Coaching Soccer For Dummies E-Book
17,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
Become an unforgettable soccer coach for kids of any age, with this complete guide
Coaching Soccer For Dummies is a quick and easy reference guide for anyone who wants to start coaching youth soccer—or start coaching better. Help kids 5 and older to improve their skills, work together, and have fun, no matter their experience level. You'll get a refresher on the rules of soccer, with tips on how to teach them to different age groups. Plus, you'll find drills and dynamic exercises you can use to improve the outcomes of your practice sessions. The title “Coach” comes with the responsibility to help players stay motivated and safe, all while building a respectful team culture and supporting kids' mental health. With Coaching Soccer For Dummies it's simple to do all that—and to develop a coaching philosophy that will help you give young players the support they need.
- Learn drills and techniques for teaching soccer skills to kids of all ages
- Get a complete rundown on safety, including proper form for injury prevention
- Establish a positive team culture, prevent bullying, and keep players motivated
- Communicate effectively with parents and other coaches
This book is the perfect choice for beginner or novice youth soccer coaches who are seeking guidance to help improve and develop their coaching skills.
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 678
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
Ähnliche
Coaching Soccer For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Coaching Soccer For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Stepping Up and Setting Up for Success
Chapter 1: Teaching Soccer to Children
It's All About the Kids — Always!
Doing Your Homework
Taking the Field
Balancing Parenting and Coaching
Chapter 2: Getting Organized
Developing a Coaching Philosophy
Getting to Know the League You’re In
Chapter 3: Getting Up to Speed with the Basics
Surveying the Field
Taking Up Positions
Rules of the Game
Examining Common Considerations for Younger Kids: League Specials
Part 2: Taking the Field: Making Every Moment Matter
Chapter 4: Meet the Parents
Calling a Preseason Parents’ Meeting Is Crucial
Introducing Yourself
Putting Together the Paperwork
Assembling Your Parent Posse
Going Over Equipment
Meeting Players’ Special Needs
Answering Parents’ Questions
Chapter 5: Getting to Know Your Team
Kids Have to Know You Care
The Art of Evaluation
Assigning Team Positions
Understanding and Working with All the Kids
Chapter 6: Running a Great Practice
Why Practices Matter
Kicking Off the Season with a Great First Practice
Acclimatizing Athletes
Coming to Practice Prepared
Putting Smiles on Their Faces: Selecting Winning Drills
Creating a Positive Atmosphere
Ending Practice on a Positive Note
Chapter 7: Getting Your Game On
Pre-game Responsibilities
Pre-game Team Meeting
Warming Up
The Whistle Blows!
The Halftime Speech
Winning and Losing Gracefully
The Post-game Talk
Chapter 8: Refining Your Approach at Midseason
Conducting the Midseason Review
Setting Goals for Your Players
Revising Your Practice Plan
Part 3: Focusing on the Fundamentals
Chapter 9: Teaching the Fundamentals
Focusing on the First-Timers
Teaching the Instep Kick
Ball Handling
Passing
Receiving
Shooting
Diagnosing Shooting Woes
Goalkeeping
Defending
Helping Kids Who Just Don’t Get It
Chapter 10: Fundamental Drills
Working at a Beginner’s Pace
Conditioning Your Players
Offensive Drills
Defensive Drills
Putting It All Together: A Sample Practice Session
Chapter 11: Coaching Offense 101
Building a Beginner Offense
Understanding Field Position
Moving the Ball Downfield
Different Styles of Offense You Can Run
Kicking the Offensive Skills Up a Notch
Chapter 12: Coaching Defense 101
Building a Solid Foundation
Different Types of Defenses You Can Run
Kicking the Defensive Skills Up a Notch
Chapter 13: Coaching Restarts
Initiating Offense
Playing Defense
Chapter 14: Taking Practice Drills to the Next Level
Offensive Drills
Defensive Drills
Putting It All Together: Sample Practice Session
Chapter 15: Implementing Advanced Drills
Conditioning Your Players
Challenging Drills
Part 4: Protecting Players and Conquering Coaching Challenges
Chapter 16: Keeping Kids Healthy and Injury-Free
Preventing Injuries
Recognizing Injuries
Watching the Weather
Following a Healthy Diet
Chapter 17: Dealing with Common Coaching Challenges
Dealing with Difficult Parents
Dealing with Problem Coaches
Dealing with Discipline Problems on Your Own Team
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Help Players Focus and Flourish
Pre-game Butterflies: Help ’em Fly in Formation
Ditch Don’t
Practice Pressure
Superman: Get Your Confidence Flex On
Fire Up the Markers (If Mom and Dad Approve!)
Sizing Up Self-Talk: Be Nice to Yourself
Brush Away the Bad Stuff
Fueling with Focus
The Benefits of Breathing — The Right Way
Vibrant Visualization
Chapter 19: (Almost) Ten Ways to Build Team Unity
Committing to the Community
Using Challenges to Build Connections
Lacing ‘em Up: Trading the Soccer Cleats for Running Shoes
Engaging in a Pre-Practice Primer
Ending with a Post-Practice Punctuator
Entering with Energy
Bantering at Brunch
Listening to Valuable Voices
Mastering Meaningful Messaging
Index
About the Authors
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 10
TABLE 10-1 Beginner “Passing and Shooting” Practice Plan
Chapter 14
TABLE 14-1 Intermediate Practice Plan
List of Illustrations
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: The field of play.
