Let me ask you a simple question. To Coach youth soccer, what 3 things can 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.
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, prepare each of the sessions beforehand. To illustrate, engage the kids in warm-up exercises before making a move to the daily 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. 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 familiar with the age of the kids: Teaching soccer to kids is between the age of 7 to 14. At this stage, it is difficult to come up with drills that engage their attention. So, research a lot over what games you would like them to play. And then, make sure that you communicate in a very casual manner and instruct them in simple terms.
It makes sense to split the group into two and name them differently. This pumps in a sense of belongingness. It is recommended not to conduct a lot of experimentation also. A good session is one that has a mix of new and old time-tested techniques.
Write the exercises: It always pays to write the exercises on paper along with the results that you are expecting from them. It helps in developing a strategy for the team. The documentation also helps you in evaluating the progress of the players. When you have to revisit your plan, it is easy to do so when it is in a written form.
Also, with everything documented, it is easy to track your goals. It is natural that some things go wrong in which case, you can always retrace your steps.
It can be assumed that youth soccer coaching is a fun filled and challenging job. With these handy tips and techniques, you can easily tackle the job.
Analyze these tips straight away. These tips on coach youth soccer are guaranteed to bring you marvelous results. If you would like access to a mass of resources on youth soccer, join our youth soccer coaching community.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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 training fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Coach Youth Soccer