Horst Wein passed away in 2016 . He was a pioneer for youth soccer development in Europe and later moved to the United States . Here is an article he wrote for Soccer Journal in 2008 .
Since we were born , we ’ ve been given the potential to be creative . We only differ in how well we exhibit this creativity and in the areas in which each person can become creative .
Most of us were more creative as an infant than as an adolescent or adult , because there are more opportunities and possibilities to play at the pre-school stage than later on in school .
Therefore , in general , the development of the capacity to be creative and to become even more creative is not obstructed in kids up to six years old . This is considered normal .
Nevertheless , when the child starts school , the creative process can cease . This is due , in many cases , to the negative effect of the teaching methods with intentional orientation and very strict norms . Suddenly , the available time to play is reduced and school frequently suffocates the development of creativity which was occurring naturally .
When playing soccer children face the same problems in developing their creativity because of traditional coaching methods . Many of the methods that for decades have been essential components of the learning-teaching process in the soccer world are today obstacles that inhibit the expression of the creative potential within each child .
To overcome these important deficiencies , the following conditions have to be created to again see the growth and maturity of more creative players on our soccer fields .
WE MUST DECLARE THE WAR AGAINST 11V11 GAMES
The “ 11:11 ” game has been for many years a cancer , which holds back the development of young soccer players . It should be replaced by another type of competition , which should be tailor-made for children younger than 13 years old .
Games like Mini Soccer ; 3v3 on 4 goals for 8-9 year olds ; 7v7 soccer for 10-11 year olds ; and 8v8 soccer for 12-13 year olds between both regular penalty areas , offer the adequate conditions which include the manipulation of space , number of players and ball size for the children to express their creativity and inspiration in a healthier environment . The 11v11 game adds stress to the young players .
Frequently , the 11v11 game is used nowadays as the preferred practice method for preparing for the weekend match . It should be replaced by more attractive and , from the learning point of view , more efficient simplified games which use fewer players .
In the “ big game ” on a regular field , the young player can be overwhelmed by the numbers of players and size of the field and can become passive , participating very seldom in plays where creative skills can be exhibited .
WE MUST PLAY MORE GAMES AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ANALYTICAL EXERCISES … PRACTICING SHOULD HAPPEN IN A GAME CONTEXT
Statements like : “ You only learn to play soccer by playing it ” must be rediscovered and must be considered in the planning of all training sessions in which drills are still dominant and excessive . Children should be exposed to more games ( global method ) and less practice with the analytical method . The practice should happen in the game .
WE SHOULD LET THE KIDS PLAY WITHOUT CONSTANT CORRECTIONS
When playing , it is not necessary for the young soccer player to know exactly the specific learning purposes . Knowing the learning aims is always important for the coach but not for the player .
The player should frequently have the possibility to play , or “ play just for fun ” without necessarily having any specific learning as a main objective . We should not forget that one essential part of the game is its unpredictability . This explains why the game is so fascinating for kids . As Buytendik said : “ Each game starts with a movement , which consequence is not completely predictable and which , therefore , has an element of surprise .”
We should give children the opportunity to explore and to discover through “ playing ,” to infect them with the creativity shown by their teammates and opponents , and without having the coach interceding frequently . By correcting from the start , we expose the young player to an intensive pressure . Being stressed is counterproductive to the development of creativity .
Friedrich Schiller states perfectly the vital meaning of playing games for the human being : “ The human feels and behaves like a human when he plays .”
And specifically , about the 11v11 game , Dante Panzeri adds , “ The talent develops in a repetitive confrontation of many players in a small , limited field , whilst the regular soccer field creates fatigue and limits the fantasy , creativity and burst of speed of the young players .”
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