Before you get on with coaching soccer drills to kids, let me share with you some teaching ideas that are sure to help you, whether you agree or not. In your soccer practice, identify one goal that is common to both the team and the coach for example; to have a lot of fun while playing the game.
At this time, it’s essential to follow your goal and not feel distracted by other things. I therefore recommend that you decide on more specific objectives for yourself and your soccer team. For example; develop a sense of team spirit and a sporting attitude in your players, help them identify their individual soccer skills, and emphasize on improving their physical fitness.
Since you are the coach, you only are responsible for setting high standards of sportsmanship for players. Support them in developing a sporting attitude, a feeling of team spirit, and an attitude of fair play. There are several objectives important in teaching soccer that can be incorporated in your list along with these.
In coaching youth soccer, winning is also an important concept that should be paid due attention. Infuse an open concept of winning in your player’s minds when you are coaching them. Make them understand that so long as their play is up to the mark, they are the winners, irrespective of the final outcome.
The players as a result will feel totally relaxed but much more responsible to play the game sensibly with the team’s objectives in their mind.
When coaching soccer drills, always keep in mind the importance of giving clear and correct instructions if they are to be helpful. Before you start coaching your team, educate your players on some specific do’s and don’ts in the game of soccer. The dissimilarity between coaching and teaching lies in the fact that coaching is concerned with a group of players who are already familiar with the game to a certain extent.
In coaching drills, it’s best to give the players 5 or 6 fine demonstrations of some specific skill and then let them perform it themselves. This is because young players generally do not respond to oral instructions very well. If you try to explain everything as a lecture, they may not get it. Instead, they take demonstrations more enthusiastically.
Therefore, consider giving demonstrations wherever you can.
In the end, but still important is to keep the kids involved in several activities. This is all the more important when it rains or the weather is extremely cold. It’s a fact that all kids love to play in the rain. Therefore, in place of cancelling the training session, rearrange it in a way that the players make the most of their energy and time.
Just be sure that the kids have additional layer of clothing and proper shoes in situations like these.
Now get out there and start incorporating these teaching suggestions into your practice sessions. The results will make you happy.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Coaching soccer drills.
