What does success look like at 3v3?

At 3v3 level, players are very early in their football journey. Players will experience playing fixtures for the first time. 

As coaches, our duty is to create and manage an environment that helps these young players feel safe, have fun, and enjoy the game of football. 

Numbers on a scoreboard aren’t important at this age. There are other, much more important ways, to know if you and your players have ‘won’, both at training and on matchdays.

01 JOY

Smiles on faces, laughter, excitement, running around, telling stories, quietly patting themselves on the back... these are all things that might suggest a child is relaxed and having fun. And they might look a bit different for each child.

As a coach, you have a real opportunity to have a positive impact on your players each and every time you see them. If they leave your session with a smile on their face, job done.

Of course, children are highly emotional beings. This is normal and should be welcomed. Can you offer the space for them to be happy, but also where they feel safe enough to explore their other emotions when they need to?

02 CHAOS

Football at this age is messy! Children running everywhere, a lack of coordination, forgetting things, footballs all over the place... it’s all part of it. And it should be!

As adults, we tend to like organisation and order. It makes our brains feel safer! But we need to learn to embrace the chaos when working with children of this age. 

So don’t be afraid to run practices that look really messy to the outside eye. It’s in the chaos that they learn! 

03 TRYING

At this age, football may not look anything like the game as you know it! 

Children are just beginning to figure out how to use their bodies - never mind incorporating a football into that!

Set players challenges and things to do and ask them to try them, but don’t expect them to be able to do them all of the time. Exploring what they can do is the main aim.

04 LOTS OF TIME ON THE BALL

The best way for players to get used to the ball is to spend time on it. At this age there is a large focus on individual skills and ball mastery. In training, if you’re ever at a loss about how to get things started or keep players occupied, just give them a ball each and let them run free for a while, or get them into 1v1s, 2v2s or 3v3s.

3v3 formats on matchdays will naturally allow for lots more individual time on the ball. At this stage, we’re looking for players to figure out what they can do primarily as individuals. That’s lots of staying on the ball - dribbling, running with it, and trying all sorts of movements, tricks and skills.

05 PROGRESSION

The great thing about progress is that it happens in so many different ways. A child that was nervous to leave their parent and join you for the first few sessions, but now bounds over with a smile on their face? Progress. 

A child that was scared to dribble with the ball but now can’t get enough of it? Progress. A child that couldn’t kick a ball at all but can now pass over two metres? Progress.

All of these little wins add up over the course of the season. That’s how you’ll know you’re making a difference.

06 FIRSTS

First training session, first match, first friendship outside of the school walls... most of your players will be experiencing things for the first time. For young children, this can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. They’re big milestones in their development!

Parents might be experiencing firsts too - the first time their child has joined a sports team, or played in a match.

What an honour it is that you get to be part of it!

07 CHALLENGE

This one is for you! Coaching a team of young players is always challenging. Expect yourself to get nervous, frustrated, and even a bit exasperated at times. But go with it, and enjoy it as much as you can. The challenge will be worth it!