Re: My son's newly formed soccer team needs to learn how to handle goal kicks

So I have coached a U8 team for about 3 years now (in addition to several U6 teams). Absent the rules scenario Westy pointed out below where the defenders are required to vacate your half of the field the best scenario is to kick it out to the sidelines. I always have the GK take the goal kicks and the one thing I always stress is to never kick the ball across the goal, only to the sides.

The new emphasis by US soccer (I think) has definitely helped increase touches. The city league I coach in adopted the field vacation rule on goal kicks and it has helped tremendously at the U8 level. I can see where at the U11 level it is a bit silly.

In response to this post by Late 80s Hokie

Posted: 04/05/2016 at 12:24PM

My son's newly formed soccer team needs to learn how to handle goal kicks -- Late 80s Hokie 04/05/2016 08:40AM

Re: My son's newly formed soccer team needs to learn how to handle goal kicks -- Triad Hokie 04/05/2016 12:24PM

Are you talking about goal kicks or when the goalie has the ball in hand? -- WuhBuh-DC_Hokie 04/05/2016 10:22AM

Both situations led to screwups on Saturday. Mostly goal kick issue -- Late 80s Hokie 04/05/2016 10:43AM

Got it. We stopped our goalies from kicking/punting the ball. -- WuhBuh-DC_Hokie 04/05/2016 2:35PM

At that age sometimes just best to teach em to kick it out towards the line -- Jerseyhokie29 04/05/2016 09:44AM

Coach was trying to get them to just send it deep, then just scramble -- Late 80s Hokie 04/05/2016 10:04AM

Yeah that was our 8yr old kickoff strategy. Have the big guy dump it down -- Jerseyhokie29 04/05/2016 10:20AM

At U8 I'm happy if they just get the ball out of the penalty area. ** -- Gator Hokie 04/05/2016 08:54AM

Our club put in rules that requires defenders to vacate for goalie kicks -- WestyHokie 04/05/2016 08:57AM

Ball isn't in play unless the goal kick completely leaves the penalty area. -- Gator Hokie 04/05/2016 12:05PM

Well, in this case the "penalty area" was the 3 pt arc. ** -- Late 80s Hokie 04/05/2016 12:18PM

Re: My son's newly formed soccer team needs to learn how to handle goal kicks

Insert a Link

Tech Sideline is Presented By:

Our Sponsors