FIGURE 3-2: A standard line-up.
FIGURE 3-3: This attacker is offside for being ahead of the ball.
FIGURE 3-4: This attacker is onside, due to the positions of the defender and g...
FIGURE 3-5: The most common hand signals a referee and linesman use.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: The instep.
FIGURE 9-2: A child lines up, takes a shot, and follows through on their instep...
FIGURE 9-3: Show your players the right way to kick a soccer ball.
FIGURE 9-4: Dribble with the head up, scanning the field, not looking down at t...
FIGURE 9-5: Players most often use the inside of their foot to move the ball do...
FIGURE 9-6: Using the outside of the foot is a key skill for effective ball han...
FIGURE 9-7: Players have lots of options for dribbling the ball, including usin...
FIGURE 9-8: A short push pass using the inside of the foot.
FIGURE 9-9: For longer passes, the player kicks the ball with the instep.
FIGURE 9-10: Receiving a pass with a foot is an important step in the game of s...
FIGURE 9-11: The right and wrong way to receive a ball with the thigh.
FIGURE 9-12: Receiving the ball with the chest is tricky, because young players...
FIGURE 9-13: Knee flexing on backswing.
FIGURE 9-14: The follow-through.
FIGURE 9-15: Securing a loose ball on the ground.
FIGURE 9-16: Making a stop on a rolling shot along the ground.
FIGURE 9-17: These goalies demonstrate the right and wrong ways to play a ball ...
FIGURE 9-18: A proper defensive stance.
FIGURE 9-19: Defenders make poke tackles by extending their leg and knocking th...
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Figure 8s help players of all ages and skill levels enhance dribbl...
FIGURE 10-2: Fast footwork is an emphasis with Triple Triangles.
FIGURE 10-3: Dynamic Dribbling provides the entire team with the chance to hone...
FIGURE 10-4: Dribbling Frenzy features lots of action in close quarters to help...
FIGURE 10-5: Partner Passing helps prep players for making accurate passes with...
FIGURE 10-6: Tandem Touches helps players dial in on their one- and two-touch p...
FIGURE 10-7: Practicing Around the Clock.
FIGURE 10-8: Ball Touch helps players switch from offense to defense and back a...
FIGURE 10-9: A child gets a lot of practice with the Shadow and Steal exercise.
FIGURE 10-10: A child gets a lot of practice handling shots with Speed Saves.
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: An outlet pass enables a team to go on the attack quickly.
FIGURE 11-2: A through pass is sent to an open area of the field.
FIGURE 11-3: Driving is a technique players use when they have lots of open spa...
FIGURE 11-4: Square passes may not be exciting to execute, but they are vital f...
FIGURE 11-5: A crossing pass can put immediate pressure on a defense and lead t...
FIGURE 11-6: Overlapping pass options.
FIGURE 11-7: Shielding involves keeping your body between the ball and the oppo...
FIGURE 11-8: This player uses a chip pass to get the ball over a defender.
FIGURE 11-9: Using proper technique for an outside-of-foot pass can be awkward.
FIGURE 11-10: A simple give-and-go.
FIGURE 11-11: Heading a ball can be scary; make sure your players ...
FIGURE 11-12: While heading players have their arms out for balanc...
Chapter 12
FIGURE 12-1: You can see which areas of the field the players are responsible f...
FIGURE 12-2: The defender uses the block tackle against the player coming direc...
FIGURE 12-3: Successful shoulder tackles rely on using the entire body.
FIGURE 12-4: This player attempts to knock the ball away from their opponent wi...
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: This player demonstrates the appropriate way to start a throw-in.
FIGURE 13-2: Throw the ball in up the field, toward the opponent’s goal.
FIGURE 13-3: Use this Screen-and-Roll for your team’s throw-ins.
FIGURE 13-4: Your team can use several tactics when attempting a corner kick.
FIGURE 13-5: You can get creative when setting up your players to take a direct...
FIGURE 13-6: A number of options for taking an indirect free kick.
FIGURE 13-7: The goalie can help your offense by executing a successful clearin...
FIGURE 13-8: A goalie’s baseball throw is intercepted less often than a kick.
FIGURE 13-9: A sidearm throw is an option goalkeepers have for making long toss...
FIGURE 13-10: Goalkeepers use the roll for short passes to teammates.
FIGURE 13-11: When players form the wall, they help the goalie defend against a...
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: The offensive players try to keep both balls away from the defensi...
FIGURE 14-2: Duo Dribbling features lots of — you guessed it — dribbling, and t...
FIGURE 14-3: Diagonal Passing works on several skills at once.
FIGURE 14-4: Speed Passing works on several skills at once while featuring a fu...
FIGURE 14-5: The 2-on-1 starts with the goalie holding the ball.
