[Junior Soccer] How to deal with mischievous boys

"Norway's rapid progress!!"

They mess around during practice, kicking away teammates' balls and getting in the way.
After one-on-one practice, for some reason, they start wrestling.
They are sluggish during basic drills.

"How do you deal with this??"

At the other day's practice
For one coach.
(As a support coach, I was participating, so it was effectively a two-adult system)

Coaching fourth and third graders. The total number of children was 16.
It was a thinner state than usual

Among them, a mischievous fourth-grade boy was participating.
As expected, the mood lacked focus.
Children who wanted to practice seriously were interrupted and started crying.
The child who was doing one-on-one with the mischievous boy started crying after they ended up wrestling.

Also, at a bad time, the coach that day was a gentle type who doesn't get angry. If anything, he is in charge of the lower grades.
Also, he seemed to have trouble conveying the intent of each practice menu to the players.

What could I have done in such a state?

・Analysis of practice content.
・The psychology of the mischievous boy.

Based on these, I considered the problems and points for improvement.

[Problems]
・The purpose of today's practice was not clearly held.→①
・There were many basic drills, and for players who could already do the basics, it became a boring practice.→②

[Points for improvement]
① What kind of team is strong?
What kind of team are we aiming to be?
This should be shared with the players in advance.

A menu full of only basic drills was boring for the fourth graders.
But if the direction of our team was clear, couldn't each of them have worked on the basic drills proactively?

I think we should provide opportunities to make the players think about this many times.

Especially after a match, create an opportunity for them to think about it thoroughly.
And, for the next practice, build an awareness so that each of them can work on the practice with a goal.

② The psychology of the mischievous boy.
Rather than doing what he is told, he values results.

What is the practice for?
Convey to them: What kind of situation during a match is this practice assuming?
Convey the concrete intent of the practice from the challenges of the match.
It is important to convey the ideal level to the players.
Show them a high-level example.

Passing using a grid.
→Make them conscious of the accuracy and speed of the pass from the trap.
(Fast pass and accurate trap)
Show an example.

Shooting practice (fast break)
(Assuming a situation where they pass the final line and are one-on-one with the goalkeeper, with a defender chasing from behind.)
→Precision to quickly transition from the first trap to the next shot.
Speed from trap to shot.
Confirmation of the goalkeeper's position.

One-on-one(Assume a one-on-one in front of the goal, at the final line.)
Offense: Grasp the sense of distance from the defender.
Will it be a fast break?

Will you attack with the first touch?
Will you take one trap and then attack with a feint?

Defense: Sense of distance from the forward.
What kind of defense is annoying for the opponent?
Don't dive in too much.
A distance that puts pressure on the opponent.
How to use your arms. Body orientation.

Have them set time limits for basic drills.
I think making them compete is also effective.

The third graders honestly do what they are told silently.
Everyone works seriously and steadily. But many children give up because they can't do it.
If they can't do it well, they say, "Coach, teach me~".
In a word, they are pure. They are like children.

Fourth graders
There is a difference between children who can do it and those who can't.
They are cheeky.
They want to brag about what they can do.
They want to hide what they can't do.
They hate losing.
Emotions appear on the surface.
They want to express themselves. (Or rather, it overflows.)
Frustrated. Happy.
They want to become stronger. They don't want to lose.
I thought this is the age where such feelings are budding.

I would like to continue
facing the children and getting to know many things.