Why training is more important for young players than game playing!

·        During a major international tournament (11-a-side) with FIFA-3 substitution rules (three changes with no re-entry), the individual time of possession for 90-minute games ranged between 20 seconds and three minutes, with an average of one and a half to two minutes possession time per player. (Bangsbo and Pietersen,2004)

·        In a study of 1500 ODP level female players, the average number of games reported played over the previous twelve months was 116. With an average game duration of 80-minutes and a maximum roster of 18, and with the ball out of play for an average of 33%, the typical player would experience 1.5 minutes of active play per game for a total of 174 minutes per year. Less than 3 hours of ball contacts! (Turner, 2003)

·        Under FIFA-3 substitution rules, a young soccer player competing in 100 games per year will only come into contact with the ball for a maximum of 300 minutes, or 5 hours. The recommended ratio of training sessions to games for 9-12 year-old players is 70% training and 30% games.

United States Youth Soccer Total Player Development Guide