FIGURE 14-6: Practicing the Give and Go.
FIGURE 14-7: Super Strikes helps players hone their attacking skills.
FIGURE 14-8: Players learn to bend and chip the ball to maneuver around obstacl...
FIGURE 14-9: Swerve and Strike gives kids the freedom to work on offensive move...
FIGURE 14-10: The player in the middle must have quick reactions in this exerci...
FIGURE 14-11: The player gets two chances to head the ball in this drill.
FIGURE 14-12: Rotate players during Race to the Cone so that they all play offe...
FIGURE 14-13: The defender has to make a quick decision when facing two attacke...
FIGURE 14-14: React and Run is a super challenging drill for defenders to bolst...
FIGURE 14-15: Mystery Saves gives goalkeepers lots of shots – and the team gets...
FIGURE 14-16: Read and React gives goalkeepers lots of practice handling all ty...
FIGURE 14-17: Goalie’s Delight enables goalies to see a lot of shots in a short...
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Soccer-style Horseshoes focuses on passing and receivi...
FIGURE 15-2: The offense has a good chance of scoring with the 3-on...
FIGURE 15-3: Power Possessions gives players lots of opportunities for attackin...
FIGURE 15-4: Manic Middle gives players the chance to work on both their passin...
FIGURE 15-5: Super Strikes is a terrific drill for helping players create good ...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: The carioca is a challenging exercise that targets the...
FIGURE 16-2: The forward hamstring lean enables players to stretch ...
FIGURE 16-3: The walking lunge is a terrific exercise to help preve...
FIGURE 16-4: Squats help strengthen players’ legs and core.
FIGURE 16-5: The frog stretch targets players’ groins.
FIGURE 16-6: The seated hamstring stretch enables players to focus ...
FIGURE 16-7: The seated groin stretch is an important part of a coo...
FIGURE 16-8: The hip flexor stretch covers several important areas ...
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Begin Reading
Index
About the Authors
Pages
iii
iv
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
Coaching Soccer For Dummies®, 2ndEdition
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2026 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies.
Media and software compilation copyright © 2026 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 750-4470, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
The manufacturer’s authorized representative according to the EU General Product Safety Regulation is Wiley-VCH GmbH, Boschstr. 12, 69469 Weinheim, Germany, e-mail: [email protected].
Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ.
For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit https://hub.wiley.com/community/support/dummies.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Control Number is available from the publisher.
ISBN 978-1-394-37025-2 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-394-37031-3 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-394-37026-9 (ebk)
Introduction
Welcome to Coaching Soccer For Dummies, a book dedicated to volunteer coaches everywhere who work with kids in the wonderful sport of soccer. We hope you find this book informative, entertaining, and — most important of all — useful in helping ensure that every child on your team has a fun, safe, and rewarding experience. After all, that’s what it’s really all about.
About This Book
We wrote this book for first-time volunteer soccer coaches looking for guidance before they step on the field, as well as for coaches who’ve been on the sidelines for a season or two and are interested in gaining more insight on specific areas of the game to benefit their young squads. If you’re new to the sport, you may be somewhat nervous or a bit apprehensive about what you’re getting yourself into. You can take comfort in knowing that this book will kick those concerns to the curb and fully prepare you to enjoy a rewarding season with your team. Each chapter is filled with useful and straightforward information. The more chapters you knock off, the more knowledgeable you’re going to be about this great game, how to teach it, and how to help young players embrace learning it.
We also have plenty of information for long-time coaches who’ve spent countless evenings at the local soccer fields. We wrote plenty of chapters specifically for you, covering everything from drills you can employ to upgrade individual skills to examining in detail the various systems of play that are available and how to choose the one that best fits your team’s talent level.
One of the neat things about this book is that you can jump in anywhere. If you’re a rookie coach, you probably have several questions swirling around in your head on everything from how to plan an effective practice to what to say to the team after a loss. Just check out the table of contents or the index for the topic you want to read about and then flip right there to get the scoop. Each chapter is divided into sections, and each section contains information on a specific topic concerning coaching youth soccer.
We’ve also packed this book full of diagrams of practice drills and plays that you can work on with your team. The following chart is the key to understanding all the squiggles and lines:
Foolish Assumptions
Here are some things that we assume about you:
You know that soccer is played primarily with the feet and involves lots of running.
You have a child who’s interested in playing soccer this year, but you’re unsure how to go about teaching them the game.
You’re a novice youth soccer coach, and you need to get your coaching skills up to speed.
You don’t have any aspirations of climbing the coaching ladder and overseeing a high school or college soccer team in the near future.
You may have played the sport during your youth, but the highest level you reached was your high school team.
You want the basics on things like what to do during the first practice of the season, how to determine who plays where, and whether teaching youngsters how to head a ball is safe.
If any of these descriptions hits the mark, you’ve come to the right place.
Icons Used in This Book
This icon signals valuable tips that can really enhance your coaching skills. If you’re scanning a chapter, take a moment to read these tips when you come across them and then put them to work.
When you’re coaching youth soccer, you have a lot to comprehend. This icon alerts you to key information that’s worth revisiting.
