The Maturing years: Average length of practice 90 minutes no longer. Breaks must be given to the player’s during this time. Two or three practices a week would be sufficient. Allow days of rest after games or tournaments.

Techniques: Players are now asked to perfect their individual skill with an emphasis on trickery. Other techniques needed are swerving and putting spin on the ball.  

Skill:  4v2, 5v2, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11, Shooting, crossing, finishing, passing & receiving, ball control and heading.  All skills need opposition.

Team: All set play’s and restarts, corners, free kicks, goal kicks, throw- ins. Team defending, attacking, and systems of play must be introduced.

Fitness: Warm-up, Fitness must relate to the soccer season. Pre season fitness being more intense than the middle to the end of the season. Allow time for player’s to heal. A cool down must be added.

Free Play: Should now be the main emphasis of every practice.

Practice Time: Technique 10%,   Skill  20%,    Team 30%,     Free play 20%       
                           Free play 20%,   Fitness    20%( more at the start of the season)

Philosophy: The full game must be taught. Players during these years are ready for almost any challenge. All four components must be added to every practice, Technical, tactical, psychological, and fitness. Players must understand the flow of the game and respect all taking part. Players must be reminded of the outside risks that can damage their game, smoking, alcohol, drugs, and diet. The player is now responsible for his or hers own preparation and equipment. Bad language will not be tolerated.  Fun is still a priority.
           
Practices: Are now broken down into certain areas for team understanding. The following are such topics.

Playing out of the back
Playing into the middle third
Midfield control through Possession
Defending in the final third
Attacking in the final third
Switching the point of attack
Flank play
Transition
Low pressure, High pressure
Zonal play, Direct play
Man to man marking
For help on any of the above topics please check the MSSA web page under Coaching.

How to Establish Good Technique for a U16 player and up

Development of Individual Skills: put player under pressure, time, space and an opponent.  Increase technical speed.

Dribbling: encourage risk taking with feint and trickery.  Moves to beat an opponent: keep possession – shielding/spin turns, change of speed and direction.

Receiving: ground and air balls, quality first touch, taking the ball out of the air on all surfaces.

Shooting: on the run, on the turn, Pressure from an opponent, using all techniques.

Passing: short, long, inside/outside swerves, driven, chip, lofted, all surface during open play.

Heading: attacking and defensive heading while under pressure.

Tackling: toe poke, side, block, slide, all done with the emphasis of winning the ball. Players must understand the risk of slide tackling,

When coaching free play in your practices be aware of the number of players to the size of your grids. The use of neutral players will help promote your topic. Keep goalkeepers active even during session that they are not in goal. Use cones, vest, flags, and nets, to help organize your practice area. Injury’s to any player must be taken seriously.