball out of the way while walking back.

Mom: Get over here and finish your homework.

BB: Just one more shot. (convinces his little sister to feed him passes as he takes a few more shots against the front door) BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Mom: If you kick that ball one more time...!

BB: Ok, coming. (returns to homework for 10 more minutes before needing to sharpen his pencil.)

(When returning he spots the size 1 ball and takes a few touches before executing a beautiful helicopter and finishes against the side of the couch. Mom doesn't hear the soft finish so he gets more adventurous and starts passing against the couch. thump. thump. thump. thump. Mom finally realizes what the noise is)

Mom: Get in here and finish your homework!!!

BB: Ok. (thump. thump. thump)

(Dad arrives home)

Mom: Will you help BB with his homework. He's been at it for over an hour and hasn't made much progress at all.

Dad: Over an hour? Really? Where is he?

Mom: He's sitting at the kitchen table. (thump. thump. thump.)



... every day...

Love it! Sounds so familiar. I am surprised my front door has not split in two by now.

We cleared the living room furniture so both BB's have ample room to move the ball around the living room without danger to household items! I would rather have them working on their skills then have a lavishly decorated house.

Who can afford a lavishly decorated house when we pay for soccer? javascript:emoticonp('')

That's true. You can't force them. Only encourage them.

I have two balls downstairs. Mine likes banging the ball off of furniture and turning.

Glad to hear we aren't alone.

We dribble around the house all the time. Between rooms, around furniture, etc. Like LPs BB, mine play rebound off a couch continuously. We also have an empty room where the boys scrimmage and take shots on one another. Home repairs are part of life with a house full of boys...

You guys are crazy. I spend my time trying to put the balls away. I always end up with at least two in the living room, no matter how many times I put them away.
Has anyone tried putting a ball in the back yard and see if the kids go out and touch it?

Ha ha. Sounds familiar. Mom picking up the soccer balls, hiding them. The kids finding them and continuing play. Never ending cycle. What's a soccer dad to do?

finish1 wrote:Ha ha. Sounds familiar. Mom picking up the soccer balls, hiding them. The kids finding them and continuing play. Never ending cycle. What's a soccer dad to do?

That is funny reading this. My kids get the strong talk from MOM almost everday about "take that ball outside." On rainy days they play in the garage and bang it off the walls and anything else in the way. Our backyard looks like a soccer ball graveyard with about ten old ones and some new ones lying around. The newest one stays in the house. A good house ball is a futsal ball as it does not bounce as much and the kids can roll and dribble well.

BB and I broke some Xmas decorations in the living room last night playing soccer tennis. We have both been grounded for a week. Mom says they were sentimental; just looked old to me.

Laimport wrote:That's true. You can't force them. Only encourage them.

I have two balls downstairs. Mine likes banging the ball off of furniture and turning.

Glad to hear we aren't alone.

I agree with you on this one. You can't force them. Only encourage them.
I used to mention to him all the time about practicing on his own. Now it is the other way around. He wakes me up on a Saturday and/or Sunday morning telling me that I have to go work on my skills with him as my instructor. I currently play in an adult outdoor league. I think he gets a kick out of telling me what to work on and improve on. I just smile at him when he yells at me at my games from the sideline.

CincoB wrote:BB and I broke some Xmas decorations in the living room last night playing soccer tennis. We have both been grounded for a week. Mom says they were sentimental; just looked old to me.

You guys never seem to understand sentimental value. We have old Christmas stockings from our poor days that I refuse to upgrade. I'll cry one day if I ever lose them! Poor Mom, hope her tears are dried up by now.

Let me see if I can count the "breakage". Two BBs U17 and U14. In the house broken mirror, broken lamp, broken ceiling fan, broken window, blood spots on carpet, psychological counseling for dogs and cats. Outside, broken window, broken side mirror on car, new garage door, gutters need replacing, broken window at neighbor's house. I think that is all but I may have missed a few items.

IC75 wrote:Let me see if I can count the "breakage". Two BBs U17 and U14. In the house broken mirror, broken lamp, broken ceiling fan, broken window, blood spots on carpet, psychological counseling for dogs and cats. Outside, broken window, broken side mirror on car, new garage door, gutters need replacing, broken window at neighbor's house. I think that is all but I may have missed a few items.

you forgot one. How about a broken wallet?

IC75 wrote:Let me see if I can count the "breakage". Two BBs U17 and U14. In the house broken mirror, broken lamp, broken ceiling fan, broken window, blood spots on carpet, psychological counseling for dogs and cats. Outside, broken window, broken side mirror on car, new garage door, gutters need replacing, broken window at neighbor's house. I think that is all but I may have missed a few items.

Wow, I need to go set aside some money. Most of mine are just balls to the neighbors yard and trying to sneak in and get it before the honary neighbor comes out.

If I considered "broken wallet" I might commit suicide. But then again I couldn't afford it.

IC75 wrote:If I considered "broken wallet" I might commit suicide. But then again I couldn't afford it.

true true.