TRANSFORM YOUR TEAM'S SEASON WITH PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED SESSIONS
Use our expert plans or build your own using our library of over 700+ drills, and easy-to-use tools.
JOIN NOW
How do you motivate U'8s to develop a winning mentality. I am trying to get 8 little under 8's up for a game on a weekly basis. When they go a goal up they are unstoppable, if they go a goal down they pack it in! How do you get your teams up for it before kick off?
Less focus on the scoreline and train for performing. ALL players can perform. There are no mental pressures that inhibit performing whereas the current score can be hell or heaven.
Young kids just love to play games so the match should be conveyed as a Challenge
- How many shots on target can you make?
- How many goals can you score?
- How many completed passes can you make?
Winning is the destination, you have to create stations along the route for the kids to get to.
ALL SSGs and Drills should have competition built into them but in a FUN way i.e. Whichever team loses the winning team get to nominate a ludocrous drill for the losers to complete etc.
Kev
Here's an answer we received on our Twitter account from @dansmed10:

Hope this helps,
The Sportplan Team
They don't need a winning mentality at that age, they just need to enjoy themselves. When they go a goal down how do you react & interact with them? You could be unwittingly putting, unwittingly, uneeded pressure on them. Plenty of encouragement and positivity is all that's required.
in more ways than one
Why Barcelona's favourite training exercise should be in every coach's toolkit - and how to run rondos that actually transfer to matches.
The decision-making framework that stops counter-attacks cold. Learn when to delay, when to force wide, and when to commit.
2026 brings the biggest World Cup ever, revolutionary rule changes, and new tactical opportunities for coaches at every level. Here's what you need to know.
Use our expert plans or build your own using our library of over 700+ drills, and easy-to-use tools.
JOIN NOW