Watch out! This icon alerts you to situations that can be dangerous or derail your instruction.
Soccer can be a pretty complex game, particularly at the more competitive levels, so at times throughout this book, we present some rather technical information. You may want to skip some of this information if your young squad isn’t ready to get too in-depth in the game.
Beyond the Book
In addition to the abundance of information that we provide in this book, you get access to even more help and information online at Dummies.com. Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet. Just go to www.dummies.com and search for “Coaching Soccer For Dummies Cheat Sheet.”
Where to Go from Here
If this season is your first on the sidelines as a volunteer youth soccer coach, you may be most comfortable digging in with Chapter 1 and moving forward from there. Please note, though, that the book is structured so that you can easily move around from chapter to chapter at your convenience. So if you need answers to some of your most pressing early-season questions, you can scan the table of contents or index for those topics and jump right to those chapters.
Part 1
Stepping Up and Setting Up for Success
IN THIS PART …
Create a kid-first coaching philosophy.
Lead your team to a fun-filled, safe, and memorable season.
Chapter 1
Teaching Soccer to Children
IN THIS CHAPTER
Preparing to coach
Planning for your practices and games
Coaching your own child
Congratulations on your decision to coach a youth soccer team this season. You’re embarking on a wonderful journey that can be filled with many special moments that both you and your players — regardless of their age or skill level — will savor and remember for the rest of your lives.
Before you step on the field, you need to be aware that you’re taking on a very important role: Ensure that the season is memorable for all the right reasons. How you manage the youngsters on your team and the way you interact with them during practices and games affect how they feel about the sport and even themselves for years to come. How you handle the lengthy list of responsibilities that comes with the job either helps them develop an unquenchable passion for the game or drains their interest in ever participating again.
All you need — besides a bunch of soccer balls and endless enthusiasm — is some good information to guide you through the season. In this chapter, you find useful, straightforward insight and tips to help you and your team have a safe, fun, and rewarding season.
It's All About the Kids — Always!
Coaching a youth soccer team is all about meeting the needs of all the players all season long, but that’s a lot trickier than it sounds. You may not have considered lots of factors that can wiggle their way into a season and be disruptive and even destructive. Being aware of the biggies is key so you can prep to prevent them from sabotaging your season.
For starters, you’ve got to ditch your ego (we all have them!). This season is not about you, how knowledgeable you may be about the sport, how great of a soccer player or all-round athlete you were, what a savvy soccer strategist you consider yourself to be, or how many wins you can lead your team to this season. While you naturally want to look good in front of the parents, it’s important to keep in mind that your team’s won–loss record is not a reflection of your coaching acumen.
The best barometer of your coaching skills and impact is whether the kids on your team learn and develop soccer skills and either want to play again next season or bail on the sport. (And when they are clamoring to play for you again, that’s the biggest win of all!)
But once the scoreboards are turned on, and there’s that game day buzz of excitement swirling in the air, remembering who the season is all about can get murky. (In Chapter 4, we share all-important information on crafting a kid-first coaching philosophy — and sticking to it.)
Doing Your Homework
Whether you volunteered to coach youth soccer this season because you want to spend more time with your child or because the league has a shortage of coaches and you’re willing to step forward, you’re accepting a massive responsibility that you can’t take lightly. Before you roll out the soccer balls at your first practice, you have plenty of work to do behind the scenes to ensure that the season gets off to a smooth start and stays on course.
Working with — and not against — parents
The overwhelming majority of parents with children involved in organized youth soccer programs are a supportive and caring group who want only the best for their children. Of course, parents in the minority can turn out to be a source of season-long aggravation that you may be forced to deal with. You can head off many potential problems by gathering the parents together before the season begins and laying the ground rules on your expectations for behavior during games, how they can best support their child and the entire team, and how some can even assist you in helping provide a fun-filled and productive season for everyone.
Coaches and parents finding ways to work together — the adult form of teamwork — is a formula that produces tremendous benefits for the youngsters. Coaches and parents who clash over everything from playing time to why Junior isn’t getting to be the goalkeeper spoil the experience for that child and quite possibly others as well. Kids sense tension and turmoil among adults, and when negativity seeps into the team’s practice sessions or envelops game day, fun is squashed and interest in continuing with the sport dwindles.
With parents, keep the following in mind:
Be proactive with them.
Outlining your expectations and coaching methods before the season paints a clear picture to parents about how you plan to handle the season. When parents hear firsthand that you’re a processed-based coach committed to skill development over winning (we go more in-depth on that in
Chapter 4
) and that you adhere to the league’s equal-playing-time rule, you leave no room for petty squabbles over how much playing time their children receive. Playing time is the No. 1 headache maker for youth coaches and if you don’t jump out in front of this before the season starts and clarify your approach for parents, you’re asking for a heap of trouble — and you’ll get it, too. In
Chapter 2
, we help you develop your coaching philosophy and become familiar with your league so that you can clearly communicate these points to the parents.
Involve them.
