Allow me to put a simple question to you. In order to coach youth soccer, what 3 things should a coach do? Before you jump into answering this question, realize that youth soccer means that kids should enjoy the game. The concentration should be on turning the drills into enjoyable exercises so that the players get motivated.
Therefore, to teach youth soccer, take care of the following instructions. These will instill the ability in the kids to become mature players.
Let the kids have fun: As I said, youth soccer is all about having fun with the game. As a coach, you must plan each session well in advance. To illustrate, engage the kids in warm-up exercises before making a move to the daily drills. Then move to advanced drills such as passing, dribbling, trapping the ball etc and so on.
In addition, help the kids do some creative thinking on their own. Stimulate the kids to challenge themselves and if they fail, do not be harsh to them. Talk to them about it after the session. Parents need to be actively involved if the game has to be made enjoyable for the children.
To coach youth soccer, it is vital because the players are more at home than on the field. Seek the parent’s help in keeping a check on kid’s diet, inspiring the kids, and achieving regularity.
Get used to the age: Teaching soccer to young is usually between the age of 7 to 14. At this time, it is highly testing to create drills that stimulate the kids. Therefore, you must spend a considerable time researching on various drills that are appropriate for this age group. Also, communicate carefully with them as they may not understand your intent behind the exercises if you are too formal in your approach.
It is a good idea to make two or more teams and giving them names. This pumps in a sense of belongingness. Also, do not experiment a lot. The idea of a well-balanced session is to have both tried as well as new activities in it.
Pen down the drills: It makes sense to pen down the exercises and also the objectives related to them. It achieves a road-map for the efforts of the team. A written document is always useful in determining the objectives of the team. If something needs a change, written plan will assist you in assessing it.
You can determine your goals easily too. It is obvious that some things will not work out as you expected and you can always get back.
It is correct to say that youth soccer coaching is a great job full of excitement and accountability. With these handy tips and techniques, you can easily tackle the job.
Analyze these tips straight away. These tips on coach youth soccer are sure to bring positive results for your team. Subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community where there is a wealth of resources on youth soccer.
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.