Coaching Youth Soccer: 8 Mistakes You Can't Make
Coaching Youth Soccer can be exciting and fun but there are important aspects every coach needs to take into consideration. Most of these are based in common sense and as a result, are pretty easy to remember:
1. Don't make speeches. If you're a youth soccer coach and your teaching young kids, it's especially important that you don't bore them with long speeches and lectures. This as nothing to do with your players age group. When it comes to making speeches and giving instructions, make it short and sweet.
2. Don't complicate things. If you're demonstrating an exercise, try to break it down to its basics. Complicated things never work and this is not different. You can test this by showing the kids a complicated soccer diagram of a drill with fancy arrows and dozens of instructions, you'll lose their interest.
3. Don't be a ball boy- this is essential. If you want to keep your players' respect, don't run after balls. Make your players go run and get the balls that they shoot out of the field. You can even make it a rule that if they score they don't have to catch it anymore for that day.
4. In case you have some kids to help in getting the balls, make sure they do not participate in the drills. This simply signals a laxity in discipline- ball boys are just there to get the ball. Some of these kids may want to join your drills. Let them know that they can join if they want to make part of the team in the future.
5. Never, ever criticize the player. If one of the kids makes something wrong, don't blame him. Point out the flaws in their technique or skill and do that calmly. Screaming at a player for being 'stupid' is a great way to make them want to leave your team.
6. While Coaching Youth Soccer, explain it clearly and as briefly as possible. Now make a demonstration for your players so they can implement it and perform it properly. Conversely, don't try and demonstrate something that you can't do.
7. Health and safety should always be foremost in a coach's mind. This means making sure that the ground and the equipment are in good shape before your soccer training session starts. Remember that if a kid sprains his ankle because the ground was slippery, then it's technically your fault.
8. Don't leave the parents out in the dark. Hold regular meetings with them to address concerns and to let them know about the upcoming games or events. Parents are a powerful ally when it comes to keep your coaching activities running smoothly.
When Coaching Youth Soccer, these are important aspects that every coach should consider. Learn how to literally explode your players' skills and make trining more fun in less than 29 days at SoccerDrillsTips . com.
About The Author:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching. If you want to learn how to explode your players' skills and make practice more fun and interesting, get your free Soccer Coaching guide at http://www.soccerdrillstips.com - Coaching Youth Soccer Drills.
Filed under Outdoor Sports by .