Paulo is ahead of the curve on this. The main focus at our practice is trapping, identifying the open teammate, and delivering an accurate pass under great defensive pressure in small spaces. Being able to keep a clear mind and being aware of your surroundings so you can think one step ahead and know where you can go with the ball before the ball arrives.
Playing in 'small spaces'
By Mike Woitalla
“I think we really need to get better in small spaces,” said Claudio Reyna, U.S. Soccer’s Youth Technical Director, in the wake of the U.S. men’s failure to qualify for the Olympics.
In an interview withThe Mixer, Reyna spoke of American youth teams relying on “running and overpowering teams and being physical” when where “we have to really improve as a soccer-playing nation is playing in the small, tight spaces throughout the field.”
To ESPN.com, Reyna said, "I think the winning aspect is what has caused some really ugly youth soccer. Now we're trying to play more out of the back and through the midfield.”
Reyna added, "I think kids should be doing pickup or futsal all the time. I think it's very important for technique. In Argentina, futsal is what kids play growing up. They get very comfortable in small spaces with the ball. It's usually less pressure, so they can try things."
Seems to me that too much American youth soccer is played on huge fields, which rewards athleticism more than skill.
Teale Matteson, a coaching colleague of mine in Northern California – where 12-year-olds routinely play on 120-yard long fields – recently visited Barcelona. Matteson noted that:
“The youth programs play all games 7v7 until age 12, age 14 for the girls. The field is 44 yards wide (the width of a penalty box), 54 yards long with 10-yard box, a 12-yard offside line in lieu of the halfway line and one referee.”
See what others are saying on the Youth Soccer Insider blog.
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