Pre-Travel Division Game Objectives (U7)

The objective of gameplay in the pre-travel division is to continue to introduce more structural elements of a soccer game to the participants. The primary focus of the game is still to promote participation, develop spatial awareness of a bounded playing area, and to promote as many opportunities for touches on the ball as possible for each participant. In addition to the set of foundational skills such as dribbling, passing and challenging/winning the ball stressed during game play, the introduction of a goalie forces participants to keep the ball in closer proximity and look for opportunities to pass as well as shoot.

Format

• Small-sided field (50 feet x 80 feet)
• Goals (5 feet x 10 feet)
• 4 players on the field at a time for each team and 1 goalie (5 total)

Rules of Play

• Substitutions may be made at any time, at the coaches discretion.
• Stop play if players use their hands to pick up or handle the ball. Have the players on the team who handled the ball retreat back from the ball 10 feet. Restart the play with a free kick by the opposing team.  
• Stop play immediately if any participant is knocked down in a crowded space and ensure the child is alright. Restart the play by having all participants back away from the ball and drop the ball to any player on the field.
• Stop play immediately if a participant is playing in a dangerous manner or pushes another participant. Either coach may address the dangerous play or pushing immediately. Restart the play by having all participants back away from the ball and drop the ball to any player on the field.
• Stop play for the ball going  out-of-bounds and restart with a throw in for the opposing team.
• Stop play for a ball played out of bounds by the attacking team over the goal line and restart play with a goal kick for the defending team anywhere in the goal area. The attacking team must have all players retreat behind the orange build out line until the ball has been touched by the defending team or crosses that line.
• Stop play for a ball played out of bounds by the defending team over their goal line and restart play with a corner kick for the attacking team.
  
• Goalies are required at this age group. The goalie may pick up the ball anywhere within their goal area (bounding box around the goal). The attacking team must have all players retreat behind the orange build out line until the ball has been touched by the defending team or crosses that line.
• Goalies may throw or roll the ball, but may not punt.
• No heading the ball is permitted.

Advice to Coaches

• Coaches should not be simply standing on the sideline. It is encouraged to be close to the player on the field to be able to stop play when necessary but also help control situations.  
• Scores should not be kept or discussed with the participants, but accomplishments such as scoring, passing, controlling the pall, or making good decisions should be celebrated and encouraged.
• Lopsided scoring will happen at this age group. At the beginning of the game, coaches should allow players the opportunity to demonstrate their growing ability and skill and some players or teams may initially score quickly. If one or two individual players are controlling the play after the first ten minutes of the game, then coaches should communicate with one another about how to challenge the skilled players as well as how to involve the other participants to a greater extent. This includes:
  • Give skilled players challenges such as dribbling to a cone placed in the corner before they can score, or asking them to pass to a teammate in front of the goal.
    
  • Restrict the area a skilled player can move in to their own half of the field.
  • Require a skilled player to use their weaker foot to dribble or shoot.
• The goal is not for one team or the other to win, but for all the participants to enjoy the game.