A question like how to coach soccer needs an answer as simple as the questions itself but we must make efforts to find a precise one. In any case, youth soccer coaching is not an easy job and it takes a lot of effort to keep the players motivated under all types of situations.
Let me share with you 5 simple yet great tips to help you take your team’s performance to the next level.
1. Your plans should be comprehensive: Make complete and methodical plans if you wish to get the desired results in coaching. Have a heart to heart discussion with the players when you sit down to discuss and decide the team’s objectives and the timelines to reach them. If the desired results are not achieved within the stipulated timelines, your team’s growth is hampered.
Once the plan is finalized, remain loyal to it but do keep some space for minor changes as and when required. There are unanticipated situations that require changes in even well made plans.
2. Make your practice sessions fun-filled and exciting: Even the best designed soccer training drills fail to produce any results when they are rigid, monotonous, and devoid of any fun and games. It is possible to incorporate this in many ways. For example, after the practice session is over, divide them into small groups and introduce fun games that not only relax their mind but also promote team spirit among them.
3. Both freedom and discipline should complement one another: A coach should always give priority to discipline in the team. But, what is important to understand is that freedom is also as important for the kids to feel strongly towards discipline. You should never undermine the importance of freedom and relaxation in teaching soccer.
Give the players sufficient time between the drills so that they can do their own stuff, interact with each other and simply relax. In preaching how to coach soccer, it is also extremely important to venture out with the kids on a picnic or an outdoor get together.
4. Maintain tolerance and support: Motivate your team to do new things and when these new things do not work out as expected, be cool about it. Keep scrutinizing their activities. If your intervention is necessary because the situation is out of control, correct it but without scolding the kids.
Keep in mind that angry behaviour leads to fearful players while compassion and encouragement leads to fearless players.
5. Balance things: It is in training sessions that kids get to know about their soccer skills and inherent talent. It is accepted that all the players in a team are different ranging from the best to the worst. It becomes your obligation as a coach to use your best players to improve the poor ones.
Group the bad players with the good ones so that the bad players learn from their good counterparts during and after the sessions. It is also important that there are no comparisons drawn out amongst players at any point in time.
Your objective now is to make sure that you use these tips to improve your approach about how to coach soccer.
To know more about youth soccer and the latest trends and techniques, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community.
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Youth Soccer Training.