Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 By the time you finish reading this, you would probably have learnt every trick in the trade to coach youth soccer. To coach kids in soccer is no big deal but at the same time, knowledge of the game, playing experience and talent is very essential. The strategies that follow are known to all to teach youth soccer. Consistent application of these tricks will help you build up a great team.
Endorse knowledge: Each one of us is aware of it but how to find out the perfect way to encourage it? Allow the players to do activities that they like and even if they get wrong, take it easy. Through this exercise, you are encouraging the kids to be more creative and most importantly, have fun.
Name the teams: Divide the groups into small teams which allow you to better coordinate the affairs. It’s also a good idea to name the teams for inculcating a feeling of closeness.
Measure success and failures: To coach youth soccer, you must have a definitive yardstick to measure the performance. Some rules to understand this are whether the kids are enjoying the sessions. Check whether the kids are actually enjoying or just playing. Are the kids getting the art of dribbling, passing and controlling the ball?
Give incentives: These keep the kids going and even the advanced players, for that matter. However, the rewards don’t need to be huge. For example a further 30 minutes rest or wrapping up the day’s job early for team performing best. Also, never give individual rewards. They do not work in soccer as some kids will always excel whereas others won’t. It is therefore better to acknowledge the team effort.
Managing poor performance: It’s important in teaching soccer to carefully manage individual’s poor performance affecting the entire team. For example, if a player is always late for the drills, do not ignore it. Reprimand him with any easy punishment to send a message to the remaining players.
Similarly, parents who tend to interfere in the team’s activities should also be handled like this. Make everyone understand in order to avoid it. You are the coach and you will take decisions. Yet, parent’s participation is also necessary to a certain level.
Be a leader: Whatever you do is likely to be imitated by your players because a coach is always looked upon as a mentor. So keep your conduct in check. Be good and courteous to your colleagues, opposite team, and fellow team members. Reach the ground for the practice sessions in advance or before the players. Never criticize the referee or the players when in a practice match.
Rest assured, by means of these tips to coach youth soccer will take your team’s performance to the highest level in practice matches and live tournaments both. If you wish to receive more such tips and expert commentaries on youth soccer, enroll for our youth soccer coaching community. You’ll obtain vital knowledge of different facets of youth soccer.
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: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com