| The start of the soccer season draws upwards of 19 | | | | seconds or less to young players. Quick short |
| million players to the fields - many for the first time. | | | | instructions are best.f. Give frequent water breaks. |
| Among these soccer warriors are the moms and | | | | This allows you to change the activity and keep the |
| dads that volunteer to serve as coaches. These | | | | kids interest fresh.g. Elevate your mind to the kids' level |
| well-intended surrogates, many with no soccer or | | | | and talk about the game in terms they'll understand. |
| coaching experience, are central to the success of the | | | | Use references to superheroes or relevant cartoon |
| season. Here are five crucial tips for first-time soccer | | | | characters to illustrate your points. You can't imagine |
| coaches: | | | | the progress when you put the game on their level. |
| 1. Team Meeting | | | | 3. Praise - not Criticize |
| Hold a team meeting with the parents. This is an | | | | Invest some time into getting to know your players |
| important first step to establishing dialogue with the | | | | personally. It will pay dividends in motivating them. Kids |
| team. You'll figure out straight away who will be your | | | | at younger ages respond to positive enforcement at |
| staunches allies and who may become troubling | | | | far greater levels than negative criticism. Use the |
| families. During this meeting, you must communicate | | | | "sandwich" technique when correcting an issue: 1 |
| your expectations for the season. Explain that the kids | | | | compliment, 1 critique finalized with 1 compliment. Kids |
| are your central focus and that the goal is to make the | | | | will learn and grow at their own pace. Exercise |
| season as fun and as developmental as possible. The | | | | patience in their skill development. |
| goal is to develop players. Winning or losing just | | | | 4. Make it Fun |
| happens to be a part of this development, but is never | | | | If you make it fun, the kids will learn and grow. Why? If |
| the goal. Since you are only one person, ask for | | | | your players love soccer, they'll play it in the backyard |
| assistant coaches. These people fulfill the important | | | | with mom and dad and sister and brother. This is |
| roles that will otherwise distract you from coaching: | | | | where the real development happens - in the |
| tying shoelaces, blowing noses and holding a hand for | | | | backyard. Imagine how each player will want to show |
| a bump or a bruise. Finally, before you leave, gather | | | | off their new move each week. As a coach, be as |
| the best contact information for each family as you will | | | | enthusiastic and positive as possible and you'll see the |
| encounter many different situations including separation | | | | kids faces light up. Turn them onto the game! You'll be |
| and divorce. | | | | amazed at the results. |
| 2. Plan your Sessions | | | | 5. End of Season Party |
| Inexperience in the sport either as a player or as a | | | | Hold an end of season party and recognize each |
| coach means that you have to be more prepared for | | | | player with a "funny award." This would include things |
| your sessions. Even experienced soccer players may | | | | like "Biggest Hustler", "Craziest Headballer", "Most |
| be new to coaching young players. It is a different | | | | Enthusiastic" but should never include "Best Player" |
| dynamic of holding the attention of young players that | | | | which only please one player and disappoint the rest. |
| may or may not want to be at practice. While | | | | You (and the players) will find it extremely rewarding |
| preparing:a. Focus on the basicsb. Don't be afraid to | | | | to see first hand the development over the course of |
| experiment if your plan isn't workingc. Don't form lines. | | | | the season. If the kids have had fun and you've turned |
| Lines are boring, allow only one player at a time to | | | | them onto the game of soccer, you have successfully |
| participate and will ensure players will lose interest.d. | | | | completed your job as coach. |
| Have a ball for every player. Soccer is an amazing | | | | Congratulations on your first (of many) successful |
| sport that everyone can play at once to grow and | | | | soccer seasons! |
| develop. One ball per player is critical.e. Talk for 30 | | | | |