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I suggest you try an experiment.
The average youth player can command a space about 3yds x 3yds. Create a square with 4 cones of this size right at the penalty spot. Select your 3 best and your three weakest players. Place a single cone at each of the closest corner flags, one at midfield right inline with the square and one on each touchline halfway between midfield and the flag.
[bc note: I use 7 cones - 1 at each corner flag, one each at the touchline even with the square, 1 at the center circle, and 1 each at the intersection of the centerline and the touchlines. I put the small square at the top center of the penalty area instead of the penalty spot. And I have all the players play the game.]
Now you have your fundamental passes all laid out for the size field you play on. Ask each of the 6 players to serve three balls each into the square you made. No defenders. No movement. They can take a small run-up to the ball if desired. If they cannot cleanly hit the ball into the square, then the distance is too great. You cannot POSSIBLY expect them to hit an accurate pass over that distance when tired, when pressured, when dehydrated, or when the runner AND the server are both in motion. Move the cones closer to the square until you have 80% success. It is at that distance that your players' skill level will allow for accurate passing to a target. I've found that at the U14 level that distance is usually 20-25 yards for skilled players. And that distance increases 5 yards every age group (for females). So by U18, that player can now hit an accurate 40-45 yard ball assuming proper skill and physical development.
[bc note: I have all the kids serve balls from the various cones into the square. They get 3 pts for landing a ball in the square on a fly (even better - line drive) and 1 pts for hitting the ball through the square on the ground. They retrieve the ball and go to another cone. Then we speed it up, eventually seeing how many points they can get in 1-2 min. If the players are not able to hit the square, then have them move all the cones 5 yds closer (repeat as needed)]
If a U14 player can hit a 25 yard ball accurately, then the spacing between players must be 20-25 yards maximum if you intend to retain possession. So on a narrow football field, of say 55 yards, when each player can only manage 25 yards max, how many players do you need to put across a field to ensure you can link one side of the field to the other?
I've done this exercise with everything from U14s to the college team that went to the sweet-16. And it's held up each time. I invite any of you to try it with your players. Alternately, try a slightly different experiment. Place 11 starters on 2/3 a field. Ask them to play the ball around 2 touch. Add 3 defenders. Can the team maintain possession or are the distances forcing weak passes? Choke it down to 1/2 a field and see if it improves.
At the younger age groups we complain about crowding around the ball. It's quite simple. The players crowd around because they don't feel confident that they can get a pass from further away! As the ability to receive a ball consistently from away comes to fruition, players will spread out.
Cheers,
-P
<bc@bjb.org>