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[mhall]

Hello everyone!

This has come up recently with my sons team.  He plays on a PDL U13 team.  How many practices should a team like this have?  At this point in time, we are having two practices a week.  One is only an hour and fifteen minutes and the other is an hour and a half.

Let's hear what your kid practices and what you think is appropriate.  Thanks!

[Brat Jr]

GU15
Miki has 2 practices a week, sometimes another is thrown in as a scrimmage.
Practices usually are 1.5 hours each

[MichGoBlue]

GU13 - Two 1.5 hour practices a week plus some scrimmages/friendlies or optional practices.

Back when we were in Oregon it was three 2 hour practices a week, so it seems pretty light here.

[goldengoal]

4 hours a day x 5 days a week with a scrimmage on the weekend, but my kid is playing on a team that is going pro  

[GordonBennett]

DK's team has 3 1.5hr practices a week.  Coach is bleeding as much time as he can with the daylight we have left so the practices end up close to 2 hrs.  I'm sure he would practice every day if we let Him.

[8daysAweek]

GU13 - practice 2x's per week / 1.5-2 hrs - efficiency is the key , what's the point of a 2 hr practice if the kids are "idle" for over half of it.
New coach this year - believes that you can get what needs to be done in under 2 hours.

We believe in extra training - and if your club doesn't provide it then find a trainer.
Generally add a scrimmage plus a training - sometimes an open play time of some sort. DD tends to do something soccer related at least 4-5 times a week.

[mhall]

This is great!  I like the thought regarding idle time.  That's so true, if a kid is just standing around for half the practice, what's the point.  Efficiency really is the key.

I feel we are a little light on practice and could use one more.  If it doesn't come from the coach then it will come from me in one form or another.

Thanks!

[8daysAweek]

This is great!  I like the thought regarding idle time.  That's so true, if a kid is just standing around for half the practice, what's the point.  Efficiency really is the key.

I feel we are a little light on practice and could use one more.  If it doesn't come from the coach then it will come from me in one form or another.

Thanks!

dd's old coach had poor time management plus refused to have an assistant. so frustrating -

but if you feel you are in that situation, and the coach won't listen, don't add another inefficient practice with him... find it elsewhere.
some trainers will do groups which saves $$

[mhall]

Great thoughts!  I am not so concerned about our coaches practices.  I actually like the way he goes about his work.  I just wish he had a little more time with the kids, like at least one more practice or each practice time a little longer.

[scottydog]

4 hours a day x 5 days a week with a scrimmage on the weekend, but my kid is playing on a team that is going pro  

That sounds like youth football.  My 7-9 year olds practice 2.5 hrs X 5 days/week for the entire month of August.  Once season starts in Sept, we go 2hrs X 3 days with a game on Sat.  I agree that soccer practice seems awful light.

DD U14 team practice is 1.5 hrs twice a week.  She is a keeper so she throws in 2 additional days of training with keepers.

[letemplay]

3 practices at a minimum of 1 1/2hrs per practice...daughter loves it, would practice everyday if she could....and if allowed I think the coach would too

Coach is very respective of other commitments though, coach respects family and school as other needs and no punishment for missed practices.  Also for practices that go beyond 1 1/2hrs coach gives permission for kids to leave if they need/want to...funny how few of them walk of the field

[hulabaloo]

One thing that I'm sure everyone is aware of but worth mentioning in this converstation are the following factors.

What level of play does your team participate in?  Rec, Select, Premier and also what levels of each of these?
What time of year it is?  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
If HS age is it your HS season?
Is it for tournament preparation?  Summer tournaments?  State Cup?
What sort of work ethic does your coach and team have and what the family will support.  Is your coach away on business?  Family vacation times?
Are you dealing with injuries or fatique.
What the weather is like.   Not so much but I'm sure it is a factor at some levels.
Does your coach think fitness should be a part of practice?

Are there any other factors?

Right now my DS's B94 team (just promoted to Div 1 of RCL) is getting ready for Puma Pacific Coast Challenge.
Here was schedule over last week and this week.  This Tuesday included a timed 2 mile fitness test.  Players are expected to handle fitness on their own and get ball work in on their own outside of training.  No designation on how much but the level of play expected is known and they should figure out how much time they need to put in.  Starting league I expect minimum 3 days a week for 2 hrs each session.  Not sure if the coach will do more.

