Shall I ask you a straightforward question? In order to coach youth soccer, what 3 things should a coach do? Before you reply to this question, it is vital to understand that youth soccer means that kids should enjoy themselves. The focus should be on making drills and sessions so exciting that they are always full of enthusiasm.
Therefore, to teach youth soccer, take care of the following instructions. These will instill the ability in the kids to become mature players.
Allow the players to enjoy themselves: As mentioned earlier, youth soccer means to enjoy the game thoroughly. As a coach, make sure to regulate your sessions early enough. As an example, ask them to do warm up drills before moving to the regular drills. Once done, instruct them to go ahead with the advanced drills such as passing the ball, dribbling with it and trapping etc.
Also, allow the kids to be creative in their approach. Stimulate the kids to challenge themselves and if they fail, do not be harsh to them. Discuss with them after the practice session is over. Parents need to be actively involved if the game has to be made enjoyable for the children.
To coach youth soccer, this is crucial since the kids spend more time with their parents than on the field. Ask the parents to inspire the kids, keep a track of their diet, and be regular in their training sessions.
Get familiar with the age of the kids: Teaching soccer to kids is between the age of 7 to 14. At this age, it is a challenge to define the drills that actually catch their attention. So, you must think proactively to consider drills that are fun for the kids. And, ensure that you keep the age level of the players in mind while communicating with them and remain very casual in your conversation.
It is a good idea to divide the group into teams and name them. This inculcates a sense of team spirit. It is recommended not to conduct a lot of experimentation also. A well designed session consists of both new as well as old tricks.
Write down the drills: It is a good idea to write the exercises and the results that you are expecting from them. It aids in providing a direction to the team effort. Recorded data is highly beneficial in depicting the performance of the players. When you have to revisit your plan, it is easy to do so when it is in a written form.
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 safe to say that youth soccer is a dynamic, fun-filled, and yet a responsible job. However, with proper planning and these essential tips handy, you will succeed at it without a doubt.
Examine these tips immediately. These tips on coach youth soccer are sure to bring positive results for your team. For more such tips on youth soccer, join our youth soccer coaching community where you will find many resources and like-minded individuals from the soccer 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.