Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The moment you complete this article, you would be aware of all tricks of the trade in order to coach youth soccer. To teach kids the game of soccer is simple but it gets easy only when you are knowledgeable, experienced and skilled in sport. What follow are known strategies to teach youth soccer. Consistent application of these tricks will help you build up a great team.
Encourage learning: You have heard about it many times but what is the correct way to encourage learning? Allow the kids to take their own decisions and even if they falter, relax. Through this exercise, you are encouraging the kids to be more creative and most importantly, have fun.
Name the teams: Divide the groups into small teams which allow you to better coordinate the affairs. Also it is a great idea to give names to the teams as this inculcates a sense of association.
Measure success and failures: To coach youth soccer, you must have a definitive yardstick to measure the performance. One of the yardsticks could be an observation of whether the kids are having fun in training sessions. The kids could be playing only for the sake of it or actually having fun. Are they effectively picking up techniques of controlling, dribbling, and passing the ball?
Give incentives: These keep the kids going and even the advanced players, for that matter. At the same time, incentives may not necessarily be sizeable. For instance awarding the winner team with an hour’s additional break or leaving early for the day. Also, never give individual rewards. They do not work in soccer as some kids will always excel whereas others won’t. Substitute it with rewarding team’s hard work.
Managing bad behaviour: While teaching soccer, this part can prove to be disastrous for the entire team if not handled in time. For instance: a player not making it to the drills in time should not be ignored. Have him perform a simple act as a punishment to make others aware of such mistakes.
Similar is the case with parents, some of which may try to interfere a lot in the affairs of the team. Make everyone understand in order to avoid it. Take charge of the team by making all important decisions. But, involvement of parents to a certain level is also important.
Lead the team: It is expected from the players to emulate you in anything you do as they see you as their ultimate guide. So you must check your behavior. Always be nice and polite to team mates, fellow coaches, and opponents. Reach the ground for the practice sessions in advance or before the players. Never criticize the referee or the players when in a practice match.
Believe me, once you start to apply this to coach youth soccer, your team will reach the pinnacle of success, both in the practice sessions as well as real tournaments. Sign up now and get many such youth soccer tips, tricks and professional comments available at our youth soccer coaching community. You will find valuable insights into various aspects of youth soccer.
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: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com