by Warren Clarke, Clubspaces Editorial Team

You wouldn’t think about teaching 7th grade biology to a 4th grader, would you? Children who are of different ages are at different stages of development, and their education in the classroom is reflective of this. Ideally, their education on the field should reflect this as well.

>> 8-10 years: Certain considerations must be kept in mind when coaching this group. Some coaches believe that 8-year olds are too young to play tackle football; others feel that all but the smallest and most immature 8-year olds are up for the challenge. The key when working with this age group is to limit practice drills to very small groups. This will allow you to closely govern the action. It’s also important not to tax these players with long drills. Make sure your drills run no longer than 10 minutes.

>> 11-12 years: This group is typically a joy to coach, since they’re at an age when they tend to listen quite well. At this stage, most players will have some history in the game. This means you may face the challenge of helping them unlearn old bad habits. Firmness is key. Set rules regarding technique, and use rewards to help make sure that the game is played according to these rules.

>> 13-14 years: Steel yourself. This group is typically the most challenging group to coach. Historically, 13-14 year olds have had the steepest dropout rates relative to other youth football players. It’s easy to understand why. Players at this age are on the cusp of adolescence. They’re at the points in their development at which their interests are beginning to expand beyond sports. Football must now compete with other pursuits, such as video games and the opposite sex. Keep in mind, too, that it’s a time of great physical development. It’s not uncommon for players to shoot up by as much as 5 inches over the course of a year. This fact can serve to deter kids who are slower to develop, since they will fi nd themselves dwarfed and intimidated by their suddenly larger counterparts. Despite all these issues, though, coaching 13-14 year olds can be quite rewarding. Winning their confidence is important. Earn their respect, and they may give you great performances on the field.

Coaching can be a real treat, but you have to know your terrain. Approach your players while keeping in mind techniques best suited for their age group, and you may find yourself with a team of winners in every way.