Allow me to put a simple question to you. To coach youth soccer, what are the 3 things for the coach to do? Before you jump into answering this question, realize that youth soccer means that kids should enjoy the game. The focus should be on making drills and sessions so exciting that they are always full of enthusiasm.
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, make sure to regulate your sessions early enough. 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.
As an addition, motivate the players to think out of the box. Motivate the kids to attempt new things and when they make mistakes, which is natural, do not disrupt 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 for cooperation from the parents since it is crucial in keeping a check on their daily diet, regularity in sessions, and encouragement.
Condition yourself to the age level: Teaching soccer to the young players is generally between the age of 7 and 14. At this stage, it is difficult to come up with drills that engage their attention. So, you must think proactively to consider drills that are fun for the kids. 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 divide the group into teams and name them. This inculcates a sense of team spirit. 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. A documented plan goes a long way in measuring the progress of the players. If you need to modify anything, it can be easily done in a written document.
Also, with everything documented, it is easy to track your goals. 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. However, with proper planning and these essential tips handy, you will succeed at it without a doubt.
Test them right way. 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.