Permit me a straight question. To coach youth soccer, what are the 3 things that a coach can do? Before you answer this question, it is important to know that youth soccer is all about letting the kids have fun. 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 instill the ability in the kids to become mature players.
Make the kids enjoy the game: As we talked about it earlier, having fun and enjoyment is the key to youth soccer. As a coach, prepare each of the sessions beforehand. For example, make them start with warm-up drills that prepare them for the sessions. Once done, instruct them to go ahead with the advanced drills such as passing the ball, dribbling with it and trapping etc.
To add to that, encourage the players to think creatively. Stimulate the kids to challenge themselves and if they fail, do not be harsh to them. Chat about it after the end of the session. It is also essential that parents are totally involved so that they can help in making the game enjoyable for the kids.
To coach youth soccer, it is vital because the players are more at home than on the field. Ask the parents to inspire the kids, keep a track of their diet, and be regular in their training sessions.
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, research a lot over what games you would like them to play. 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 always a great trick to divide them into teams and also give them individual names. This inculcates a sense of team spirit. It is recommended not to conduct a lot of experimentation also. The idea of a well-balanced session is to have both tried as well as new activities in it.
Document the Drills: You must always write down the sessions, drills, and the goals associated with them. It makes the efforts of the team worthwhile. A written document is always useful in determining the objectives of the team. When you have to revisit your plan, it is easy to do so when it is in a written form.
And then, it is super-easy to measure your goals. It is obvious that some things will not work out as you expected and you can always get back.
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.
Test them right way. These powerful techniques on coach youth soccer will make you successful and rope in great results. If you would like access to a mass of resources on youth soccer, join 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.