Before you get on with coaching soccer drills to kids, let me share with you some teaching ideas that are sure to help you, whether you agree or not. Work out a common objective for the team as well as yourself as a coach, for instance; during soccer practice the players must enjoy the game while they are a part of it.
At this time, it’s essential to follow your goal and not feel distracted by other things. I therefore recommend that you decide on more specific objectives for yourself and your soccer team. For example; develop a sense of team spirit and a sporting attitude in your players, help them identify their individual soccer skills, and emphasize on improving their physical fitness.
Since you are the coach, you only are responsible for setting high standards of sportsmanship for players. Cheer them to have an attitude of fair play, sportsmanship, and team spirit. There are several objectives important in teaching soccer that can be incorporated in your list along with these.
Winning is another important concept that I’d like to emphasize in coaching youth soccer. Infuse an open concept of winning in your player’s minds when you are coaching them. Let them know that to be tagged as winners, they must focus on playing their best game and not worry about the results.
It has the effect of encouraging the players to give it their best shot and play the game without unnecessary pressure to win anyways.
Coaching soccer drills requires you to give clear and precise instructions to your team so that they get the desired results. There are some clear dos and don’ts in soccer on which the players must be taught before you go ahead with your coaching sessions. The difference in coaching and teaching is that the former is done with a group of players who are already familiar with the basic skills and concepts of the game.
In the process of coaching drills, it is nice to first impart 5 to 6 demonstrations about a drill to the kids and then let them practice it themselves. It is due to the fact that kids grasp visualizations more effectively than simple instructions. If you attempt to explain an action in words, they won’t understand it. However, they are good at replicating things.
So, as a general rule, demonstrate the skills yourself whenever possible.
Last but by no means the least; keep your players active with several purposeful activities. This is more valid if the weather prevents you from having a regular session. It is well known that the kids love playing in the rain. So, rather than just telling them to go home, it is more beneficial to find ways so that they can still enjoy soccer in some form.
Just be sure that the kids have additional layer of clothing and proper shoes in situations like these.
Go ahead and make these tips a part of your plan. You will be surprised by the results.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Coaching soccer drills.
Tags: coaching drills, coaching soccer drills, Soccer practice, teaching soccer