Let me ask you a simple question. To coach youth soccer, what are the 3 things that a coach can do? Before you reply to this question, it is vital to understand that youth soccer means that kids should enjoy themselves. The attention should always be making the exercises exciting so that the players have fun all the time.
So, to teach youth soccer, keep in mind the following three tips. These will allow you to guide the kids to become advanced players.
Let the players have fun: As discussed, youth soccer translates into fun sessions for the players. As a coach, prepare each of the sessions beforehand. For example, make them start with warm-up drills that prepare them for the sessions. Then move to advanced drills such as passing, dribbling, trapping the ball etc and so on.
To add to that, encourage the players to think creatively. Stimulate the kids to challenge themselves and if they fail, do not be harsh to them. Have a word with them after the session. It is essential to take the parents into confidence if you wish to make the game enjoyable for the players.
To coach youth soccer, it is critical because the kids stay at home more than they are on the field. Ask the parents to inspire the kids, keep a track of their diet, and be regular in their training sessions.
Get used to the age: Teaching soccer to young is usually between the age of 7 to 14. At this age, it is a challenge to define the drills that actually catch their attention. Therefore, you must spend a considerable time researching on various drills that are appropriate for this age group. And then, make sure that you communicate in a very casual manner and instruct them in simple terms.
It is a good idea to divide the group into teams and name them. This breeds the feeling of mutual respect. Do not test a lot as well. The idea of a well-balanced session is to have both tried as well as new activities in it.
Write the exercises: It always pays to write the exercises on paper along with the results that you are expecting from them. It aids in providing a direction to the team effort. The documentation also helps you in evaluating the progress of the players. If you need to modify anything, it can be easily done in a written document.
And then, it is super-easy to measure your goals. It is natural that some things go wrong in which case, you can always retrace your steps.
It is correct to say that youth soccer coaching is a great job full of excitement and accountability. With this information at your disposal, you will without doubt be able to do full justice to your job.
Examine these tips immediately. These tips on coach youth soccer are sure to bring positive results for your team. If you would like access to a mass of resources on youth soccer, join our youth soccer coaching community.
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Soccer Coaching Drills.