As a soccer coach, your No. 1 goal is not necessarily to win every game during the season. Your job, especially if you coach younger players playing recreational soccer, is to help them learn the game and create situations in practice and during the game where they have the best opportunity to do so. Understanding the principles behind coaching soccer will help you have a more effective impact on your players.
Set Appropriate Goals
Whatever level of soccer you're coaching, it's important to set appropriate goals. For more competitive leagues, that might include how many games you think your team is capable of winning. For younger teams with players who have less-developed skills, merely seeing some improvement in your teams' fundamentals of passing, shooting and dribbling the ball may be an appropriate goal. Set goals for each practice, such as helping your kids understand what the offside rule is and how to avoid it or teaching your goalie to get in proper position when the opposition is approaching. Communicate your goals with your players so they know what to expect from you.
Run Effective Practices
Once you've formed your team, your job is to make them come together as a unit. You may be tempted to spend your entire practice running through complex drills to help reinforce fundamentals, but according to the US Soccer Federation, the most effective way to run practice is to simulate game situations. Run organized scrimmages where you can watch your players perform and interact as a team. Create situations that teach players how to execute in a real game, such as placing the ball for a free kick and getting the defense to make a stop. Allow your players plenty of uninterrupted scrimmage time during practice so they can learn from their own mistakes.
Managing a Game
After a few effective practices, it's game time. Although you may have a strong desire to win, make sure your focus is on helping your players improve and helping them learn. Don't expect the game to look as polished as a professional soccer match. Review the rules and expectations of your individual league when it comes to playing time. Some leagues require every player to play at least half the game, for example. Allow even the less-skilled players to have an opportunity to participate and learn, even if it means you might lose the game.
Dealing With Parents
Unless you're in the minority of coaches who have the privilege of coaching professional soccer, you'll at some point have to deal with parents. It may pay off to start out the season with a parents' meeting to explain your coaching philosophy, especially when it comes to playing time. Communicate with parents when an appropriate time is to talk to you about their child's progress -- such as after practice -- and when is not appropriate, such as during a game.
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