Parents invest a lot of time and money in their child’s soccer experience, and being included (instead of simply watching practice from the car or dropping their youngster off and then running errands) makes it far more worthwhile to them and their children. Parents can do more than bring treats after the game, too. Find ways to involve them at your practices and recruit the right ones to assist you on game day; doing so helps you turn the season into a rewarding one for everyone involved. Throughout the book, you can find tips on boosting parental involvement, from practice drills that have team parents sticking around (see
Chapter 6
) to working with parents at higher levels of play.
Communicate with them. Besides a preseason parents’ meeting (which you can read all about in Chapter 4), keep the communication lines open all season long. Talk to the parents about the kids’ progress; share your thoughts on where they really make improvements; offer suggestions for things they can do to help their youngsters develop in other areas; and check in from time to time to find out whether their children are having fun playing for you. You can even send a short weekly email with a rundown of what skills you will be focusing on in practice that week to help keep parents in the loop.
Sharing honest feedback is a two-way street: While you’re speaking openly and honestly about their child, be willing to listen to what parents have to say about your coaching and the impact you’re having on their child. Perhaps during your parental conversations you can pick up some valuable nuggets on areas you can focus on to have a greater impact with specific children. Including parents in all facets of the season is the right thing to do and the smart thing to ensure that their children have positive experiences. In fact, we suggest that you meet 1-on-1 with each parent as part of your midseason progress review (see Chapter 8).
Suggest to parents that they abide by a 24-hour rule. If something upsets them at practice or in a game, encourage them to wait until the following day to address the issue with you. This waiting period helps calm the emotions of the moment and usually leads to more productive conversations.
Despite your best efforts, problems may arise with parents. Our advice is to remain calm and in control of your emotions and never allow situations to escalate. Check out Chapter 19, where we help you troubleshoot this issue and other problems coaches are most likely to face throughout the season.
Deciphering rules and mastering terminology
You’ve taken the job of teaching kids the world’s most popular sport, but perhaps you never played organized soccer growing up. Therefore, to fulfill your responsibilities, you have to get a good handle on the basics of the game and be able to explain rules, introduce terminology, and teach strategies to your young players. Sound complicated? It isn’t; it just takes a little time and effort on your part to learn some of the quirky rules (like offside) and some of the terms (like corner kicks and indirect free kicks) that are at the heart of this great game. We open up the rulebook in Chapter 3 and cover all the terms that you need to know. And we concentrate on the skills, techniques, and strategies that you need to pass along to your kids throughout Parts 2 and 3 of this book. Whether you need to brush up on fundamental skills for a beginning team or work out a defensive formation when you play against that high-octane older squad, we have you covered.
One of the most important steps you can take is to find out what special rules your league operates under. Quite often, the rules that leagues utilize vary depending on the age and experience level of the players. Everything from the size of the field, to the number of players on it, to which rules are enforced changes from community to community. Knowing these rules — and sharing them with your players (and parents, too!) — makes a tremendous difference in your players’ enjoyment of the sport and the parents’ understanding of what is happening on the field. Many parks and recreation departments modify rules for their program based on the age of the kids, such as banning heading or not allowing cleats to be worn. Some programs are conducted under the guidance of national organizations and utilize their rules. Each state also has a governing body for youth soccer that provides resources and information.
Taking the Field
Coaching youth soccer is all about the kids: connecting with them, motivating them, inspiring them, teaching them, having fun with them, and cultivating a lifetime love of soccer and healthy physical activity. What you say and do from day one through the course of the season has a major impact on whether these kids take a great interest in the sport and continue playing it for years to come or choose to turn their backs on it.
Practice planning
The drills you choose to teach kids skills and the manner in which you go about designing your practices influence your team’s enjoyment and progress during the season. Action-packed practices that kids look forward to with the same enthusiasm as the first day of summer vacation promote learning and skill development. On the other hand, practices that you scramble together in your car in the parking lot five minutes before the players begin arriving stifle learning and smother fun. While working with your team, keep the following thoughts in mind to help squeeze the most out of your sessions:
Be more than a coach.
Although you’re teaching your players the basics of the game, you also have the opportunity to impact their lives in so many other important areas. While they warm up, talk to them about the importance of doing well in school and ask them what their favorite subjects are. Taking a genuine interest in who they are outside of sports helps establish those special coach–player relationships. And the more kids feel that their coach is invested in them and cares about more than whether they can score goals or play great defense, the more rewarding the experience for all involved. Plus, kids tend to play harder for those coaches who they recognize want the best for them both on and off the field.
Create a positive atmosphere.
Turn your practices into sessions in which youngsters can make mistakes without the fear of being criticized or yelled at in front of their teammates. Letting the kids know from the first practice of the season that making mistakes is part of the learning process allows them to relax and, in the process, helps them learn skills more quickly and perform better. Remind players — and parents! — that if there aren’t any struggles, challenges, or difficult times, no growing or developing isn’t taking place. Players don’t improve if they aren’t nudged out of their comfort zone and forced to adapt and work on new skills and techniques of the sport.
