Permit me a straight question. In order to coach youth soccer, what 3 things should a coach do? Now, before you respond to this query, it is critical to understand that the meaning of youth soccer is that the kids entertain 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 give you the leverage to turn the young kids into expert players.
Let the players have fun: As discussed, youth soccer translates into fun sessions for the players. As a coach, design each of the sessions ahead of time. 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.
In addition, help the kids do some creative thinking on their own. Motivate the kids to attempt new things and when they make mistakes, which is natural, do not disrupt them. Chat about it after the end of 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 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.
Condition yourself to the age level: Teaching soccer to the young players is generally between the age of 7 and 14. At this age, it is a challenge to define the drills that actually catch their attention. Hence, spend a lot of time thinking about exercises that they would play and enjoy. 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 pumps in a sense of belongingness. Do not test a lot as well. A well designed session consists of both new as well as old tricks.
Pen down the drills: It makes sense to pen down the exercises and also the objectives related to them. It helps in developing a strategy for the team. The documentation also helps you in evaluating the progress of the players. If something needs a change, written plan will assist you in assessing it.
You can determine your goals easily too. It is perfectly usual for a few things to go wrong and in that case, you can always get back to the original plan.
It can be safely said that youth soccer is an enjoyable and ever changing job. But with these techniques and proper regulation, you will undoubtedly succeed at it.
Put this to test right away! These tips on coach youth soccer are sure to bring positive results for your team. For a treasure of resources, tips, and techniques on soccer, enroll for 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.