Practices: No practices for this age group (Practices and scrimmages are Game Day activities and last one hour)
Equipment: Shirt, Shoes (can be tennis shoes or cleats), shin guards, socks that cover the shin guards completely, water. Size 3 ball
Players: Four per team on field; no goalkeepers. No players are allowed to head the ball.
Coach: Teach roles and responsibilities, not positions.
At the 6U level dribbling with both feet and with the instep of the feet. Do not teach push passes (with the inside of the foot yet.)
6U Online Training Course, Safe Haven and Concussion Training: http://www.aysou.org
Game Day
Warm-Up: 5 minutes
Introduce a Skill or Technique: 10 minutes
Skill-Based Training Game: 15 minutes. Activities and games that utilize the skill being taught are the most effective ways for players to improve their skills. Attempt to utilize at least two different activities or games.
Game: 25 minutes total. Four 5-minute periods with a 5 minute halftime break.
Substitutions: Between periods, at halftime and/or for injuries. The players will be separated by girls and boys teams at all levels of play. Only players should be allowed on the field, with the exception of a coach from each team.
Referee: There is no need for fully qualified referees to manage 6U games. One or both of the coaches can officiate. The game is intended to be an opportunity for the players to experience the fun of playing. Minimum rules are needed and should be applied with a generous amount of flexibility. Allow the players the freedom to play with minimum interruption.
Start of Play: To start the first and second halves, and follow each goal in all age group games, play is started or restarted with a kick-off in the center of the field. A coin toss is used to determine which team kicks off to start the game and the other team kicks off to start the second half.
Following a goal, the team who conceded the goal kick-off.
The Kick off: Taken from the center of the field with each team in their own half and the team. Ball can be kicked forwards or backwards.
Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play in all age group games when it completely crosses the touch line (side line) or goal line (end line) either on the ground or in the air. In 6U games, the coaches will determine when the ball is out of play and should guide the restart, interfering as little as possible.
Fouls & Misconduct: The coaches will call direct free kicks for all fouls, with the opponents five yards away from the ball.