Choose drills that keep kids moving at all times and are challenging enough to hold their interest while also promoting skill development and building on what they have learned. Drills that force kids to stand in line awaiting turns are not only boring, but also dramatically cut down on the number of touches of the ball each child receives, which minimizes learning. Sometimes drills require lines, but always strive to keep those as short as possible. With older players, any drill that features a scoring system usually ignites more focus and effort by making it game-like. Check out Chapters 10, 14, and 17, where we provide all sorts of drills and ideas for beginning, intermediate, and advanced players.
Game day
Coaching is about constantly adapting to ever-changing conditions, and that’s most evident on game day, when you’re challenged to make all sorts of decisions in a short period of time. With younger kids just starting out in the sport, you want to make sure you rotate them around to all the different positions so they can experience the sport from a variety of perspectives. With the older kids, you may find yourself making halftime adjustments and determining whether a more aggressive approach serves the team best in the second half or whether a more defense-oriented style of play is warranted. But don’t worry; we help you handle it all in Chapter 7.
Game day provides many great teachable moments for the kids. It gives you a chance to reinforce some of the points you talk about all week during practice, such as the importance of working as a team, displaying good sportsmanship toward the opposing team and the officials, abiding by the rules, doing your best at all times, and having fun regardless of what the scoreboard reads. And, remember, players take their cues from you. So, if you’re smiling, relaxed, and having fun and you’re treating the officials with respect no matter the calls being made, your players will be more likely to behave in a positive manner, too.
Balancing Parenting and Coaching
We certainly don’t have to tell you that being a parent is a difficult job, but here’s what we can share with you: Coaching your son or daughter’s soccer team is equally tricky. After you step inside the white lines and your child straps on the shin guards, you’re likely to encounter an assortment of issues, especially at the older and more advanced levels of play. We hope most of them are minor, but some may be problems that you never even dreamed of dealing with before. Don’t panic! Although coaching your child can be complex and confusing, it can also be, if handled properly, an extremely rewarding experience for both of you. Sure, you’ll probably experience occasional bumps along the way, but if the two of you work together, you’ll enjoy some very special memories to savor for a lifetime.
And take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. Approximately 85 percent of all volunteer soccer coaches have their own sons or daughters on the team, so you’re venturing into common parenting territory.
Kicking around the decision with your kid
At the beginning levels of youth soccer, many programs are desperate for volunteers, so stepping up to take over a team is a wonderful way to support your local recreation department and have a positive impact in the community. Plus, your child who is new to soccer will probably think it’s pretty cool having mom or dad as the coach. But as kids gain experience in the sport, taking on coaching roles with your children’s teams brings on many new challenges. So before you decide to assume the role of soccer coach, sit down with your child and gauge how they feel about you overseeing the team this season. If you don’t ask them how they feel, you’ll never know. Many youngsters are thrilled to have their dad or mom as coach as they progress through the sport, and if you see that sparkle in your child’s eyes when you bring the subject up, that makes the decision an easy one and all the time and effort you put into the season well worth it.
On the other hand, some children — for whatever reason — aren’t going to feel comfortable with the idea and would prefer that their parents don’t coach the teams. Take your child’s wishes into account before making the decision to step forward. As much as you may love coaching, you don’t want to take on the role if it’s going to drive your child from the sport.
Here are a few tips to help you reach the right decision on whether you and your child are ready for you to coach their team this season:
With your child’s help, put together a list of all the positives and negatives about being the coach.
On the positive side, you may list that the two of you will be spending more time together than before and that, as the coach, you’ll ensure that your child and the rest of the team have fun as they learn new skills. Resolve the negatives by working with your child to develop solutions. For instance, your child may expect to play a certain position simply because you’re their parent. Explain that you must be fair to everyone and can’t show favoritism and that your child and their teammates will have an equal chance to play different positions.
Examine your motivations.
Don’t take on the task of coaching your child if your goal is to make them a star. Harboring thoughts of college scholarships and athletic stardom is simply a blueprint for trouble. Plus, coaches have the all-important responsibility of helping every player on the team, not just their own.
Explain to your child that being the coach is a great honor.
The fact that they’re “sharing” you with the other kids during games and practice sessions doesn’t mean you love them any less. Explain to him that your responsibility is to help all the players on the team. Taking the time to explain your role to your child helps promote better understanding and reduces the chance of problems arising after the season gets under way.
Listen to your child’s concerns.
Some kids may be hesitant to have their parents on the sidelines for all sorts of reasons, so listen to what they have to say. They may feel added pressure to excel having their parent as the coach, or perhaps they want the experience of playing for a new coach if they have already played a season with you leading the way. If you’ve already had the chance to coach your child, sometimes it’s good to step back and allow them to gain the experience of playing for somebody else.
After the two of you talk things through, take your child’s thoughts seriously. If they still aren’t comfortable with the idea, push your coaching aspirations to the side for the time being. You can revisit the subject with them the following season to measure their feelings. Just because they aren’t ready this season doesn’t mean they won’t want you guiding their team next season or at some point in the future. The last thing you want to do is turn your child off to the sport and make them uncomfortable.
Focusing on family-friendly field rules
If you and your child agree that having you grab the coaching reins is a good move, keep these tips in mind as you navigate through the season:
Remember that you’re still the parent.
