Coaching youth sports is not about taking young players and turning them into high-level athletes who win college scholarships and go on to professional careers. Those types of players are few and far between. When a parent starts coaching a youth sport like soccer, the idea is to teach the young players the fundamentals of the sport, to make it fun and to get the kind of workout and exercise that can pay long-term dividends.
Function
Teach the fundamentals of the game to your young players. Give them drills that last 10 to 15 minutes, then move on to the next part of practice. Emphasized the basics like dribbling, passing and shooting. Tell the players what they are going to do, show them how to complete the drills --- and tell them why the drills are important. Keep practice moving and make corrections as you see they are necessary.
Significance
When you coach youngsters in soccer, you are getting them involved in a very active and athletic sport. In a 2008 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that childhood obesity had tripled in the United States between 1978 and 2008. As a result, it's important to get youngsters off the couch and onto the playing field. Make sure there is as much moving and running as possible during your soccer practices, without exhausting the young players, to make it worth their while.
Features
One of the most important aspects of coaching soccer is teaching your players about teamwork. No matter how talented any particular player is, your team is going to struggle unless all players get involved. Making the pass that leads to the pass that precedes the goal can be just as important as registering the goal or the primary assist. Sometimes it's one small head-fake that allows you to dribble five extra yards and get the ball out of trouble. Recognize and compliment every positive play. Teach players that it's not just about the goal-scorer or the goalkeeper who made the big save --- it's all about the team aspect of play.
Benefits
In addition to competing hard and learning how to play their best, you have to teach children and their families about sportsmanship. Many youth soccer organizations make all players, parents and coaches sign a code of conduct that outlines proper behavior and makes the participants promise not to engage in unsportsmanlike behavior, like name-calling, criticism of the coaches or officials or fighting. This helps young players understand that there may be problems on the field, but they are not solved by undue criticism or arguing.
Considerations
Communicating with your players and their parents is important when coaching youth soccer. A weekly email or newsletter can outline what you are trying to teach in practice and why. It can also let parents know where the next game is, if it's on the road, and give directions on how to get there. Playing a team sport has many benefits, and when players understand that they are a small part of a big organization, it can lead to greater understanding of teamwork and work ethic.
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