When it comes to a simple thought like how to coach soccer, almost everyone gets into a spree of finding am appropriate reply. This is even more important with respect to soccer coaching because keeping the players motivated all the time is a lot tougher than it seems.
Let me tell you 5 simple tips that’ll help you improve your team’s performance significantly, when followed religiously.
1. Always plan comprehensively: Your planning should be careful and detailed for you to succeed in coaching young players. Plan meetings with the players before you finalize the team goals and objectives, and take their viewpoints also into consideration. The team’s progress is affected when the timelines are not met and desired results are not realized.
After finalizing the plan, do not deviate from it except for making a few changes, if needed. There are unanticipated situations that require changes in even well made plans.
2. Kids should enjoy being a part of practice sessions: Design your practice schedule in a way that includes a variety of drills, activities, fun-filled games and exercise so that the kids don’t feel the monotony. You can practice this rule in lot many ways. For example, after the practice session is over, divide them into small groups and introduce fun games that not only relax their mind but also promote team spirit among them.
3. Both freedom and discipline should complement one another: A coach should always give priority to discipline in the team. But, what is important to understand is that freedom is also as important for the kids to feel strongly towards discipline. Don’t underestimate the value of freedom and relaxation in teaching soccer.
Give the players sufficient time between the drills so that they can do their own stuff, interact with each other and simply relax. When it comes to how to coach soccer, it may also be a good idea to take them out on a picnic.
4. Be Supportive and tolerant: Always inspire the team to experiment on new things and when they make mistakes, be tolerant. Keep scrutinizing their activities. If a situation is serious enough to require your action, jump in and correct it but without punishing the kids.
Bear in mind that when you retort, the kids feel intimidated and when you show compassion and encouragement, they feel motivated to do even better.
5. Maintain balance: A practice session is where the kids get to know their talent and soccer skills. It is well known that when we talk of a team, there are bound to be players of different calibers; the good, bad, and worst. As a coach, it is your duty to use your best players to inspire and motivate the others.
Befriend the good and bad players together so that stay with each other maximum and share the techniques during and after the sessions. It is also vital that they players do not feel that a comparison is being drawn between them.
It must now be your ambition to make the best use of these tips in progressing on how to coach soccer.
You can also join our youth soccer coaching community to learn more and dramatically improve your coaching skills.
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Youth Soccer Training.