Whether the team wins or loses, you have to step out of coaching mode and remember that first and foremost, you’re a parent — and that means asking your child whether they had fun and praising them for doing their best and displaying good sportsmanship. Take your child out for that post-game ice cream or pizza whether they scored a goal or tripped over the ball on a breakaway.
Keep talking.
To effectively monitor how the season is going, you want your child to understand that they can come to you with a concern or problem at any time. Just because you’re the coach doesn’t mean that certain topics are now off limits.
Don’t push practice at home.
If your child has a bad practice, you may be tempted to work with them on specific skills as soon as you get home. Never push your child in this direction. In casual conversation, ask them whether they want to spend a few extra minutes practicing a certain skill that may be giving them a bit of trouble. If they do, that’s great, but if not, let it go. Pushing your child to perform extra repetitions can drain their interest in the sport.
Never compare siblings or teammates.
Let your child develop at their own rate. They should never feel burdened by your expectations to control or kick a soccer ball as well as their sibling did at this age, or as well as the neighbor next door who is also on the team. These types of comparisons can crush self-esteem and smother confidence.
Praise, praise, praise!
Be sure to praise your child’s willingness, understanding, and cooperation in this special venture. Coaching your child can be one of the most rewarding experiences you ever have, even though it isn’t always easy.
Be careful with car conversations.
A lot of adults have the natural tendency to replay the game on the drive home, and that’s perfectly okay if the youngster is an enthusiastic participant in the discussion. But if the game didn’t go as well as you planned or your child had one of those difficult days on the field that all athletes experience from time to time, refrain from dissecting every mistake and don’t spend the ride probing the youngster for reasons why the team lost or why they didn’t perform up to the best of their ability.
Refrain from pushing too hard.
All parents naturally want their kids to excel, no matter what the activity. In a sport like soccer, sometimes parents go overboard and take their newfound coaching position to the extreme by viewing the position as a chance to control their child’s destiny. When this happens, the youngster’s experience is unfairly compromised because the parent typically pushes them harder than the other kids, demands more from them, and piles on criticism when they’re unable to fulfill the unfair expectations. When parents lose sight of the big picture of what youth soccer is all about, problems materialize that impact the child’s emotional well-being, as well as their interest in learning and playing soccer.
Evading the extremes
Coaching your kid can be a great experience for both of you, but the job can feel a bit like walking a tightrope at times as you try to avoid two common traps that many coaches (especially coaches who are unfamiliar with their roles) tend to fall into. Ideally, your behavior should fit somewhere between these two extremes:
Providing preferential treatment:
Parents naturally lean toward showing preferential treatment to their own children, whether they realize it or not. Typically, they give their children extra playing time, shower them with more attention during practices and games, and assign them special duties, such as team captain. Showing favoritism throws your child into a difficult spot with their teammates and weakens team camaraderie.
Overcompensating to avoid the preferential-treatment label:
Coaches can also go too far out of their way to ensure that no one thinks they’re giving preferential treatment to their children. Quite often, the coach reduces their child’s playing time or gives their child less 1-on-1 instruction during practices. Taking away playing time from your child to steer clear of the favoritism issue does, in effect, create a negative atmosphere for your child. They will question why you’re punishing them unfairly.
GAME-DAY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
Ideally, your child is looking forward to game day. Keep in mind that the conversations you have with your child on game day — whether at the breakfast table or in the minivan on the drive to the game — have the power to either minimize nervousness and ensure a fun and relaxed demeanor or to fuel stress and hamper your child’s ability to perform. Here are a few questions that result in positive game-day discussions:
What are you most looking forward to about the game? Your child’s response speaks volumes about their state of mind and often provides valuable insight on the mood of the entire team. If your youngster seems overly uptight, the rest of the team may be as well. Perhaps this apprehension stems from the extra emphasis you’re unknowingly putting on this game or the way you’ve been interacting with the kids during practices recently. Listen to your child’s response, but also pay attention to the tone of their voice and body language.How about trying that new skill today, if you get a chance? I’m looking forward to seeing it. Genuinely and enthusiastically letting your child know that you can’t wait to see them put their new skill to use is a real confidence-booster. This comment shows your child that you’re pleased with how they’ve picked up the skill, and it gives them that little extra impetus to want to use it during the game.Where do you want to go after the game? Getting your child’s input on where they would like to grab a post-game burger or pizza is a powerful reminder that no matter how the game goes, you’re going to enjoy spending time together through the wonderful sport of soccer. These types of subtle reminders help free kids up to do their best, fully enjoy the competition, and not be so worried about making mistakes.While it can be difficult, refrain from launching into a post-game analysis of everything that happened on the field the moment your child hops in the car. Dissecting plays and decisions before you are even out of the parking lot — especially if your child struggled or the team performed poorly — can put a real damper on the day. Instead, give the young athlete a chance to rest and reflect and let them bring up the game whenever they are ready to do so. Discuss the rocky patches if they want to, but always remember to keep your comments positive and supportive. Focus on aspects of the game that are under your child’s control, such as praising their effort, attitude, and teamwork, and let them know that you really enjoyed watching them compete and do their best.
