[ayso45-refs] U8G - slide tackling

[Jim Lorenz]

Hi,

I agree with all that Bob said. Slide tackling should not be taught to little ones. 

Learning other skills should come first.

A defender is much more valuable on his feet. A slide tackle is usually an act of desperation resulting from an earlier mistake!  The earlier mistake is usually that the a) 1st Defender DOVE IN, b) the 1st Defender GOT BEAT, C) the  2nd Defender was MISSING IN ACTION.

Practice time is precious and limited and is much more productively spent teaching 1v1 defending, 1st defender and 2nd defender concepts, pressure/cover, movement on and off the ball, etc..

See here for some defender coaching tips: http://www.soccerxpert.com/tips.aspx?tipID=1204
 
 In the 14 years that I played the game - I was NEVER ONCE taught to slide tackle at practice by a coach. (I did somehow pickup the skill :=)

-jim-


Bob Henderson <bob at starshippilot.com> wrote:   Message    Let me  answer your question from the perpective of a Referee.   There is  nothing in the Laws of the Game prohibiting "slide tackles" that are done safely  and do not otherwise meet the requirements for a foul (make contact with the  ball first,  do not endanger the safety of the opponent, are not done in a  careless, reckless manner or with excessive force).   Nor are there  any AYSO National rules or regulations that prohibit slide tackles at any  age.
  
 That  said,  I agree with you that it seems very unlikely that a U8, or  even a U10 player, can execute a slide tackle safely, without commiting a foul  or endangering himself or his opponent.  It is also unlikely that the  opponent has the control and physical ability to avoid tripping over the  defender's legs even if the tackle is done  correctly.
  
 In the  U8 official course,  we, the instructors, suggest that any attempt at  a slide tackle be considered as "Dangerous Play" and a free kick be awarded to  the other team (direct for U8, and indirect for U10).    I would  strongly suggest that no coach should teach sliding tackles as a technique for  that age group and in fact should advise his or her players against  them.
  
 Additional  comments are welcome from the Referee and Coach  Adminstrators.
  Bob Henderson
 
Region 45  Director of Referee  Instruction
Starships piloted,
  dragons  slain,
    soccer refereed 
    
   -----Original Message-----
From: Robert Blackburn    [mailto:rblackburn at equinix.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007    6:21 PM
To: Robert L. Henderson; kevinhendren at yahoo.com;    leslie at cina.com
Cc: Drew VH; ayso45jane at yahoo.com
Subject:    U8G - slide tackling


   Hi all:
    
      This email isn't a complaint about slide tackling per se,    but about a lack of specific direction on this topic for U8.     In the U8 section of the coaching binder, there is no    explicit direction on slide tackling-- whether it's allowed or not    allowed.  The only related direction given, is that players are not to be    ejected because that would be a loss of a teaching    opportunity.

    
      Last week, a couple players on the opposing U8G team    tried slide tackling.  There were only 3 attempts, no one was hurt, it    didn't affect the outcome of the game, etc.   I don't think the    other coach was trying to teach it to everyone, but there were at    least 2 players who were trying to use the    technique.
    
   The problem is,    I don't think any U8 player can consistently control a    slide tackle and ensure an opposing player is never accidentally    injured.  And I know there are plenty of U8 players who have no idea what    a slide tackle is... 30% of my team never played organized soccer before this    year!
    
   Can we get some definitive guidelines from board people    for coaches to know whether slide tackling is allowed?  If it's not, all    the coaches are on the same page.  And if it will be allowed, then we can    individually prepare our players for potentially seeing a slide tackle and if    we want teach the technique.
    
   Is this a reasonable request for clarification?  I    would have asked sooner, but I never saw a U8 player try slide tackling until    this past weekend.
      Thanks,
Robert   tel: 650 513-7152  /  mobile: 650    520-8559
U8G-15 / Blue    Tigers 




      
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