Coaching Youth Soccer
Coaching children at a young age is an extremely rewarding and challenging experience. Over the last two years I have had the privilege of organizing and coaching my son's soccer teams. These teams consisted of six, seven, and eight year old children, many of whom were playing soccer for the first time. Coaching inexperienced children is a unique challenge, and a good coach strives to give everyone a rewarding experience by establishing a positive foundation in soccer. Therefore, good coaches must be teachers, role models, and master communicators.When coaching children of this age it is important that three main teaching principles be maintained. First, fun. The players must have fun during practice and in the games. Their laughter and smiles will make them want to come back and continue to play the game over and over again. Second, participation. All players should be involved at all times. Long lines and long talks tend to create lapses in attention and draw focus away from the game or practice. Practice exercises must be designed so all players are actively involved and are not simply standing around. Third, success. It is essential that the players achieve a high level of success in the practices
Coaches must inform parents of their expectations and offer suggestions of ways they can support their child. Success is obtained by teaching the fundamentals of the game and nurturing a child's self-esteem. Likewise, tolerance and a winning attitude are contagious. Knowledgeable parents will make the coaching experience that much more enjoyable. When this goal is reached, and the team's personality is one of cooperation and enjoyment, a good coach finds that he is not the only one who is teaching and communicating. Participation in soccer promotes co-operation, enhances motor skills and provides opportunities for the development of many personal and social skills. Communicating with them early and often throughout the season is key to avoiding confusion. By adhering to these main beliefs, experiences in soccer at a young age can help develop self-esteem and confidence, as well as foster a positive attitude toward remaining physically active throughout life. Young players look to coaches for direction and often mimic their behavior. I suggest to parents to de-emphasize wining and losing, to be supportive and offer encouragement only, to play the game with their child outside of practice, and lastly to get their child to practices and games on time. Above all else, it must be made a pleasurable and enjoyable experience for the youngsters involved. Goals and objectives should be set and communicated to both the players and parents early in the season. A coach is often a mediator between any combinations of the aforementioned.
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