Chapter 2
Getting Organized
IN THIS CHAPTER
Creating a coaching philosophy
Understanding the specifics of your league
Coaching a squad of young soccer players involves more than showing up with energy, enthusiasm, and a trunk filled with soccer balls. To be one of those coaches whom kids look up to and look forward to seeing all season long, you have to do a lot of preparation prior to the first practice of the season.
First, think about why you got involved this season, what you hope to accomplish, and what your approach is going to be to help your team get there. Have you assumed the coaching role because you genuinely want to help kids learn and develop skills in a fun and safe environment, or because you want to make a run for the league title? What’s your take on playing time, motivating players, and creating a positive atmosphere?
This chapter considers those aspects, and many others, which form the basis of your coaching philosophy. Having a kid-first philosophy in place and sticking to it as best you can set the tone for a good season. The league you’re coaching in also dictates a portion of your philosophy, which is why gathering as much information as you can about the league’s policies before you step on the field is important. Being involved in a league that promotes values that you want to impart to your team is critical for everyone’s enjoyment.
Developing a Coaching Philosophy
Creating a coaching philosophy is fairly simple. Living up to it all season long is the tricky part. What’s a coaching philosophy? Basically, it reflects the standards you set for yourself and your team, and it’s the foundation of your coaching values and beliefs.
Entering the season without a coaching philosophy is like driving across the country without GPS. Sure, you eventually arrive at your destination, but not without wasting a lot of time and energy with wrong turns and unnecessary problems and aggravation along the way. A thoughtful coaching philosophy keeps you on the right track as you negotiate your way through the season. In the following sections, we introduce the various components to consider when developing a philosophy that stresses respect, sportsmanship, skill development, and safety.
Even with a carefully planned philosophy firmly in place, adhering to it at all times can be difficult. Challenges show themselves when Billy’s mom confronts you halfway through the season about why the team isn’t winning more games or when Jennifer’s dad questions why the lesser-skilled kids are receiving as much playing time as the team’s best players. (Explaining your coaching philosophy to the parents before the season gets under way, which we discuss in Chapter 4, helps you steer clear of many of these potential headaches.)
Your coaching philosophy speaks volumes about you — not only as a coach, but also as a person. Take the time to put some real thought into it; you’ll be glad you did. Lead your players in the direction you know is right. Strive to instill in them the values that you want your own kids to exhibit throughout their lives. Accomplish this goal, and regardless of how many games you win this season, you and your team will be winners in the truest sense.
Tailoring your philosophy to your age group
Although each child has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, all youngsters possess general characteristics that are dictated by age. Children are continually changing, and part of your responsibility as a coach is to know what to expect both physically and emotionally from youngsters at various age levels.
Being fully aware of the general age-related differences we cover in the following pages enhances your coaching skills and your ability to relate to your team. It also ensures that you don’t favor the players on your squad who are more mature and skilled at the expense of players who are less skilled and developed.
No matter what the age or skill level of your players, the foundation of your coaching philosophy never changes. It starts with always being supportive and enthusiastic and putting the kids first. Pile on the praise, challenge them, and never stop encouraging them. This approach builds their confidence and self-esteem, and whether they’re 6 or 16, you give them a gift that will last for years to come.
Ages 6 and under
Children in the 6-and-under age bracket have probably never played soccer, and this season may be their first experience in an organized team setting. Your job is to introduce them to some of soccer’s most basic elements and whet their appetite for future participation. (We cover the fundamentals that you can focus on with this age group and those aged 7 to 9 in Chapter 9.) Children at this age generally aren’t concerned about how their soccer skills compare with those of the others on their team; they’re primarily interested in being with friends and having fun learning and playing the sport. Competition is usually the furthest thing from their mind, which is why most beginner soccer leagues don’t keep game scores or standings for this age group.
Ages 7 to 9
Youngsters in the 7-to-9 age bracket start focusing on mastering some of the basics of the sport. They crave feedback from coaches and parents on how they’re performing certain skills and how they’re progressing with new ones. They begin noticing their teammates’ abilities and skill levels. When coaches verbally recognize one of their peers for properly executing a skill, the kids want to earn that same feedback. The desire to compete carries much more prominence for some youngsters in this age range than others. Children who have older siblings may be particularly competitive because they’ve watched their brothers and sisters compete in soccer or other sports, and now it’s finally their turn to display their skills.
Ages 10 to 12
More than likely, children ages 10 to 12 have had some experience playing soccer and are continuing with it because the sport has piqued their interest. Keep the positive momentum going by adding to their foundation of skills. Fuel their desire to continue playing by conducting practices that are both challenging and fun.
Quite often, sports take on added importance at this juncture in their life, and they really want to do well. (For more on skills and drills with this age group, see Chapters 11 through 14.) As children hit this age range, many become more competitive, and winning and losing take on more importance in their lives. They begin embracing the challenge of putting their skills to the test and trying to outperform other kids their age. When they help the team prevail, they feel immense satisfaction accompanied by a unique feeling of accomplishment that can be attained only through the wonderful world of playing youth soccer.
