By Mike Woitalla
“I got recruited to coach my kid’s soccer team. Any advice?” The most recent time I heard this question, it came from a parent of a6-year-old. It prompted me to put an answer in writing, based on some of the best insight I’ve gotten from coaches and players I’ve interviewed and observed over the years.
11 Tips for Coaching the Little Ones
1. If all you do is set up goals and have them play as much soccer as possible during that hour ofpractice — you’re doing a good job.
2. Familiarize yourself with the various age-appropriate games/exercises to facilitate individual skills — but don’t useones that bore the kids. And if it takes more than a minute for 6-year-olds to comprehend the activity — it’s the wrong one. (In other words, plan your practice but be ready to improvise.)
3. No lines, no laps, no lectures.
4. Enjoy yourself! If for some reason you’re grumpy, act like you’re enjoying yourself. Kids pick upon body language and you’ll get the best out of them if they sense you like being their coach.
5. Greet each player when they arrive in a way that lets them knowyou’re happy to see them.
6. Always end practice on an upbeat, happy note. (Even if they drove you absolutely crazy).
7. See the gamethrough the children’s eyes. This will remind you that your main objective is helping them discover the joys of soccer. And not to expect a 6-year-old to play like a 16-year-old!
8. Do not yell instructions at them! Do not coach from the sidelines during games! This interferes severely in their learning process. It also makes you look rather silly — an adultscreaming at 6-year-olds while they’re playing.
9. Sit down during games, instead of prowling the sidelines, which only creates tension that unnerves yourplayers.
10. Always have a first-aid kit (including ice-packs) with you.
11. Keep plastic bags in your coaching bag in case you need to pick up dogpoo.
YOUTH COACHING RESOURCES:
U.S. Soccer’s “Best Practices for Coaching Soccer in the United States” download HERE.
“US Youth SoccerPlayer Development Model”
AYSO
NSCAA
“U.S. Soccer Curriculum” download HERE.
View the Game as an Art, not a War (Book Review: Stan Baker’s “OurCompetition is the World”)
(Mike Woitalla, the executive editor of Soccer America, is co-author, with Tim Mulqueen, of
Soccer America on Twitter: Follow Soccer America | Mike Woitalla
Another great post, Mike. I really enjoy your youth coaching commentary. You nailed it on No. 1 – let them play! It was a challenge coaching teens to coaching U6 girls last fall, but now in my second season at that level, I really enjoy it. One thing maybe to include are games to help each player learn the names of their teammates. They find that fun and we do little passing games where they yell out the person they pass to before kicking the ball. Two other quick pieces of advice … have patience and a lot of it, and make sure parents/guardians stay for the entirety of practice. Thanks for the post.
This is great, thank you! I’ve coached little kids for a while and when I’m asked for advice I usually tell people to be positive, upbeat, patient and while certainly you should come prepared with a practice plan, be prepared to throw it out the window if it isn’t working. I absolutely love coaching little kids, and your point to just let them play and enjoy it is a huge one and seems to be a hard one to get across.
Further reading from Mike’s post – http://wp.me/p2F97F-4It is crazy that we really have to put all of this down, but unfortunately there are some ‘coaches’ out there who are training their U6 team to win the world cup.Enjoy and share Mike’s thoughts, and mine too please!
Great advice. Goose poop is a bigger problem and I’d add pony tail holders for players of both genders.