Moving from 7-a-side to 11-a-side next season

[fewingsm]

Any advice? formations, playing friendlies, things you would have done differently, things we could do in preparation.

Ta

[Lozzy V]

Moving from 7 to 11 with my lads too so will be watching this thread with interest. potentially moving from 7 to 9 with my girls too so advice will be doubly useful.

[Sirius]

These links may help you guys:

http://www.soccercoachingforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=557&p=5490&hilit=11aside#p5490

http://www.soccercoachingforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=365&p=3665&hilit=11aside#p3665

http://www.soccercoachingforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=351&p=3448&hilit=11aside#p3448

[alex]

Figure out a formation and stick with it as they'll need some consistency to start with. Try and have a strong spine, ie strength through the middle from GK to striker. Fastest/fittest/most energetic in midfield.

GKs are a nightmare if your keeper cant kick well, try quick ball out to side to full back.

Dont worry about offside for your def but ensure the forwards dont get carried away and end in an offside position.

Try and play friendlies or find 11-a-side summer tournaments

Dont forget you need to rope in a parent to be linesman

Good luck!

[SRJFC]

With friendlies you may want to consider the following (you'll need a tame opposition)

1 period of twenty minutes where you stop the game for offsides and foul throws and explain to the players what the infrigement was and ways to put it right.

1 period of twenty minutes where you explain the infringement but leave them to work it out

1 'normal' period of twenty minutes

[gazza]

With friendlies you may want to consider the following (you'll need a tame opposition)

1 period of twenty minutes where you stop the game for offsides and foul throws and explain to the players what the infrigement was and ways to put it right.

1 period of twenty minutes where you explain the infringement but leave them to work it out

1 'normal' period of twenty minutes

I completely agree with this, our club has 2 U10 teams this year and we have arranged loads of friendlies to do exactly this.

This will be the 2nd team that I have taken through the transition to 11 aside. I have learnt a lot from the first time.

Keep it simple for the first season, just teach them 1 formation (I use 4-4-2).

Teach them the basics of offside, try loads of 7 v 7 SSG's (make numbers up/down for amount of participants).

Attackers plenty of work on running off the ball.

Defenders work on concept of pressure, cover and depth

Most importantly as many friendlies as you can fit in (this year will be a nightmare because the weather has extended the league season).

[happymanc]

There is a FA ruling as to when you can play 11-a-side I'm sure someone on here will know it , I think its after July under 10's can play 11-a-side but I'm not sure , so check it out I think it is when you move up to under 11s what ever date that is, you can't play 11-a-side at under 10's

[gazza]

I would suggest that if you are playing 3 sessions in the format that SRJC suggested, you could probably argue that it is a training session opposed to a match.

I would like to see the FA invoke this rule down our local park after school

[SRJFC]

Actually the last post bring up an interesting point. Our league is (over) officious when it comes to the rules, fining you £20 if you don't attend a meeting etc, yet on the mitoo board there is a request from a current U10 side for 11-a-side friendlies.

[Lozzy V]

The way the season is going there's no way we'll be finished league matches before mid May, so with tournaments in June I think it'll be July before we have any chance of 11-a-side friendlies anyway!