| Soccer is an exciting team game. And for children | | | | team concept, most children won't even practice |
| who are new to the sport, it is not surprising that | | | | with other children's ball. Coaches should expect this |
| they swarm around the ball trying to get a kick at it. | | | | and prepare a program where children can slowly and |
| This is what coaches refer to as the "beehive" | | | | progressively digest the principles of teamwork. |
| formation. While children are stationed in their | | | | Bunching Actually Helps Build Soccer Skills |
| respective positions, they are likely to forget all their | | | | Novice youth players are magnetized to the ball and |
| assignments once the whistle is blown and chase the | | | | would swarm over it once the game starts. Coaches |
| ball all over the field. | | | | should let them be since such kind of play would help |
| It is entertaining to watch for spectators, but | | | | them develop soccer instincts that they can use as |
| definitely frustrating for youth coaches. It is a | | | | they advance and become team-oriented. It is not |
| common sight that coaches would yell to their | | | | new that game itself will educate children, some |
| players to get into their proper places. To make | | | | concepts no coaches can. Eventually, as a youth |
| matters worse, parents would join in the yelling fray. | | | | player progresses, they will learn more about the |
| But still, kids just don't listen. The good thing is that | | | | game and would later put these lessons into practice. |
| the swarming phase will just pass and the players will | | | | Swarming definitely helps children become better in |
| get the idea of team effort. For coaches, it is | | | | terms of playing in tight spaces and abandon their |
| important to view bunching up as a natural reaction | | | | fear of getting physical with other players. As they |
| for kids who are still new to soccer. | | | | mature, these soccer training skills will become |
| Is Swarming Just What Kids Do? | | | | second nature and may prove to be invaluable in the |
| By viewing swarming a natural response from novice | | | | future. If you ask any child development expert, |
| youth players, coaches can easily keep their sanity. | | | | they would say that children will not be able to grasp |
| Children do not learn the sport's aspects and adapt | | | | the principles of teamwork and team effort. Children |
| to its principles overnight. The concept of being part | | | | will eventually progress on their own and soon realize |
| of the team is something children can't easily process. | | | | that there are certain designs to the game and would |
| At this stage, it is natural for children to be selfish in | | | | submit themselves to the learning process. |
| their game and be the popular individual. Alien to the | | | | |