Under 8 Characteristics and Skill Priorities

Skill Priorities:

• Dribble with all sides of both feet
• Dribble out of trouble
• Dribble past someone
• Shielding
• Quality first touch on the ball for control
• Proper shooting technique with both the inside and laces
• Proper Push Pass technique

Although U8 children may begin to be far more physically and maturationally advanced than U6 children, we must remain patient and not try to force them to develop too quickly. Dribbling still needs to be the primary focus of our efforts, though passing and shooting should be introduced at this age as well. U8 players tend to work best when in pairs and we should allow them to work in pairs (coach selected) often. Similar to the U6 children, we need to make sure that fun is a central theme in practice. Player development will occur most appropriately and expeditiously if all players are enjoying themselves.

Characteristics of this age group -

• Tend to play well in pairs – unlike 6 year-olds, these children enjoy playing in pairs. Coaches will use more activities in practice involving pairs, like passing. However, children should not always select their "buddy" in practice because it will lend to one sided practices if always working with the same player over and over
• Are now able to take another’s perspective – they now have a sense of how other’s are feeling
• Still unable to think abstractly – still do not have this capability, therefore tactical skills can not yet be taught. Adults must be patient with this age group
  
• Heating and cooling system still less efficient than adults – still make sure to give frequent water breaks
• Still much prefer playing to watching – everyone must be active during practice and remember, no lines
• Limited attention span (on average 15-20 seconds for listening, up to 20 minutes when
  engaged in a task) – this may vary greatly on any given day depending on school, diet, etc.
• Have an understanding of time and sequence – they now understand "if I do this, then that happens." This is why passing is taught at this age group
  
• Many have incorporated a third or fourth speed into play – not all players, but many players now have incorporated a speed or two between stopped and as fast as possible
• Extremely aware of adult reactions – be very aware of your verbal and nonverbal reactions, as they look for your reaction frequently. Negative adult behavior with result in negative child behavior
  
• Seek out adult approval – they very much need reassurance and you need to help build their confidence to try new things at this age
• Begin to become aware of peer perception – a social order is beginning to develop. Be sensitive to this
• Wide range of abilities between children at this age – children all develop at varying paces. You may have an 8 year-old who seems more like a 10 year-old and one that seems more like a 6 year-old on the same team. The challenge to is to manage this range over the course of a season, so that all players continue to develop
  
• Some will keep score – the competitive motors churn faster in some than others. Surely some parents are fueling the motors with their own. Regardless, we do not need to stress winning and losing at this age. Results should not be important at this age. David Beckham and Mia Hamm did not become the great players they are today, because their Under 8 team won or lost games!!
  
• Beginning to develop motor memories – by attempting fundamental technical skills they are training their bodies to remember certain movements. This is why at this age, the focus is on nothing but the key technical skills of dribbling, passing, and shooting (in that order)
  
• Less active imaginations than U6 players – still have active imaginations by adult standards, but some of the silliness that 6 year-olds allowed will not be appreciated by this group. Adults should still use the children's imaginations so they will continue to try new things and grow as players