Last updated on December 15, 2024
US Soccer’s Play-Practice-Play (PPP) Model is an evidence-based approach to grassroots1 soccer coaching focused on maximizing player engagement, enjoyment, and development. This model, tailored to what US Soccer calls “Zone 1” youth development (ages 6-12), prioritizes game-like, enjoyable activities that foster intrinsic motivation. It is structured into three key stages: Play, Practice, and Play, each with specific goals and characteristics to guide young players’ learning and growth.
Key Components of the PPP Model
- First Play Phase (Deliberate Play)
- This phase emphasizes “deliberate play,” where players engage in informal, small-sided games (e.g., 2v2, 3v3) designed for enjoyment rather than outcome.
- The main objective is to promote inclusion, intrinsic motivation, and social interaction, fostering an environment where players feel comfortable experimenting and learning.
- Coaches take on a facilitative role, encouraging self-led discovery and problem-solving, which enhances cognitive, social, and emotional development.
- Practice Phase
- This middle phase includes structured activities with a balance between fun and skill development, aligning with “play-practice” and “Teaching Games for Understanding” (TGFU) methodologies.
- Activities are designed to be game-like, encouraging decision-making and tactical awareness.
- Coaches offer guided feedback and demonstrations, with a focus on ball mastery, tactical principles, and game-context learning, allowing players to explore how to apply skills in real scenarios.
- Second Play Phase (Game Simulation)
- Players engage in uninterrupted games that replicate actual match conditions (e.g., 5v5, 7v7).
- This phase allows players to apply the skills developed during practice in a game environment, helping them transfer their learning effectively.
- Coaches observe and intervene only when necessary, fostering players’ independence and reinforcing learned skills.
Purpose of the PPP Model
The model is intended to support holistic development by providing frequent ball contact, fostering social connections, and promoting problem-solving and tactical decision-making. It combines deliberate play with structured learning activities to ensure children remain motivated and improve their technical and tactical skills within a positive environment.
Insights
Here are some thoughts on the PPP Model:
It’s Player-Centered
The PPP model prioritizes a player-centered approach that emphasizes intrinsic motivation and enjoyment. By focusing on small-sided games and letting players take the lead, it fosters a sense of ownership and engagement, which is crucial for long-term participation and development.
Skill Transfer and Game-Like Context
The model’s structure of integrating play phases around a focused practice segment allows for better skill transfer. By using game-like activities, players learn techniques and tactics within contexts similar to real match situations, enhancing their ability to apply skills during actual games.
Less Can Be More
One aspect of the PPP model is the limited direct instruction in the initial play phase. Rather than actively coaching, the model encourages coaches to step back and let players learn by experimenting. This hands-off approach can foster creativity and problem-solving skills more effectively than constant instruction.
It’s About Fun
The practice phase, though more structured than the play phases, is designed to be enjoyable and game-like. This challenges the conventional belief that structured training is inherently less engaging. By focusing on player enjoyment even in structured activities, the model shows that effective learning and fun can coexist in a well-designed training environment.
US Soccer’s Play-Practice-Play Model can be found here.
- I have not been able to find a document in or through which US Soccer defines “grassroots.” Through an examination of various documents on US Soccer’s website, the best definition of “grassroots” soccer is that it is community-based, inclusive, and developmental approach to soccer that prioritizes participation, enjoyment, safety, and diverse playing formats over competition. ↩︎
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