| There are 3 problems that many youth soccer | | | | send out an email to the parents that you are going to |
| coaches face: | | | | play players in positions where you think they can best |
| - What to do if all of your players want to score? | | | | help the team and that your decision will be based on |
| - How to make every soccer position important | | | | their skill, bravery, speed, and who you think can best |
| - How to teach teamwork Instead of "Me First" | | | | help the team at each position. |
| A problem some youth soccer coaches have is that | | | | I would do 3 other things: |
| all their players want to play Forward. It is important to | | | | - Teach the Brazilian Team Goal Scoring Celebration |
| teach players that all soccer positions are important | | | | and Make Your Team Do It. Stress that scoring goals |
| and that teamwork is the key to being successful - | | | | is a team effort AND teach your players that when a |
| that is also an important life-lesson. If soccer players | | | | goal is scored that the ENTIRE team (including any |
| are selfish and only think of themselves, then you | | | | players on the sideline) should come together at the |
| won't have teamwork. | | | | Center Circle, form a circle with their arms on each |
| It is very important to dispel the notion that scoring a | | | | other's shoulders, and do a team cheer. This is what |
| goal is more important than playing good soccer | | | | the Brazilian National team does. |
| defense or making an assist. If the attitude is "me first", | | | | - Do NOT allow hot-dogging or grandstanding by the |
| then you won't have teamwork and your team will | | | | scorer such as running around to say "look at me". |
| never achieve its potential. Even in Rec soccer, soccer | | | | Unfortunately, you see that in professional matches |
| is a team sport and if everyone thinks the only soccer | | | | and on some national teams and it gives the wrong |
| position worth playing is Forward, then you won't have | | | | impression to young players. Tell your players that you |
| a good team because no one will be happy unless | | | | will NOT allow that because goals are a team effort |
| they are playing Forward, and you will never have | | | | and that you will bench anyone who does it. Goals |
| teamwork. | | | | often start with a play by the Goalie. The USA's |
| I have found that players and parents are happy when | | | | winning goal vs. Algeria was an example - the play |
| the team plays well and wins games, and are unhappy | | | | started with the Goalie throwing the ball to Landon |
| when the team loses most of its games. By U10 the | | | | Donovan. |
| parents should understand that you as a coach have | | | | - Use Iron On Soccer Patches to Motivate the |
| an obligation to the team and to every player to play | | | | Behavior You Want. When I coached, I used one-inch |
| kids in positions where the team will do best. At | | | | iron on patches to reward players for things such as |
| Forward you must have players who can score or | | | | great defense, hustle, teamwork, for playing their |
| you will lose. By U10, I don't think it is in the best interest | | | | positions and for listening to the coaches. I never gave |
| of the team or of the players to rotate players to all | | | | patches for goals scored because the scorers got |
| positions. I think it is better to put players in a position | | | | plenty of positive feedback and I did not want to |
| where they have a chance to be successful and I | | | | encourage everyone to think Forward is the most |
| think it is a bad idea to put a player in a position where | | | | important position. The patches really work to motivate |
| he or she is doomed to failure and might be ridiculed. | | | | players. There is more about this and other ideas for |
| If you agree with this approach then I recommend you | | | | encouraging teamwork at Soccer Help. |