Tuesday 8/17:  5:30 to 7:30
Thursday:  8/19:  5:30 to 7:30
Saturday:  8/21:  10:00am to 12:00pm
Tuesday 8/24:  5:30 to 7:30
Wednesday:  8/25 5:30 to 7:30

[EWSoccer64]

The last time I went to a clinic where the subject was brought up, the "official USYSA" answer included:
Practice time should be no longer than the regular match time.   (I always fudged and did not include warm ups in this).
A minimum of 3 practices per game being played.
Specific training for Goalkeepers, as well as training with the team.

This was for the youth level.

[hulabaloo]

The last time I went to a clinic where the subject was brought up, the "official USYSA" answer included:
Practice time should be no longer than the regular match time.   (I always fudged and did not include warm ups in this).
A minimum of 3 practices per game being played.
Specific training for Goalkeepers, as well as training with the team.

This was for the youth level.

Was that minimum of 3 or maximum?  If minimum then could do 5 1.5 hr practices a week and this was acceptable?  To protect over play I understand the thought of no longer than regular match but it seems like it would be hard to balance that with more days of practice.  Trying say, it is hard enough having muliple day practices above 2 sometimes from families.

[SaraBellum]

GU14
2x a week 2hrs each.
Conditioning on their own- player must text the coach their mile time once a week- or they will be doing more conditioning at practice.
Team organizes runs or some girls run together, Organized team run about once a week- 4-5 miles cross country.

Offered through the club:
Optional fitness training with high school team
Speed and agility once-a-week for an hour.

The players get out of it what they are will to put into it.
In the summer my dd was running with the dog- about 4 miles 3x a week.

[EWSoccer64]

It was a minimum.   One example put out was for a younger (U-10?) age have 3 "sessions" per week, with one session every other week being an actual game.   That would give you 5 training sessions per game session. 

Everyday training?   Absolutely, if possible.  In the real world, that is very seldom possible.

The last time I went to a clinic where the subject was brought up, the "official USYSA" answer included:
Practice time should be no longer than the regular match time.   (I always fudged and did not include warm ups in this).
A minimum of 3 practices per game being played.
Specific training for Goalkeepers, as well as training with the team.

This was for the youth level.

Was that minimum of 3 or maximum?  If minimum then could do 5 1.5 hr practices a week and this was acceptable?  To protect over play I understand the thought of no longer than regular match but it seems like it would be hard to balance that with more days of practice.  Trying say, it is hard enough having muliple day practices above 2 sometimes from families.

[kameharem]

2 required practices a week of 1.5 hours
1 optional footwork practice of 1 hour a week
at least 10 minutes a day of jugling footwork on own; recorded on home worksheet and signed off by parent, player with the most on own home work is named captain for next 2 weeks.
will start keeper training once a week soon, believe that will be 2 hours

[goldengoal]

Conditioning on their own- player must text the coach their mile time once a week- or they will be doing more conditioning at practice.
Team organizes runs or some girls run together, Organized team run about once a week- 4-5 miles cross country.


In the summer my dd was running with the dog- about 4 miles 3x a week.

This for soccer or Xcountry? I dont think we have ever run our teams longer than a mile, but we sure do play a lot of non-stop ssg with sprinting-

[SoccerFlicks]

4-7 practices per week, between the hours of 3-6 right now, 4-7 in the Fall.

My older son is only going 2 times a week - thats just weak - has not made for a good team, yet.....

[mhall]

My older son runs 2 to 4 miles before every practice plus he runs cross country.  So, great training for both.

[goldengoal]

on a serious note, spend the time on interval running and not long distance

[soccerpride]

BU12
2x per week, 1.5 hours, with team. 3 miles, 3x per week, on his own.

[Squash]

on a serious note, spend the time on interval running and not long distance

I have to side with goldengoal on this. I'm a bit confused by the running 3 or 4 miles, 3 times of week stuff. It's great if by the time your 30 you want your knees to be bone on bone and hurting like hell, but for soccer distance running is not the best thing considering the game is a mix of jogging, sprinting, jogging, sprinting. I find distance runners tend to be able to run 1/2 or 3/4 pace all day long but the game is bursts of speed...stop and go...cutting, accelerating, and everything jogging is not, it may make you fit but not fit in the soccer sense.

You'd be better off using a soccer field and sprinting from the goal line to the half....jogging from the half to the other goal line, sprint the goal line, jog to half, jog from half to the goal line again.... etc. rinse and repeat.... build your conditioning based on something more similar to games...not just jogging. It's bursts of power and speed all game long, so if you are running at least try to build those twitch muscle reactions and conditioning.

Just a thought....... I get the extra running for cross country kids or long distance track, but soccer players...not so much.