Let me ask you a simple question. To coach youth soccer, what are the 3 things for the coach to do? Before you reply to this question, it is vital to understand that youth soccer means that kids should enjoy themselves. The concentration should be on turning the drills into enjoyable exercises so that the players get motivated.
Therefore, to teach youth soccer, take care of the following instructions. They will help you guide the young kids to becoming professional 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, design each of the sessions ahead of time. For instance, make the kids do some warm-up exercises to prepare them for the main 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. Stimulate the kids to challenge themselves and if they fail, do not be harsh to them. Discuss with them after the practice session is over. The support of the parents is also extremely crucial in achieving the fun objective.
To coach youth soccer, it is important since the kids will spend a considerable time with their parents off 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 age, it is a challenge to define the drills that actually catch 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 a good idea to divide the group into teams and name them. This inculcates a sense of team spirit. Also, do not experiment a lot. 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 makes the efforts of the team worthwhile. Recorded data is highly beneficial in depicting the performance of the players. When you have to revisit your plan, it is easy to do so when it is in a written form.
You can also follow your objectives easily. 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. However, with proper planning and these essential tips handy, you will succeed at it without a doubt.
Analyze these tips straight away. 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.
