| winning vs. Winning in youth soccer | | | | in proper execution and team play than wins or |
| | | | | losses. Believe me if you can develop top individual |
| So you won the league championship, you got | | | | skills and good team play the goals will come. |
| the trophy the praise and all the hoopla that goes with | | | | You can make a decision at the start of the |
| it. But what did you really win? Could your team | | | | season to raise your team’s entire skill level as |
| compete and win against the best European and | | | | your goal for the season. The level of each individual |
| South American sides your age? Would a top youth | | | | player can be noted at the beginning and end of each |
| coach classify your competition as top notch? If so | | | | season. Be sure to give praise immediately when any |
| you are definitely going in the right direction and have | | | | improvements are noticed. This is a critical part of |
| done a great service to your young players. If not | | | | successful youth coaching. It is best to ignore any |
| you may want to rethink your game strategy. Is | | | | mistakes rather then criticize. If possible give proper skill |
| winning every game more important then | | | | demonstrations so players know what is expected of |
| concentrating on developing individual and team skills | | | | them. |
| that will last a life time? I tend to think that up until u14 | | | | 1. You can find this at |
| or u 15 developing individual and team skills should be | | | | In the end your players will remember you and |
| the most important aspect of youth soccer, not | | | | be grateful to you for what you did for them as |
| winning. Of course everyone wants to be a | | | | individuals in improving them as players and as a coach |
| champion, it is ingrained in the American Psyche. So | | | | you will feel the satisfaction of knowing you have |
| what do you do? You play to win but emphasize | | | | helped young players toward reaching their potential. |
| that skills come first and that you are more interested | | | | This is Winning. |