How To Coach Youth Soccer
If you ever dreamt about coaching or if you’re planning to coach youth soccer, the basic requirement for a good coach is patience and an understanding of the basic fundamentals of Soccer. You cannot coach the game of soccer if you don’t understand the basics yourself. Having played the game is not enough because a good soccer player doesn’t necessary mean that you will be a good coach.
When coaching juniors, the main objective should never be winning.Young kids all over the world play because it’s fun. Children should always be encourage and given a platform to learn the basics of soccer. Winning should never be placed before development and enjoyment.
As a coach who is in charge of a young team, it is your duty to provide a pleasant atmosphere for the kids. Under no circumstance are you to criticize or yell at a child even if he is misbehaving or even if he has made an error.
Make sure you are equipped with a big smile and a fistful of encouragement. If you give your players a sense of worth they will inevitably repay you by training harder and listening to your instructions. The art of appreaciation cannot be underestimated. Use it and you will notice a significant improvement in your team.
It’s also wise to remember that all kids are different and have different personalities and playing capabilities. I’m not suggesting you favor any players but give them equal opportunities to learn the game. Each player should recieve the same amount of playing time and should be given every opportunity to become the next David Beckham irrespective of their skill levels.
Treat all young players equally and do not neglect any players for what ever reasons. Young children develop and mature at different ages so take this into account when training a group of about 16 players. Usually the children that don’t listen or seem more interested in horse play are the ones that go on to become superstars.
Not all kids are looking to become full time professionals. So you need to understand the playing group and establish some team goals. If you are coaching a bunch of kids that are searching for that elusive full time contract, then it would be in the best interest of the team that training is taken serious and good habits are taught from the start.
Soccer drills must also be used and designed to teach the basic skills of soccer while simultaneously keeping it fun. Soccer drills are the most important ingredient of any coaching manual. Make sure to keep the drills age relevant and make sure the drills are not complicated for your players.